By Susan Westemeyer Ina-Yoko Teutenberg won the sprint of the first stage of the Holland Ladies Tour...
Ina-Yoko Teutenberg (Team Columbia) took (Image credit: WomensCycling.net)
By Susan Westemeyer
Ina-Yoko Teutenberg won the sprint of the first stage of the Holland Ladies Tour by three bike lengths over Kirsten Wild (AA-Drink Cycling-Team) and Marianne Vos of Team DSB Bank. The German rider took the overall lead in the six-stage race.
"It was very impressive," said Columbia Directeur Sportif Ronny Lauke. "It was a fairly tough finish, too; a little bit uphill in the last kilometre, a few concerns and with some cobbled sections on the run-in. But Ina got into the right position with 800 metres to go, and then just went for it."
Wednesday's stage is a 20.5-kilometre time trial, in which the 33 year-old hoped to defend her leader's jersey. "Ina's not a specialist, but she definitely knows how to turn in a solid ride in a time trial," according to Lauke. "With any luck, she could hold onto the lead - or one of her teammates might take over, who knows? Whatever happens, Ina's not going to throw away this lead lightly. I know that for sure."
