Published June 18, 2011 01:53PM
HTC-Highroad’s Judith Arndt has followed teammate Ina-Yoko Teutenberg’s win in the opening stage of the Giro di Trentino in Italy with her own victory 24 hours later.
Arndt claimed her fifth win of the season at the end of a mountainous, 86km trek from Matarrello to Termon, simultaneously taking over as race leader from Teutenberg.
“Judith was exactly where she needed to be all day, first winning an intermediate sprint and getting the bonus seconds on offer, which was a good sign, then playing her tactics very well on the last climb of the stage,” said HTC-Highroad sport director Jens Zemke, “She and another rider caught (earlier breakaway) Emma Pooley on the last climb, then Judith still had enough strength to go for and win the sprint.”
Seventh on the stage, Teutenberg has retained the points jersey. “Ina was really impressive — she was the last of the HTC-Highroad riders to stay with Judith,” said Zemke. “Her climbing is getting better and better.”
The final stage of Trentino is 72km long and very hilly, running from Castel Thun to Cles, and Zemke is optimistic about Arndt’s chances of winning outright.
“She’s got a seven-second advantage, so it’s up to us to defend our lead and the rest to attack us, which is a good place to be in. Plus our riders all rode very well today, and they will protect Judith as best they can tomorrow, too — and she’s already proved she’s in great shape.”
Zemke says it will be slightly more complicated to deal with the 60 kilos of apples the team has won.
“Today they gave us a special prize, which was Judith’s weight in apples, and while it’s wonderful to have it, we’re not sure what we’re going to do with it all. Sixty kilos is a lot of fruit to have in the back of a team car!”