Judith Arndt (HTC-Highroad) won the third stage of the Giro della Toscana, between Pontdera and the picturesque hilltop city of Volterra, to continue the American team’s one hundred percent record in the race so far and retake the overall lead. The German defending race champion outsprinted compatriot Claudia Häusler (Diadora-Pasta Zara) at the top of the cobbled climb to the Piazza del Priori in the mediaeval city, with Tibco-To the Top rider Megan Guarnier (United States) beating Lithuanian champion Rasa Leleivyte (Vaiano-Solaristech) in the race for third.
"There were a few good breaks today and a few tough climbs," said HTC-Highroad sport director Ronny Lauke. "There was even an echelon when we reached crosswinds toward the second half of the race, so it was a challenging stage.”
The first half of the 137.6km stage saw the peloton stay together until, after 73km as the race approached the climb to Lajatico, Charlotte Becker (HTC-Highroad) and Trixi Worrack (Germany) escaped. Behind the two Germans, the peloton split into two main parts, with thirty riders 1’29” behind them and the rest unable to stay in contact.
On the approach to the climb to the first climb to Volterra, Worrack left Becker behind, but was caught by the chasing group, which was now reduced to just sixteen riders.
Arndt led over the top of the climb with Häusler and Ashleigh Moolman (Lotto Honda) behind her. The group came back together on the 23km circuit though, and approached the bottom of the climb to the finish together. Race leader Ina Teutenberg began to set the pace for teammate Arndt, who attacked the rest in the closing kilometres.
"Ina set a brutal pace on the last climb, and a lot of riders fell behind," Lauke explained, "The fifteen riders who hung on included Judith, who took off in the last three kilometres to go and no one could catch her.
“She won by a bike length."
Arndt now leads Guarnier by 26 seconds with three days to go. The next day will consist of a flat 67.3km road stage between Quarrata and Campi Bisenzio, followed by the usual 2.22km Campi Bisenzio evening time trial. With HTC-Highroad the strongest team, there are few opportunities left in the race to take back time. Arndt already looks odds on to retain her title and equal Susanne Ljungskog’s outright record of three wins in the pre-Worlds stage race.
Result stage 3
1. Judith Arndt (Ger) HTC-Highroad
2. Claudia Häusler (Ger) Diadora-Pasta Zara @ 1s
3. Megan Guarnier (USA) United States National Team @ 3s
4. Rasa Leleivyte (Ltu) Vaiano-Solaristech
5. Ashleigh Moolman (RSA) Lotto Ladies Team @ 9s
6. Sylwia Kapusta (Pol) Gauss-RDZ-Ormu @ 16s
7. Tatiana Guderzo (Ita) MCipollini-Giambenini @ 26s
8. Tatiana Antoshina (Rus) Gauss-RDZ-Ormu
9. Polona Batagelj (Slo) Slovenian National Team
10. Johanna Van De Winkel (RSA) Lotto Ladies Team @ 53s
Standings after stage 3
1. Judith Arndt (Ger) HTC-Highroad
2. Megan Guarnier (USA) United States National Team @ 26s
3. Claudia Häusler (Ger) Diadora-Pasta Zara @ 33s
4. Rasa Leleivyte (Ltu) Vaiano-Solaristech @ 38s
5. Sylwia Kapusta (Pol) Gauss-RDZ-Ormu @ 39s
6. Ashleigh Moolman (RSA) Lotto Ladies Team @ 47s
7. Tatiana Antoshina (Rus) Gauss-RDZ-Ormu @ 1’00”
8. Tatiana Guderzo (Ita) MCipollini-Giambenini
9. Polona Batagelj (Slo) Slovenian National Team @ 1’04”
10. Johanna Van De Winkel (RSA) Lotto Ladies Team @ 1’31”