Norwich's Emma Pooley won her second stage race of the season yesterday after defending the lead she had in the Giro di Trentino race in Italy since stage one.

Norwich's Emma Pooley won her second stage race of the season yesterday after defending the lead she had in the Giro di Trentino race in Italy since stage one.

The British Time Trial Champion had won the first stage by over two minutes and then had the help of probably the strongest team in the peloton to help her defend it over the next two days.

Pooley said: 'It went really well today. We kept the jersey, the team worked hard and rode very aggressively and we were able to make some attacks.

'In the front group, there were 14 riders with three from our team. Sharon (Laws) was super strong today and Claudia ended up in the breakaway with Arndt and finished third on the stage and in the general classification as well.

'Today's conditions were not easy. It was wet and cold and the team really held it together to achieve another great result.'

Another British rider, Sharon Laws, also riding for the Cervelo Test Team, won the Sprinters jersey to go with Pooley's winners and mountains jerseys.

Pooley will now return to Britain for the National Road Race Championships in Pendle, Lancashire, this coming Sunday, along with her British team-mates Laws and Lizzie Armistead.

All three are among the favourites tipped to win the title along with defending champion Nicole Cooke.

Norwich's Emma Pooley won her second stage race of the season yesterday after defending the lead she had in the Giro di Trentino race in Italy since stage one.

The British Time Trial Champion had won the first stage by over two minutes and then had the help of probably the strongest team in the peloton to help her defend it over the next two days.

Pooley said: 'It went really well today. We kept the jersey, the team worked hard and rode very aggressively and we were able to make some attacks.

'In the front group, there were 14 riders with three from our team. Sharon (Laws) was super strong today and Claudia ended up in the breakaway with Arndt and finished third on the stage and in the general classification as well.

'Today's conditions were not easy. It was wet and cold and the team really held it together to achieve another great result.'

Another British rider, Sharon Laws, also riding for the Cervelo Test Team, won the Sprinters jersey to go with Pooley's winners and mountains jerseys.

Pooley will now return to Britain for the National Road Race Championships in Pendle, Lancashire, this coming Sunday, along with her British team-mates Laws and Lizzie Armistead.

All three are among the favourites tipped to win the title along with defending champion Nicole Cooke.