May 21, 2010 (Roquefeuil, France) – Cervélo TestTeam’s Emma Pooley (GBR) won the 7th stage – the queen stage-of the Tour de l’Aude today and increased her lead in the overall ranking. The 27-year-old British rider put in an excellent performance today over the 105 km long course from Limoux to Roquefeuil claiming victory on the final meters over Mara Abbott (USA), who finished second. The third spot went to Emma Johansson (SWE). Claudia Häusler (GER) was edged out of a podium finish in the final sprint finishing fourth.

Pooley now leads the general classification with about 4.42 ahead of second place Mara Abbott and confidently looks forward to the last two stages. In the team standing, Cervélo TestTeam now has a lead of 13:12 ahead of their strongest contenders – the Nederland Bloeit team with Marianne Vos.

“It was an amazing race again today. In the first climb, seven riders went in a break away – among them Cervélo TestTeam riders Emma Pooley, Sharon Laws and Claudia Häusler,” explained Egon van Kessel, Sport Director. “Then Claudia attacked but couldn’t get away from the leading group. At the end, Emma made the decisive attack and went away with Mara Abbott on her wheel. Emma won the sprint and took the fourth stage victory for the team. The last two stages have an easier profile but can still be very hard. We are confident and will give our all to defend the yellow jersey.”

“I am lucky to have such a great team with me, “ said the winner Emma Pooley after the race. “It was a very tough stage but my team mates did a really great job for me. Beside me, Claudia, Sharon and Regina were also able to finish among the top eleven which shows how strong team we have. I am proud to be a part of it. I am also happy that I defended my yellow jersey and I am looking forward to the last two days.”

Tomorrow’s 8th stage – the second last one- will take place from Aunat back to Limoux. With two mountains– a category one and a category three the course will not be as tough as today.

Results

Full Results

1. Emma Pooley (Gbr) Cervelo Test Team 3:04:19
2. Mara Abbot (USA) US National Team 0:08
3. Emma Johansson (Swe) Redsun Cycling Team 2:18
4. Claudia Häusler (Ger) Cervelo Test Team
5. Trixi Worrack (Ger) Noris Cycling 4:11
6. Sharon Laws (Gbr) Cervelo Test Team
7. Evelyn Stevens (USA) HTC Columbia Women
8. Marianne Vos (Ned) Nederland Bloeit 4:52
9. Carla Swart (RSA) MTN
10. Christel Ferrier-Bruneau (Fra) Vienne Futuroscope
11. Regina Bruins (Ned) Cervelo Test Team
12. Katheryn Mattis (USA) US National Team
13. Linda Melanie Villumsen (Nzl) HTC Columbia Women
14. Vicki Whitelaw (Aus) Lotto Ladies Team
15. Tatiana Antoshina (Rus) Team Valdarno
16. Andrea Bosman (Ned) Leontien.nl
17. Annemiek Van Vleuten (Ned) Nederland Bloeit
18. Tatiana Guderzo (Ita) Team Valdarno
19. Loes Gunnewijk (Ned) Nederland Bloeit 4:58
20. Liesbet De Vocht (Bel) Nederland Bloeit 7:55
21. Anriette Schoeman (RSA) Lotto Ladies Team 0:11:50
22. Eugenie Mermillod (Fra) Esgl 93-Gsd Gestion
23. Noortje Tabak (Ned) Nederland Bloeit 0:16:40
24. Karol-Ann Canuel (Can) Vienne Futuroscope
25. Edwige Pitel (Fra) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox 0:18:21
26. Ruth Corset (Aus) Tibco
27. Martina Ruzickova (Cze) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox
28. Hanka Kupfernagel (Ger) German National Team
29. Luise Keller (Ger) HTC Columbia Women 0:18:33
30. Martine Bras (Ned) Gauss RDZ Ormu
31. Alexandra Burchenkova (Rus) Fenixs-Petrogradets 0:21:51
32. Inga Cilvinaite (Ltu) Safi-Pasta Zara
33. Robyn De Groot (RSA) MTN
34. Oxana Kozonchuk (Rus) Safi-Pasta Zara
35. Marissa Van Der Merwe (RSA) MTN
36. Marijn De Vries (Ned) Leontien.nl
37. Amanda Miller (USA) Tibco
38. Petra Dijkman (Ned) Redsun Cycling Team
39. Carla Ryan (Aus) Cervelo Test Team
40. Irina Molicheva (Rus) Fenixs-Petrogradets 0:22:47
41. Josien Van Wingerden (Ned) Leontien.nl 0:34:23
42. Andrea Dvorak (USA) US National Team
43. Sylwia Kapusta (Pol) Safi-Pasta Zara
44. Mélanie Bravard (Fra) Esgl 93-Gsd Gestion
45. Elena Kuchinskaya (Rus) Gauss RDZ Ormu
46. Carly Hibberd (Aus) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox
47. Romy Kasper (Ger) Noris Cycling
48. Martina Zwick (Ger) German National Team
49. Madeleine Sandig (Ger) Noris Cycling
50. Emma Mackie (Aus) Tibco
51. Giada Borgato (Ita) Gauss RDZ Ormu
52. Paulina Brzezna (Pol) Redsun Cycling Team
53. Laura Dittmann (Ger) German National Team
54. Alessandra Borchi (Ita) Gauss RDZ Ormu
55. Lorena Foresi (Ita) Safi-Pasta Zara
56. Carmen Small (USA) US National Team
57. Erika Vilunaite (Ltu) Fenixs-Petrogradets
58. Ludivine Henrion (Bel) Redsun Cycling Team
59. Tania Belvederesi (Ita) Team Valdarno
60. Jenifer Letue (Fra) Vienne Futuroscope
61. Denise Zuckermandel (Ger) German National Team
62. Béatrice Thomas (Fra) Esgl 93-Gsd Gestion
63. Yulia Iliynikh (Rus) Fenixs-Petrogradets
64. Julia Martisova (Rus) Gauss RDZ Ormu
65. Joanne Kiesanowski (Nzl) Tibco
66. Elizabeth Armitstead (Gbr) Cervelo Test Team
67. Rasa Leleivyte (Ltu) Safi-Pasta Zara
68. Laura Bozzolo (Ita) Team Valdarno
69. Adrie Visser (Ned) HTC Columbia Women
70. Brooke Miller (USA) Tibco
71. Marlen Jöhrend (Ger) Noris Cycling
72. Irene Van Den Broek (Ned) Leontien.nl
73. Monique Van De Ree (Ned) Leontien.nl
74. Franziska Merten (Ger) German National Team
75. Marie Lindberg (Swe) Redsun Cycling Team
76. Angela Hennig (Ger) Noris Cycling
77. Veronica Andreasson (Swe) Lotto Ladies Team
78. Cashandra Slingerland (RSA) MTN
79. Ina Teutenberg (Ger) HTC Columbia Women
80. Audrey Lemieux (Can) Esgl 93-Gsd Gestion
DNF Rebecca Much (USA) Tibco

General after stage 7

1. Emma Pooley (Gbr) Cervelo Test Team 18:28:28
2. Mara Abbot (USA) US National Team 4:42
3. Emma Johansson (Swe) Redsun Cycling Team 5:40
4. Claudia Häusler (Ger) Cervelo Test Team 6:51
5. Annemiek Van Vleuten (Ned) Nederland Bloeit 7:08
6. Evelyn Stevens (USA) HTC Columbia Women 7:45
7. Regina Bruins (Ned) Cervelo Test Team 7:48
8. Katheryn Mattis (USA) US National Team 7:54
9. Sharon Laws (Gbr) Cervelo Test Team 8:04
10. Marianne Vos (Ned) Nederland Bloeit 9:00
11. Loes Gunnewijk (Ned) Nederland Bloeit 9:02
12. Trixi Worrack (Ger) Noris Cycling 0:10:36
13. Andrea Bosman (Ned) Leontien.nl 0:10:42
14. Christel Ferrier-Bruneau (Fra) Vienne Futuroscope 0:11:10
15. Liesbet De Vocht (Bel) Nederland Bloeit 0:12:06
16. Linda Melanie Villumsen (Nzl) HTC Columbia Women 0:12:18
17. Vicki Whitelaw (Aus) Lotto Ladies Team 0:14:36
18. Tatiana Antoshina (Rus) Team Valdarno 0:17:52
19. Carla Swart (RSA) MTN 0:26:57
20. Carla Ryan (Aus) Cervelo Test Team 0:32:17
21. Edwige Pitel (Fra) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox 0:39:39
22. Ruth Corset (Aus) Tibco 0:44:29
23. Tatiana Guderzo (Ita) Team Valdarno 0:47:53
24. Martine Bras (Ned) Gauss RDZ Ormu 0:49:21
25. Adrie Visser (Ned) HTC Columbia Women 0:50:53
26. Hanka Kupfernagel (Ger) German National Team 0:51:22
27. Eugenie Mermillod (Fra) Esgl 93-Gsd Gestion 0:52:11
28. Elizabeth Armitstead (Gbr) Cervelo Test Team 0:54:12
29. Oxana Kozonchuk (Rus) Safi-Pasta Zara 0:54:48
30. Amanda Miller (USA) Tibco 0:55:00
31. Anriette Schoeman (RSA) Lotto Ladies Team 0:55:03
32. Luise Keller (Ger) HTC Columbia Women 0:55:42
33. Noortje Tabak (Ned) Nederland Bloeit 0:57:35
34. Martina Ruzickova (Cze) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox 1:00:14
35. Marijn De Vries (Ned) Leontien.nl 1:01:54
36. Inga Cilvinaite (Ltu) Safi-Pasta Zara 1:03:32
37. Alexandra Burchenkova (Rus) Fenixs-Petrogradets 1:04:42
38. Carmen Small (USA) US National Team 1:05:13
39. Ludivine Henrion (Bel) Redsun Cycling Team 1:05:41
40. Madeleine Sandig (Ger) Noris Cycling 1:06:24
41. Irina Molicheva (Rus) Fenixs-Petrogradets 1:09:30
42. Marissa Van Der Merwe (RSA) MTN 1:12:56
43. Julia Martisova (Rus) Gauss RDZ Ormu 1:13:16
44. Karol-Ann Canuel (Can) Vienne Futuroscope 1:13:42
45. Robyn De Groot (RSA) MTN 1:16:21
46. Sylwia Kapusta (Pol) Safi-Pasta Zara 1:17:22
47. Andrea Dvorak (USA) US National Team 1:26
48. Petra Dijkman (Ned) Redsun Cycling Team 1:20:37
49. Erika Vilunaite (Ltu) Fenixs-Petrogradets 1:21:29
50. Paulina Brzezna (Pol) Redsun Cycling Team 1:22:40
51. Marie Lindberg (Swe) Redsun Cycling Team 1:23:15
52. Ina Teutenberg (Ger) HTC Columbia Women 1:25:25
53. Romy Kasper (Ger) Noris Cycling 1:26:04
54. Joanne Kiesanowski (Nzl) Tibco 1:29:38
55. Martina Zwick (Ger) German National Team 1:30:29
56. Angela Hennig (Ger) Noris Cycling 1:31:01
57. Brooke Miller (USA) Tibco 1:31:43
58. Irene Van Den Broek (Ned) Leontien.nl 1:33:38
59. Josien Van Wingerden (Ned) Leontien.nl 1:34:23
60. Béatrice Thomas (Fra) Esgl 93-Gsd Gestion 1:34:33
61. Emma Mackie (Aus) Tibco 1:39:15
62. Elena Kuchinskaya (Rus) Gauss RDZ Ormu 1:39:56
63. Mélanie Bravard (Fra) Esgl 93-Gsd Gestion 1:48
64. Carly Hibberd (Aus) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox 1:40:10
65. Veronica Andreasson (Swe) Lotto Ladies Team 1:40:11
66. Laura Bozzolo (Ita) Team Valdarno 1:40:42
67. Laura Dittmann (Ger) German National Team 1:42:15
68. Rasa Leleivyte (Ltu) Safi-Pasta Zara 1:43:00
69. Marlen Jöhrend (Ger) Noris Cycling 1:45:03
70. Denise Zuckermandel (Ger) German National Team 1:45:19
71. Audrey Lemieux (Can) Esgl 93-Gsd Gestion 1:45:50
72. Giada Borgato (Ita) Gauss RDZ Ormu 1:47:53
73. Yulia Iliynikh (Rus) Fenixs-Petrogradets 1:48:27
74. Alessandra Borchi (Ita) Gauss RDZ Ormu 1:51:43
75. Franziska Merten (Ger) German National Team 1:56:05
76. Tania Belvederesi (Ita) Team Valdarno 1:56:36
77. Cashandra Slingerland (RSA) MTN 1:57:30
78. Jenifer Letue (Fra) Vienne Futuroscope 2:00:13
79. Monique Van De Ree (Ned) Leontien.nl 2:01:05
80. Lorena Foresi (Ita) Safi-Pasta Zara 2:07:06