Pooley wins Tour de l'Aude overall

• Monday, 24 May 2010
• Nigel Wynn
• 5 Comments

Emma Pooley

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Emma Pooley became the first Briton in history to win the Tour de l'Aude stage race in France on Sunday.

Pooley took the race lead after stage four and successfully defended her lead at the end of the prestigious nine-day, UCI 2.1-ranked race with help from a strong Cervelo Test Team line-up.

"The race today was a little bit stressful, but the team, as it was been for this entire Tour was just fantastic," said the 27-year-old after the win.

"They were always with me and showed time and again that we were the strongest team.

"I feel amazing today and very happy with my Tour victory - it is the first time I have won a big stage race. Together, our team will now enjoy the victory and celebrate by having some ice cream."

On Friday, Pooley won stage seven in dominant fashion, putting several minutes into all of her rivals bar Mara Abbott (USA).

American Abbott placed second overall, with Sweden's Emma Johansson (Redsun) third.

Ina Teutenberg (HTC-Columbia) won sprint in the final stage, beating Marianne Vos (Nederland Bloeit).

It has been a great race for Britain - Pooley's Cervelo team-mate Lizzie Armitstead wore the leader's jersey after winning the first stage. Her time in the lead was cut short when an untimely puncture meant she dropped back during stage two's team time trial.  Armitstead went onto finish 24th overall with fellow Brit and Cervelo team-mate Sharon Laws in 15th.

RESULTS
Tour de l'Aude 2010, stage eight
1. Ina Teutenberg (Ger) HTC-Columbia in 2-14-29
2. Marianne Vos (Ned) Nederland Bloeit
3. Angela Hennig (Ger) Noris Cycling
4. Carla Swart (RSA) MTN
5. Julia Martisova (Rus) Gauss RDZ Ormu

Final overall classification
1. Emma Pooley (GB) Cervelo in 23-25-58
2. Mara Abbot (USA) US National Team at 4-42
3. Emma Johansson (Swe) Redsun at 5-39
4. Claudia Hausler (Ger) Cervelo at 6-50
5. Annemiek Van Vleuten (Ned) Nederland Bloeit at 7-04
Other
15. Sharon Laws (GB) Cervelo at 14-16
24. Lizzie Armitstead (GB) Cervelo at 54-12

Emma Pooley's greatest hits
Emma Pooley's full rider profile>>
2010
Tour de l'Aude; stage seven
Tour de l'Aude; overall
La Fleche Wallonne Feminine
Grand Prix Suisse (TT)
Grand Prix Elsy Jacobs

2009
Montreal World Cup
GP de Plouay-Bretagne World Cup
GP Costa Etrusca
Grande Boucle; stage one
Grande Boucle; stage three
Grande Boucle; overall
Tour de Berne; climbers' classification
Tour de l'Ardèche; mountains classification
Tour de l'Ardèche; sprint classification
National time trial champion

2008
Trofeo Alfredo Binda
Olympic Games time trial, silver medal

2007
Weiach
Rund um Schönaich

Related links
Pooley climbs into lead at Tour de l'Aude
Pooley up to fifth overall at the Tour de l'Aude
Armitstead loses Tour de l'Aude lead after puncture
Armitstead wins Tour de l'Aude stage to take lead