German champion fastest over evening test after losing race lead in morning stage
Judith Arndt (HTC-Highroad) won the second part of the fourth stage of the Giro dell a Toscana, a 2.22km nocturnal time trial in Campi Bisenzio, the city where the earlier first part of the stage finished in 2’55”. The victory was a consolation for the German time trial champion, who lost the overall race lead after a late mechanical saw her lose over a minute in the first part of the stage.
New race leader Megan Guarnier (United States), who took over the race lead from Arndt, solidified her position in the pink jersey with second place on the stage just five seconds behind Arndt. Charlotte Becker, Arndt’s HTC-Highroad teammate was third, just fractions of a second behind Guarnier.
"I really prepared hard for the time trial today," said Arndt, "I wanted to give it everything I had.
"It was short, at just two point two kilometres,” she explained, “but it was really hard because there were two straightaways and two sharp u-turns. You had to brake for each turn and then work hard to get back up to speed on the straightaways."
Arndt’s victory means that HTC-Highroad has taken five victories out of five in the Giro della Toscana so far, but the German veteran’s lost time in the morning’s half-stage means that she will almost certainly miss out on a record-equalling third title in the race.
Result stage 4b
1. Judith Arndt (Ger) HTC-Highroad, 2.22km in 2’55”
2. Megan Guarnier (USA) United States National Team @ 5s
3. Charlotte Becker (Ger) HTC-Highroad
4. Elizabeth Armitstead (GBr) Garmin-Cervélo @ 9s
5. Silvia Valsecchi (Ita) Top Girls-Fassa Bortolo
Standings after stage 4b
1. Megan Guarnier (USA) United States National Team
2. Claudia Häusler (Ger) Diadora-Pasta Zara @ 13s
3. Rasa Leleivyte (Ltu) Vaiano-Solaristech @ 18s
4. Sylwia Kapusta (Pol) Gauss-RDZ-Ormu @ 27s
5. Judith Arndt (Ger) HTC-Highroad @ 30s