Häusler wins Emakumeen Bira overall

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After finishing second in the Emakumeen Bira last year, Claudia Häusler (Cervelo TestTeam) found herself in the same position - second - heading into the final stage on Sunday. However, this year, Häusler won the overall classification after finishing second in a decisive final stage. Annemiek Van Vleuten (Netherland Bloeit) won the last stage and ended up second in the GC, 1:20 behind Häusler and 3:15 up on Judith Arndt (HTC-Columbia). Andrea Bosman (Netherlands National Team) was third on the day.

"We worked very well together though it was still a long way to the finish line. At the end, the gap was pretty big. Annemiek van Vleuten won the stage and I had enough time to win the classification for the race," said Häusler.

"This race was important in my preparation for the Giro d'Italia. But it is also a big race, the biggest stage race in Spain. I have to say thanks to my team, all the riders worked really hard for me in the last days and did a fantastic job."

Van Vleuten, Häusler and Bosman were part of a successful three-woman break, which stayed off until the end. Last year's winner and favorite Arndt lost five minutes on the day and therefore could not defend her title.

"Today's last stage was a very hard stage, the hardest one all week, but a very nice stage for us," said Egon van Kessel, Cervel TestTeam Sports Director. "There were lots of mountains and 40km from the finish line, there was a moment, I know it was fairly early, when Claudia tried to attack and she dropped Judith Arndt on the climb."

"At that moment there were two riders ahead, Bosman and Van Vleuten and they worked very well together with Claudia. There were four riders behind including Marianne Vos (Netherland Bloeit), Emma Johansson (Red Sun), Arndt, and Vicki Whitelaw (Lotto-Ladies Team), but that group didn't work as well together and at the end, the three with Claudia had a big gap of some minutes. Van Vleuten won the race and Claudia came second but won the GC overall. So it was a great victory. We had a good campaign in Spain!"

"We said this morning that we'd go for all or nothing. We wanted to win this race, and so we had to take some risks," said Häusler. "There where two girls in front, van Vleuten and Bosman and I decided to gave it everything on the climb and I had a gap. So, I gave full gas and I was able to join them in front."

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