Ina Teutenberg (HTC-Highroad) won the opening stage of the Giro del Trentino Donne, between Dimaro and Arco, as the early climbs failed to prevent a bunch sprint. Teutenberg’s teammate Adrie Visser managed to hold on to take second place, in front of compatriot Martine Bras (Netherlands National Team) at the end of the 85km stage.
"I was in third place with 250 meters to go and then went for the sprint from there," Teutenberg added, "it was a very fast finish with four or five corners late on, but it worked out fine."
Teutenberg said she was also pleased to have stayed with the front group on the early climb, because "It's not really my area. That was good."
The stage began almost immediately with an eight-kilometre climb to the 2nd category Passo Campo Carlo Magno. The peloton stayed together as Svetlana Bubenkova (Team PCW) led British champion Emma Pooley (Garmin-Cervélo) over the top. At the next climb, after 55km, with the peloton still together, Bubenkova led over once more to secure the green mountains jersey.
In the closing kilometres of the stage Olympic champion Nicole Cooke (MCipollini-Giambenini), Noemi Cantele (Garmin-Cervélo) and Elena Berlato (Top Girls-Fassa Bortolo-Ghezzi) tried to get away together, but were unable to get a decisive gap.
The HTC-Highroad team then took control of the peloton, delivering Teutenberg to the line as it has done so many times before.
Result stage 1
1. Ina Teutenberg (Ger) HTC-Highroad
2. Adrie Visser (Ned) HTC-Highroad
3. Bras Martine (Ned) Netherlands National Team
4. Gilmore Rochelle (Aus) Lotto Honda Team
5. Martisova Julia (Rus) Gauss
6. Martin Lucy (GBr) Garmin-Cervélo
7. Scandolara Valentina (Ita) Gauss
8. Johansson Emma (Swe) Hitec Products-UCK
9. Malgorzata Jasinska (Pol) Michela Fanini-Record-Rox
10. Andruk Alona (Ukr) Diadora Pasta-Zara
Standings after stage 1
1. Ina Teutenberg (Ger) HTC-Highroad
2. Adrie Visser (Ned) HTC-Highroad @ 7s
3. Bras Martine (Ned) Netherlands National Team @ 8s