Kiwi opens Tour de l'Aude with a podium result

May 15th, 10.

Kiwi Linda Villumsen in TT mode earlier in the year ©RoadCycling.co.nz

Villumsen, who rides for HTC Columbia, rode the course at 49.3km/h to finish in 4m52s and secure 2nd place.

Time trials are Villumsen's speciality.  She won this prologue last year, one of seven time trial podiums of 2009 culminating in her bronze medal at the UCI World Championships. 

Cervelo Test Team Regina Bruins took today's victory in the French town of Gruissan. Her time was 4sec faster than Villumsen.  

The final podium position was filled by Marianne Vos (Nederland Bloeit). The current #1 ranked rider on the UCI World Ranking finished in third place just 1sec behind Villumsen.

Villumsen, who is on the shortlist for the NZ Commonwealth Games team, will wear the green jersey for tomorrow's Stage 2 as leader of the points classification.

Jo Kiesanowski (Team Tibco), the other Kiwi in the race, finished mid field.  

The Tour de l'Aude is in its 26th year having been held in the Aude region of south central France since 1985.  It is the longest running UCI event on the women's elite cycle calendar. 

The 2010 edition includes 10 stages over which the 105 competitors, in teams of six, ride 874km (including the prologue and another time trial).

Tomorrow's Stage 2 from Rieux Minervois covers 117km of rolling terrain and is likely to end in a sprint finish where Kiesanowski will be trying to lead out teammate Brooke Miller for stage victory.

Prologue Top 5

1. Regina Bruins NED Cervelo Test Team  04:48
2. Linda Villumsen NZL HTC Columbia  04:52
3. Marianne Vos NED Nederland Bloeit 04:53
4. Emma Pooley GBR Cervelo Test Team  04:55
5. Annemiek Van Vleuten NED Nederland Bloeit 04:56

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.