Cervelo take back Tour de l'Aude lead

May 19th, 10. After the first day climbing in the Pyrenees, Cervelo TestTeam took the Tour de l'Aude leader's jersey back off HTC Columbia when Emma Pooley finished 2nd to Mara Abbot (USA).

Emma Pooley leads Tour de l'Aude ©Cervelo TestTeam

In today's Stage 4 97km stage a group of around ten riders broke free after 30kms.  

As a chase group of nine tried to bridge the gap, Pooley, Abbot and eventual 3rd place getter Evelyn Stevens (HTC Columbia) attacked off the front.

After dropping Stevens, Abbot went on to win the sprint, but Pooley's higher place on the GC at the start of the race gave her the overall advantage.    Stevens finished 43sec later.

27 year old Pooley is a strong rider in time trials as well as in the mountains.  She won the time trial silver medal at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and in 2009 she won the prestigious French road tour, Grand Boucle.   

"I am very happy today. It is always great to be in the leader's jersey of Tour de l'Aude," said Pooley in her team report.

"So far I have a good gap over Adrie Visser. We still have some races to go, and something can always happen but I am confident."

With three other teammates in the Top 10, Pooley is in a strong position to defend her leader's jersey.

Kiwi action

Linda Villumsen finished in the large chase group (+3m25s) where she was working to protect her HTC Columbia leaders.

Jo Kiesanowski's team Tibco had a rough day in the mountains.  Their climbing queen, and overall GC hope, Ruth Corset suffered a flat tyre while in the chase group.

Without a teammate to help her, she finished the final kilometres in no mans land between the chasers and the peloton. Corset finished 9m22s behind the the winner.

Kiesanowski rolled in safely with one of the later bunches.

Related articles

• Tour de l'Aude results
• St9: Pooley wins the Tour de l'Aude
• St8: Kiesanowski sprints to 3rd against the world's best
• St7: First British win in the Tour de l'Aude
• St6: Kiesanowski and TIbco still in the hunt
• St4: Cervelo take back Tour de l'Aude lead
• St3: Teutenberg takes win in Tour de l'Aude
• St2: Puncture changes lead in Tour de l'Aude
• St1: Cervelo and TIbco share Tour de l'Aude success
• Prologue: Kiwi opens Tour de l'Aude with a podium result
• Preview: Kiesanowski ready for Tour de l'Aude

The Tour de l'Aude is the top women's tour. The ten day tour runs from May 13-23.