August 17, 2008 – Luise Keller, 24, of Team Columbia successfully defended the leader’s jersey at Route de France on Sunday to achieve her first career tour victory. After taking the lead on Stage 3 with an impressive solo attack during the hilly stage to Les Settons, Keller extended her lead with a dominating performance in the time trial on Saturday. The young German Champion and her team controlled the final stage to win the overall race by over two minutes.

“I’m really happy to win my first stage race,” said Keller. “It was a really nice race and I found out what it feels like to be a GC rider.
I didn’t have to do anything after I got the yellow jersey except eat and drink. My team mates did everything else.”

Team director Ronny Lauke was extremely happy with the whole race. “It was amazing,” he said. “The girls rode really well together and came up with a very exciting victory. It was also very rewarding for me as this is my first tour win as a director in womens cycling,” he added.

The team won five stages and the overall classification and finished the week with young Emilia Fahlin sprinting to take third place in the final stage. They also pulled off the team classification with Kim Anderson and Anke Wichmann finishing in 7th and 10th place overall.

Results

Stage 5 – August 15:00 Lillebonne – EU, 130.5 km

1. Ina Teutenberg (Ger) Team Columbia Women 3:22:13 (39.225 km/h)
2. Kimberly Anderson (USA) Team Columbia Women 0:12
3. B̩atrice Thomas (Fra) ESGL 93 РGSD Gestion 0:14
4. Eleonora Patuzzo (Ita) Cycling Team Titanedi-Frezza Acca Due O
5. Grace Verbeke (Bel) Lotto-Belisol Ladiesteam
6. Elodie Touffet (Fra) Gauss RDZ Ormu 0:17
7. Verónica Leal Balderas (Mex) Gauss RDZ Ormu 0:18
8. Tatiana Antoshina (Rus) Fenixs
9. Brei Gudsell (NZl) Team Pro Feminin Les Carroz
10. Alona Andruk (Ukr) USC Chirio Forno d’Asolo

15. Joelle Numainville (Can) ESGL 93 – GSD Gestion 0:53
31. Audrey Lemieux (Can) ESGL 93 – GSD Gestion
68. Moriah Mac Gregor (Can) Vienne Futuroscope 14:00

Stage 6 – August 16:00 Elbeuf – Elbeuf (ITT), 24.7 km

1. Luise Keller (Ger) Team Columbia Women 35:39.5 (41,571 km/h)
2. Tatiana Antoshina (Rus) Fenixs 00:39.8
3. Grace Verbeke (Bel) Lotto-Belisol Ladiesteam 01:19.4
4. Edwige Pitel (Fra) Team Pro Feminin Les Carroz 01:21.4
5. Kimberly Anderson (USA) Team Columbia Women 01:26.6
6. Rosane Kirch (Bra) S:C: Michela Fanini Record Rox 01:27.7
7. Monia Baccaille (Ita) Fenixs 1:52:54
8. Alexis Rhodes (Aus) Team Columbia Women 01:54.6
9. Karine Gautard (Fra) Vienne Futuroscope 01:56.3
10. Martina Corazza (Ita) Gauss RDZ Ormu 02:16.3

23. Moriah Mac Gregor (Can) Vienne Futuroscope 03:35.9
35. Joelle Numainville (Can) ESGL 93 – GSD Gestion 04:29.2
40. Audrey Lemieux (Can) ESGL 93 – GSD Gestion 04:50.1

Stage 7 — Aug. 17 – Rouen to Rouen, 99 km

1. Giorgia Bronzini (Ita) Cycling Team Titanedi-Frezza Acca Due O 2:39:05 (37.075 km/h)
2. Monia Baccaille (Ita) Fenixs
3. Emilia Fahlin (Swe) Team Columbia Women
4. Kori Kelley Seehafer (USA) Menikini – Selle Italia 0:02
5. Rasa Leleivyte (Ltu) S:C: Michela Fanini Record Rox
6. Emma Mackie (Aus) Lotto-Belisol Ladiesteam
7. Martina Corazza (Ita) Gauss RDZ Ormu
8. Anke Wichmann (Ger) Team Columbia Women
9. Alona Andruk (Ukr) USC Chirio Forno d’Asolo
10. Oxana Kozonchuk (Rus) Menikini – Selle Italia

13. Joelle Numainville (Can) ESGL 93 – GSD Gestion
37. Audrey Lemieux (Can) ESGL 93 – GSD Gestion 0:07
58. Moriah Mac Gregor (Can) Vienne Futuroscope 0:18

Final GC
1. Luise Keller (Ger) Team Columbia Women 19:17:46
2. Rosane Kirch (Bra) S:C: Michela Fanini Record Rox 2:19
3. Edwige Pitel (Fra) Team Pro Feminin Les Carroz 2:25
4. Karine Gautard (Fra) Vienne Futuroscope 3:07
5. Tatiana Antoshina (Rus) Fenixs 6:04
6. Grace Verbeke (Bel) Lotto-Belisol Ladiesteam 6:16
7. Kimberly Anderson (USA) Team Columbia Women 6:33
8. Monia Baccaille (Ita) Fenixs 7:45
9. Martina Corazza (Ita) Gauss RDZ Ormu 7:56
10. Anke Wichmann (Ger) Team Columbia Women 7:57

39. Joelle Numainville (Can) ESGL 93 – GSD Gestion 20:52
53. Audrey Lemieux (Can) ESGL 93 – GSD Gestion 32:36
58. Moriah Mac Gregor (Can) Vienne Futuroscope 38:33