San Luis Obispo, CA – Ina-Yoko Teutenberg scored a third straight win in the Giro Donne on Sunday, reinforcing her overall lead on a time trial stage that saw HTC-Columbia riders scoop three of the top four places.

Teutenberg finished 21 seconds ahead of Holland’s Kirsten Wild in the 16.9 kilometer race against the clock, whilst her HTC-Columbia team-mates Judith Arndt and Linda Villumsen finished third and fourth respectively.

“I’ve taken three stages in a row in the Giro Donne before,” Teutenberg said, “but I’ve never won two bunch sprints and then a time trial, that’s pretty exciting. I was just hoping I would go out there and maybe not lose too much time, but it was a really good course for me and I had really good legs.

“As race leader I was last rider off and half-way round I heard from Ronny [Lauke, HTC-Columbia sports director] that I had the best time. I thought I could have a good second half, and when I caught [Italy's Giorgia] Bronzini in the last part, that gave me some extra motivation.”

Teutenberg says that tomorrow [Monday] could see another bunch sprint, whilst on Tuesday the race “starts to hit some bumps.”

“We’ve got three out of three stages and the lead so there’s no pressure on us now, but hopefully we’ll have the lead by the end of the week. The Giro’s always a big target, it’s one of the most important women’s races out there and whatever happens it’s a real honor for me to wear the maglia rosa.”