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Following the British riders in the Giro Donne

We're following the fortunes of the five British riders - Lizzie Armitstead, Emma Pooley, Sharon Laws, Lucy Martin and Nicole Cooke - in the 2011 Giro Donne, the year's biggest women's road race.

Stage 10
Vos seals overall, Pooley safely second as Giro Donne concludes.

Emma Pooley has finished the Giro Donne on the podium following a race-long battle with eventual winner Marianne Vos.

Taking a stage win in the mountains of Valdidentro, a second place on the penultimate stage and sixth in the final time trial, Pooley was in contention from day three, taking the race to Vos throughout the climbing stages and chasing the win.

However, Vos - a multi-discipline World Champion - came to the Giro Donne in search of her first grand tour podium and took the race by storm, hoovering up half of the stages with individual victories and entered the final day with a cushion of over two minutes on Pooley.

In the final time trial, her result of third sealed the overall victory and her place in women's cycling history as one of the greatest all-round bike racers.

For Pooley, the second place continues a season of success including a win at the Trofeo Alfredo Binda, while British interests were also peaked as Nicole Cooke took a win on stage five - only tempered by the withdrawal of both Lizzie Armitstead and Lucy Martin, both crashing in the early stages of the race.

Result
1 Ina Teutenberg (Ger) HTC Highroad Women 0:22:17
2 Emma Johansson (Swe) Hitec Products - UCK 0:00:10
3 Marianne Vos (Ned) Nederland Bloeit 0:00:15
4 Judith Arndt (Ger) HTC Highroad Women 0:00:23
5 Ellen Van Dijk (Ned) HTC Highroad Women 0:00:30
6 Emma Pooley (GBr) Garmin - Cervelo 0:00:43
7 Olga Zabelinskaya (Rus) Diadora - Pasta Zara 0:00:51
8 Evelyn Stevens (USA) HTC Highroad Women 0:00:54
9 Tatiana Antoshina (Rus) Gauss 0:01:00
10 Tatiana Guderzo (Ita) SC MCipollini Giordana 0:01:03

25 Nicole Cooke (GBr) SC MCipollini Giordana 0:01:34
35 Sharon Laws (GBr) Garmin - Cervelo 0:01:59

General Classification
1 Marianne Vos (Ned) Nederland Bloeit 25:42:40
2 Emma Pooley (GBr) Garmin - Cervelo 0:03:16
3 Judith Arndt (Ger) HTC Highroad Women 0:08:15
4 Tatiana Guderzo (Ita) SC MCipollini Giordana 0:09:09
5 Tatiana Antoshina (Rus) Gauss 0:12:46
6 Ruth Corset (Aus) Bizkaia-Durango 0:12:58
7 Emma Johansson (Swe) Hitec Products - UCK 0:14:15
8 Sylwia Kapusta (Pol) Gauss 0:14:26
9 Shara Gillow (Aus) Bizkaia-Durango 0:15:48
10 Mara Abbott (USA) Diadora - Pasta Zara 0:16:29

17 Sharon Laws (GBr) Garmin - Cervelo 0:26:00
29 Nicole Cooke (GBr) SC MCipollini Giordana 0:47:54

Stage 9
114km from Aglie to Ceresole Reale marks final mountain stage

On the penultimate stage of the 2011 Giro Donne, Britain's Emma Pooley looks to have secured second position overall, with just a short time trial remaining.

On the final mountain stage of the race, Pooley again animated proceedings, but the biggest story was of Marianne Vos, who took her fifth stage of the Giro and with it the near-certainty of the pink jersey at the finish.

With this assurance and in contrast to yesterdays stage, Vos was able to race aggressively and distance her nearest rival - Pooley - by a further 12 seconds, underlining her credentials as one of the World's finest all-round bike racers. 

Result
1 Marianne Vos (Ned) Nederland Bloeit 3:12:03
2 Emma Pooley (GBr) Garmin - Cervelo 0:00:12
3 Judith Arndt (Ger) HTC Highroad Women 0:00:22
4 Tatiana Guderzo (Ita) SC MCipollini Giordana 0:00:25
5 Mara Abbott (USA) Diadora - Pasta Zara 0:00:33
6 Tatiana Antoshina (Rus) Gauss 0:00:50
7 Ruth Corset (Aus) Bizkaia-Durango 0:00:57
8 Claudia Häusler (Ger) Diadora - Pasta Zara 0:01:03
9 Emma Johansson (Swe) Hitec Products - UCK 0:01:33
10 Elena Berlato (Ita) Top Girls Fassa Bortolo 0:01:55

18 Nicole Cooke (GBr) SC MCipollini Giordana 0:03:12
27 Sharon Laws (GBr) Garmin - Cervelo 0:04:07

Stage 8

A short, climbing stage from Teglio to Valdidentro.

Britain's Emma Pooley took her first stage of this year's race, making the most of her climbing skills to edge out race leader Marianne Vos after the pair rode clear of the main field.

Vos is now on route to claim her first ever grand tour victory after resisting Pooley, who offered the strongest challenge yet to the pink jersey in the Giro Donne.

Expected by some to crumble in the domain of climbing specialists, Vos has instead proved she can ride with the best and win, an asset expected to take her all the way to the finish at San Francesco Al Campo.

Emma Pooley kept up the pressure all the way to the line as she made a concerted attempt to regain some time on GC. Unfortunately, her advances were in vain and in the remaning two stages, she will need to pull back 2:32.

Result
1 Emma Pooley (GBr) Garmin - Cervelo 2:25:45
2 Marianne Vos (Ned) Nederland Bloeit
3 Ruth Corset (Aus) Bizkaia-Durango 0:01:29
4 Judith Arndt (Ger) HTC Highroad Women 0:02:39
5 Tatiana Antoshina (Rus) Gauss 0:02:49
6 Tatiana Guderzo (Ita) SC MCipollini Giordana
7 Mara Abbott (USA) Diadora - Pasta Zara 0:03:16
8 Emma Johansson (Swe) Hitec Products - UCK 0:04:12
9 Shara Gillow (Aus) Bizkaia-Durango 0:04:14
10 Elena Berlato (Ita) Top Girls Fassa Bortolo 0:04:16

20 Sharon Laws (GBr) Garmin - Cervelo 0:09:16
31 Nicole Cooke (GBr) SC MCipollini Giordana 0:19:02

Stage 7
The first of three climbing stages to conclude the Giro Donne.

When least expected, Marianne Vos continued her dominance of the Giro Donne, installing herself as a favourite for the General Classification - despite having never reached a grand tour podium.

On the first day of three huge climbing stages, huge gaps were expected to form - and there was not disappointment, ten minutes now separating the top ten positions.

Emma Pooley, expected to ignite the slopes was missing Vos' spark on the opening day, but retained second on GC, 2:36 adrift - losing 1:34 on stage 7. But with another two stages remaining and an individual time trial, the Giro Donne title is one which still remains in fine balance.

Sharon Laws - sitting fifth on GC one day previous lost 8:53 and fell to 13th on GC - but with Garmin Cervelo team-mate Pooley in the stronger position, it was expected Laws would work for the team and not an individual standing.

Stage two of four decisive moments comes tomorrow, with another series of brutal climbs.

Result
1 Marianne Vos (Ned) Nederland Bloeit 3:39:00
2 Tatiana Guderzo (Ita) SC MCipollini Giordana 0:01:13
3 Lucinda Brand (Ned) AA Drink - Leontien.nl Cycling Team 0:01:21
4 Judith Arndt (Ger) HTC Highroad Women
5 Emma Pooley (GBr) Garmin - Cervelo 0:01:34
6 Carla Ryan (Aus) Garmin - Cervelo 0:03:51
7 Tatiana Antoshina (Rus) Gauss
8 Mara Abbott (USA) Diadora - Pasta Zara 0:04:29
9 Emma Johansson (Swe) Hitec Products - UCK 0:04:43
10 Claudia Häusler (Ger) Diadora - Pasta Zara 0:05:06
13 Nicole Cooke (GBr) SC MCipollini Giordana

26 Sharon Laws (GBr) Garmin - Cervelo 0:08:53

Stage 6
The final sprint stage of the Giro Donne, before the decisive mountains.

Marianne Vos concluded a grouping of sprinters stages with a third win at the Giro Donne from Fontanellato to Piacenza.

However, Vos expects to submit her lead on GC as the first of three consecutive mountain stages are presented tomorrow; somewhere Brits Emma Pooley and Sharon Laws - currently sitting third and fifth respectively - are expected to excel.

Result:
1 Marianne Vos (Ned) Nederland Bloeit 3:14:07
2 Giorgia Bronzini (Ita) Colavita Forno d'Asolo
3 Ina Teutenberg (Ger) HTC Highroad Women
4 Sara Mustonen (Swe) Hitec Products - UCK
5 Martine Bras (Ned) Netherlands
6 Annemiek Van Vleuten (Ned) Nederland Bloeit
7 Julia Martisova (Rus) Gauss
8 Emma Johansson (Swe) Hitec Products - UCK
9 Cherise Taylor (RSA) Lotto Honda Team
10 Annalisa Cucinotta (Ita) Kleo Ladies Team

32 Sharon Laws
72 Emma Pooley
89 Nicole Cooke

Stage 5
A kick to the line from Altedo to Verona, 129km ends with a solo win for Nicole Cooke.

Britain's first victory in the Giro Donne came from 2008 Olympic Road Race Champion Nicole Cooke. Taking her first win of 2011 in the hometown of her MCipollini-Giordana trade team, Cooke responded to mulitple attacks in the closing stages, before winning alone.

On the longest day of the Giro, none of the contenders for General Classification were troubled; all finishing in the bunch at four seconds and maintaining the status quo before the final mountain stages.

Worst news of the day came for Lucy Martin; involved in a crash in the final stages and forced to retire with a broken wrist.

Result:
1 Nicole Cooke (GBr) SC MCipollini Giordana 3:07:15
2 Marianne Vos (Ned) Nederland Bloeit 0:00:04
3 Ina Teutenberg (Ger) HTC Highroad Women
4 Giorgia Bronzini (Ita) Colavita Forno d'Asolo
5 Julia Martisova (Rus) Gauss
6 Annemiek Van Vleuten (Ned) Nederland Bloeit
7 Eleonora Patuzzo (Ita) Diadora - Pasta Zara
8 Sharon Laws (GBr) Garmin - Cervelo
9 Monia Baccaille (Ita) SC MCipollini Giordana
10 Davina Summers (Aus) Bizkaia-Durango

63 Emma Pooley

Stage 4
One bump and a sprint to the line; day four was easy to control but tomorrow a breakaway is predicted.

A welcome flat stage in the Giro Donne ensured there was no movement in the overall standings, as riders recovered from two days of challenging climbs.

The remaining four British riders placed safely in the bunch, where Pooley and Laws will look to stay anonymous over the coming days, before a final three days in the mountains, which will decide the destination of the Giro Donne.

Result
1 Ina Teutenberg (Ger) HTC Highroad Women 1:51:50
2 Giorgia Bronzini (Ita) Colavita Forno d'Asolo
3 Monia Baccaille (Ita) SC MCipollini Giordana
4 Emma Johansson (Swe) Hitec Products - UCK
5 Annemiek Van Vleuten (Ned) Nederland Bloeit
6 Martine Bras (Ned) Netherlands
7 Rasa Leleivyte (Ltu) Vaiano Solaristech
8 Lucy Martin (GBr) Garmin - Cervelo
9 Trixi Worrack (Ger) AA Drink - Leontien.nl Cycling Team
10 Marianne Vos (Ned) Nederland Bloeit

15 Sharon Laws (GBr) Garmin - Cervelo
50 Emma Pooley (GBr) Garmin - Cervelo
77 Nicole Cooke (GBr) SC MCipollini Giordana

Stage 3
Further breaks in the peloton and two Brits still with a chance of the win.

A series of six cruel undulations following a punishing stage two redefined the leaderboard at the Giro Donne; Emma Pooley and Marianne Vos the biggest winners of the day.

From Potenza Picena to Fermo, 104km was enough for Marianne Vos to take 19 seconds from Emma Pooley, and for Pooley to gain a further 2 minutes 31 seconds on the next group of finishers.

Laws would eventually cross the line over four minutes adrift, dropping from second to fifth overall, while Lizzie Amitstead, still suffering from a crash on stage two, was forced to retire.

Result:
1 Marianne Vos (Ned) Nederland Bloeit 2:58:04
2 Emma Pooley (GBr) Garmin - Cervelo 0:00:19
3 Judith Arndt (Ger) HTC Highroad Women 0:02:50
4 Rasa Leleivyte (Ltu) Vaiano Solaristech
5 Emma Johansson (Swe) Hitec Products - UCK
6 Ruth Corset (Aus) Bizkaia-Durango
7 Tatiana Guderzo (Ita) SC MCipollini Giordana
8 Sylwia Kapusta (Pol) Gauss 0:02:59
9 Tatiana Antoshina (Rus) Gauss 0:03:12
10 Fabiana Luperini (Ita) SC MCipollini Giordana 0:03:24

17 Sharon Laws (GBr) Garmin - Cervelo 0:04:22
31 Nicole Cooke (GBr) SC MCipollini Giordana 0:06:51
90 Lucy Martin (GBr) Garmin - Cervelo 0:24:41

Stage 2
The first climber's stage of the Giro Donne gives everyone a chance to test their legs

A 91km tour of Pescocostanzo incorporating two significant climbs was enough to redefine the general classification on day two of the Giro Donne - Britain's Sharon Laws leading the shakeup.

Finishing alongside stage winner Shara Gillow, Laws completed the stage in second to rest second in the general classification.

Emma Pooley, finishing at over three minutes now looks to be the only other Brit in contention for the overall win, as Nicole Cooke, Lucy Martin and Lizzie Armitstead all finished over 15 minutes adrift of the leaders.

Result
1 Shara Gillow (Aus) Bizkaia-Durango 4:49:35
2 Sharon Laws (GBr) Garmin - Cervelo 0:00:04
3 Sylwia Kapusta (Pol) Gauss 0:00:16
4 Christel Ferrier-Bruneau (Fra) Gauss 0:00:56
5 Grace Verbeke (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen 2012 - Ridley Team 0:00:58
6 Ina Teutenberg (Ger) HTC Highroad Women 0:01:10
7 Andrea Dvorak (USA) Colavita Forno d'Asolo 0:01:30
8 Linda Melanie Villumsen (NZl) AA Drink - Leontien.nl Cycling Team 0:01:42
9 Valentina Scandolara (Ita) Gauss 0:01:50
10 Marianne Vos (Ned) Nederland Bloeit 0:03:17

12 Emma Pooley (GBr) Garmin - Cervelo 0:03:30
66 Nicole Cooke (GBr) SC MCipollini Giordana 0:15:03
72 Lucy Martin (GBr) Garmin - Cervelo 0:15:12
99 Elizabeth Armitstead (GBr) Garmin - Cervelo 0:21:10

Stage 1
A classic sprint stage into Velletri seals the first pink jersey and the die is set for 2011's Giro Donne. Stage 1 Following the Brits

All British riders made it safely through the opening stage of the Giro Donne, won by Marianne Vos.

The leading British rider was Lizzie Armitstead taking the white jersey for best young rider after finishing fourth in a group at one second on the 86km stage from Roma to Valletri; a lumpy route causing multiple small breaks in the pack.

Emma Pooley - 11th and Sharon Laws - 21st, were two other Brits to hold time in the finale, Nicole Cooke dropping 16 seconds, Lucy Martin losing 24 seconds on GC.

Far bigger time gaps are expected to form on stage two however, as the first series of climbs are tackled.

Result:
1 Marianne Vos (Ned) Nederland Bloeit 2:11:56
2 Ina Teutenberg (Ger) HTC Highroad Women 0:00:01
3 Emma Johansson (Swe) Hitec Products - UCK
4 Elizabeth Armitstead (GBr) Garmin - Cervelo
5 Judith Arndt (Ger) HTC Highroad Women
6 Rossella Callovi (Ita) SC MCipollini Giordana
7 Elena Berlato (Ita) Top Girls Fassa Bortolo
8 Tatiana Guderzo (Ita) SC MCipollini Giordana
9 Rasa Leleivyte (Ltu) Vaiano Solaristech
10 Martine Bras (Ned) Netherlands

11 Emma Pooley (GBr) Garmin - Cervelo
21 Sharon Laws (GBr) Garmin - Cervelo
50 Nicole Cooke (GBr) SC MCipollini Giordana 0:00:16
64 Lucy Martin (GBr) Garmin - Cervelo 0:00:24