11 September, 2008 – The fourth stage of the Tour Cycliste Feminin de l'Ardèche was a challenging one. Over 123,5 km, three intermediate sprints and three mountains the athletes had to ride from Le Boutieres to Chomérac à Cruas.
On this tough course, the Olympic silver medalist Emma Pooley (GBR) and the US-American Amber Neben were made a successful attack and reached the finish with an advantage of 5.33min. The victory took Emma Pooley ahead of Amber Neben, who is now the new leader in the overall ranking. On third place finished Emma Johansson.
The Cervélo-Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team were working very hard. Carla Ryan defended with her today’s 17th rank the overall lead in the young rider category while Christiane Soeder took the 18th place. Soeder and Ryan are now place on position 10 and 11 in the overall ranking. The fifth stage will take place tomorrow from Curas to Meysse à Villeneuve over 114 km.
Result:
1 Emma Pooley (GBR) National Team Great Britain 3:45.44h
2 Amber Neben (USA) Team Flexpoint 0.00
3 Emma Johansson (SWE) Red Sun 5.33
…
17 Carla Ryan (AUS) Cervélo-Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team 9.48
18 Christiane Soeder (AUT) Cervélo-Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team 9.48
31 Sarah Düster (GER) Cervélo-Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team 11.08
60 Patricia Schwager (SUI) Cervélo-Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team 24.38
Current overall ranking:
1 Amber Neben (USA) Team Flexpoint 10:18.18h
2 Emma Pooley (GBR) National Team Great Britain 1.25
3 Susanne Ljungskog (SWE) Team Flexpoint 5.38
…
10 Christiane Soeder (AUT9 Cervélo-Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team 9.21
11 Carla Ryan (AUS) Cervélo-Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team 10.37
35 Sarah Düster (GER) Cervélo-Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team 15.59
38 Patricia Schwager (SUI) Cervélo-Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team 26.53
Young riders ranking
1 Carla Ryan (AUS) Cervélo-Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team 10:28.55
2 Elena Berlato (ITA) Safi Pasta Zara Manhatten 1.00
3 Jessica Allen (GBR) Team GBR 1.46
