Once a rider claims a Grand Tour leader's jersey, it's customary for them to be immediately kitted out in a matching colour scheme. The extent of this transformation is often extreme, with teams and sponsors providing everything from specially-painted bikes and helmets to sunglasses, bar tape, and even custom name stickers.

As the Giro d'Italia hits home soil after its foray into Bulgaria over the weekend, I thought it was about time to add a splash of pink, in honour of the first grand tour of the year. Check out 12 of our favourite Rosa-coloured items below, from bold statement pieces to more subtle nods.

One retailer going all in on pink is Competitive Cyclists - 20% off sale with Code: GIRO20, ends 15th May

Of course, pink isn't the only colour represented at the Giro d'Italia; you can find out what all the jersey colours represent in our handy guide, but if pink is a little bold for you, or just not your colour, you can always opt to honour the Giro with some ciclamino or purple, azzurra blue or, of course, white.

A large number of the products I have selected below are highly rated by our experts, for example, the MAAP x Quoc M3 Cycling Shoes, and the Lizard Skins DSP tape features as one of our best bar tapes. I can't leave without mentioning one of the best budget cycling helmets: the Specialized Align II MIPS, which remains one of the cheapest MIPS-equipped helmets on the market.

You can follow all the happenings at the Giro d'Italia right here at Cycling Weekly, where our team will be reporting on the day's events, providing in-depth analysis, and answering the important questions you all will have, like how do cyclists pee while riding?

Also, why not check out Off The Back, a new podcast brought to you by the Cycling Weekly team! Each week, we will bring you a bite-sized chunk of cycling to keep you up to date, and below is our bike Giro preview, where Adam, Simon and Tom discuss the route, the contenders, and, of course, give their predictions.

This past week, some 1,100 cycling brands and nearly 80,000 attendees converged in Monterey, California, for the 34th edition of North America’s biggest cycling gathering: the Sea Otter Classic. 

Held since 1991, the Sea Otter Classic is part industry show, part racing festival, including the first round of the Life Time Grand Prix off-road series. 

Amid a sea of fluttering flags, the Laguna Seca raceway transformed into a bustling hub of hundreds of brands vying for the attention of racers, consumers, and journalists alike. We were granted exclusive sneak peeks at some exciting forthcoming tech that we cannot yet share, but for now, let's dive into the highlights of the on-the-record news and fun discoveries of the 2024 Sea Otter Classic.

Kona’s for sale

Easily the most talked-about topic in the industry this past week was Kona Bikes and its mysterious abandoning of the show.

The Bellingham, Washington-based company abruptly halted its booth setup on Wednesday after its parent company, Kent Outdoors, informed them to cease operations, break down the display, and return to headquarters for a company-wide meeting. By the show’s opening on Thursday, no trace of Kona Bikes’ presence was left standing. 

While employees were initially tight-lipped about what was happening, the rumor mill was buzzing. 

Kent Outdoors, a Canadian sporting goods company, bought Kona from its founders in 2022 and appointed a new CFO just this week. On Friday, details emerged that after a strategic review of the business, the 36-year-old brand would be put up for sale.

“This move allows the company to direct its resources toward investment in its key water sports businesses. The bike industry has faced very significant challenges in the post-Covid world and Kona has not been immune to these headwinds,” a Kent Outdoors press release reads.

As Kent Outdoors hoists the "for sale" sign, the extent of employee layoffs remains uncertain, though word of mouth suggests a grim outlook.

Triban's no longer

The French one-stop sports superstore Decathlon returned to Sea Otter this year, enjoying a boost in recognition of its Van Rysel brand thanks to the sponsorship of the AG2R WorldTour team.

The team is riding aboard Van Rysel RCR PRO, which was designed in partnership with the French aerospace research laboratory, wheel manufacturer Swiss Side, and Deda Elementi. The top-of-the-line bike is also said to be the cheapest bike in the peloton at around $10,999 USD/£9,000.00. 

For those familiar with the more budget Triban brand, Decathlon shared with Cycling Weekly that the brand will be discontinued – in name, anyway. Henceforward, all bikes will be branded Van Rysel, including last year’s standout: the $3999 titanium Riverside Triban GRVL 900 Gravel Bike.

Parlee is back

Parlee Cycles is back from the brink of bankruptcy with new management and a brand-new bike model. 

The COVID years were rocky for the  23-year-old and celebrated American brand. After filing for bankruptcy, Parlee Cycles continued under a bootstrapped operation before being acquired by an independent investor to secure its future.

Operating under a newly formed entity named Parlee Composites, Inc, led by investor and CEO John Harrison, Parlee showed its belief in an optimistic future by unveiling a new bike model at the Sea Otter Classic.

Introducing: the Parlee Ouray.

Handmade in a yet-to-be-revealed eastern European country rather than its Beverly, Massachusetts factory, the Ouray is a high-performing all-road bicycle that aims to ‘blend Bob Parlee’s 25 years of masterful custom carbon fiber expertise and the brand's legendary ride quality with a fresh new design and all-new construction.’

The unidirectional carbon fiber ply is meticulously placed to create a frame that requires no cosmetic layers, filler, bonding agents, or paint. As such, the frame sports a stunning raw carbon frameset with a clear wax finish and a simple logo.

‘This level of finish quality is extremely hard to do -it’s why almost no one else does it- so we’re proud to show our work,’ says Parlee.

According to the brand, the Ouray is its most comfortable bike yet while being ‘incredibly lightweight, yet durable enough for real-world adventures’.

In line with today’s market, the all-road bike has clearance for wider 700x38 tires, an updated geometry, and modern touches like full internal routing with integrated cockpits, electronic-only shifting, and a T47 threaded bottom bracket and UDH derailleur hanger.

Mavic is also back

Also back from bankruptcy is the heritage brand Mavic. After filing for bankruptcy in 2020, Mavic was acquired by new investors and continued some very small scale operations. But at the end of 2023, Mavic announced a return with the opening of a facility in Waterbury, Vermont, and the promise of new product.

At Sea Otter, the 135-year-old company has a chance to showcase this new product, which features some gravel wheelsets, new footwear and a continued commitment to road cycling –including rim-brake wheelsets.

On the gravel front, Mavic has designed two gravel-specific wheelsets: the Allroad SL and the Allroad S, which Cycling Weekly has in to test so look for a review soon. 

But what stood out to us most, was its tubeless, tapeless technology. Named “Fore Carbon tapeless tubeless technology,” this design replaces the practice of drilling the rim to attach the spokes and nipples with a threaded metallic insert wrapped inside the carbon layups of the lower rim bridge to enable the spoke nipples to be directly screwed in it. This attachment saves an average of 40g and eliminates rim tape (another 30g saved per wheel).

And for those loyal to the heritage brand and/or rim brakes, Mavic continues to not only service its rim-brake wheelsets but but also keeps its rim brake wheelers up-to-date with modern must-haves like tubeless technology and hub compatibility. 

Garmin Varia now has competition

Trek used Sea Otter to launch various new products, including –excitingly– a competitor to Garmin’s popular Varia radar devices. 

For those unfamiliar, the Garmin Varia is a rear-facing radar device that alerts cyclists to vehicles approaching from behind. It detects vehicles approaching from up to 140 meters away and provides visual and audible alerts to the rider, helping them stay aware of traffic conditions without constantly looking over their shoulder.

Likewise, the all-new Trek Carback radar and rear light alerts riders to rear-approaching cars while also including a daytime-visible light that’s visible up to 2 kilometers away so the rider can stand out to approaching vehicles. What’s more, Trek says it’s got Garmin beat with a range of 240 meters, detecting rear-approaching vehicles even sooner. 

“It’s a win-win for riders and drivers alike, allowing for safer passing and sharing of roadways, says Trek.

The radar and rear light pair with most major GPS cycling computers, GPS sport watches, and smartphones using the Trek Accessory app to provide visible and audible cues.

The device features a relatively compact profile that is attached to saddlebags with a clip or seat posts of various shapes with a flexible strap. It’s also got a built-in light with four modes, an LED battery life indicator (up to 7 hours) and a weatherproof USB-C charging port. 

The Trek CarBack is now available from the Trek website and via Trek retailers for $199.

The new Castelli Gabba is here

Seen in some spring races already this season, Casetlli’s latest iteration of the ultimate foul weather garment, the Gabba, has arrived (--the very first real-life unit on U.S. soil literally arrived as I visited the booth!). 

Not only is the Gabba R said to be the brand’s most protective race jacket, it’s also said to be Castelli’s most aerodynamic jacket yet and PFAS-free.

‘It provides aerodynamics akin to a speed suit, as well as water protection like a rain cape,” says Castelli.

“With cutting-edge fabric technology and meticulous design, the Gabba R sets a new standard for aerodynamics, waterproofing, and breathability, revolutionizing the cycling experience for professionals and enthusiasts alike.”

The Gabba R looks unlike any previous item in the Gabba collection. It’s seek, stretchy, ultra-thin yet weatherproof…but also a tad fragile and therefore made just for road riding. 

The Gabba R is made of a brand-new fabric technology, exclusive to Castelli, and is made by Italian performance fabric innovator ITTTAI®. The microporous electro-spun hydrophobic polyurethane membrane and fabric are said to combine ‘stretch-fit functionality with unparalleled water resistance and breathability.’ 

The fabric has a claimed weight of just 125gr /m2 and stretches to at least double the original dimension in each direction.

Made with the demands of pro racers in mind, aerodynamics were paramount in creating the Gabba “Race”. Through two separate wind tunnel tests, augmented with tests on the road, Castelli says the Gabba R is faster even than the brand’s Sanremo BTW. 

 The jacket is available in a half-sleeve and full-sleeve version and features a YKK® Vislon® waterproof zipper, 3 rear mesh pockets and a drop tail with a reflective stripe for visibility. 

Full-sleeve jackets are $349.99 / €299,95.

A new generation of Giro’s beloved Empire shoe is coming

The beloved Giro Empire shoe is getting an update in 2024. First released for road cycling in 2012, the Giro Empire quickly gained popularity due to its innovative yet retro, laced design and performance features. Later, Giro expanded its Empire line to include off-road and ultra-lightweight SLX models as well. 

New off-road laced and SLX versions are slated for the end of summer with updates including a thinner, more pliable fabric, metal BOA reels for the SLX version and a re-envisioned sole. 

Among the neat features of the new sole is that the toe spikes are not only replaceable with metal ones, the bolts that keep the plastic spikes in place are actual cleat bolts to serve as spares should you need a new cleat bolt whilst out on an adventure. 

The SLX off-road version will feature a similar ultralight monofilament "Synchwire" mesh upper as seen in the road version, with an added membrane for durability and weather protection. It will also switch to metal BOA closures instead of laces. 

Speaking of Giro:. Visma-Lease a bike’s much-talked-about time trial helmets will go on sale for the consumer market later this season, and Giro says it expects the helmet will be popular among triathletes. Price is TBD. Wearing the helmet on display was a 3D-printed copy of Jonas Vingegaard himself, who looks as tiny IRL as he does on TV. Fortunately, the TT helmet actually doesn’t look quite so outrageous in person.  

Along with this helmet, Giro’s team edition helmets of the Visma - Lease a bike and Canyon-SRAM teams will also be available commercially soon. 

Bontrager releases new Gravel Tires

Bontrager released two new gravel tire models at the Sea Otter Classic show, each with all-new compounds, construction and fresh tread patterns.

The tire line hadn’t seen a refresh in some time, the brand acknowledged and was eager to unveil its latest tire families: the Girona and Betasso.

With it, Bontrager also announced a new hierarchy of tire construction and level.. Constructions are indicated by initials GR and GX. GR is the faster-rolling construction with woven nylon bead-to-bead puncture protection. GX was made for the more demanding terrain and sports an additional sub-tread puncture protection layer.

There are four levels available for each tire model as well, with levels being assigned based on construction, TPI level, compound choice and intended use. COMP is the entry-level, RSL is the top-of-the-line and ELITE and PRO sit somewhere in the middle. All tires are tubeless-ready.

Named after the Spanish cycling conclave, the Girona is a speedy, all-round gravel tire with a fast-rolling center and medium side knobs, designed for hardpacked gravel and mixed-surface outings. It comes with either 60TPI (PRO) or 220TPI (RSL) casings, and in  35, 38, and 42mm widths. The Girona PRO retails for $49.99 and the RSL comes in at $69.99 USD.

The Betasso, named after the Boulder, Colorado based trails, is a more aggressive gravel designed for looser, rockier conditions. Currently available in just one construction and level, the Betasso features a  60TPI (RSL) casing, bead-to-bead sub-tread puncture protection and comes in 42, 45, and 50mm widths. The Betasso tire retails for $69.99 USD.

D30 unveils vibration dampening insoles

D30, the maker of my trusted mountain bike pads and phone case is diversifying its product offerings with a new product category simply called Performance. Here, D3O is leveraging insights gained from its technical partnerships with Formula 1, NASCAR and NASA, and bringing its anti-vibration and shock absorption technology to a variety of sports products with the aim of enhancing performance whilst reducing.

The first products to be launched in the new Performance category are handlebar grips, in partnership with  ODI, and shoe insoles. 

Made with D3O Grip™ compound, the grips are said to offer two times more vibration-dampening than any other grip material on the market, leading to a smoother ride, less hand fatigue and ulnar neuropathy.

This same anti-vibration technology can now be found in a range of insoles, which are said to provide shock absorption and comfort across bumpy terrain. The new insoles incorporate strategically located, highly damping inserts to reduce numbness, aching, and fatigue in the balls of the feet and legs caused by vibration and shock.

For now, these insoles are available on their own as an accessory, but D3O did share that, in the coming summer, ‘premium cycling footwear brands’ will start equipping their shoes with D3O insoles. 

Annemiek van Vleuten has said she will only target the Giro d'Italia Donne and Tour de France Femmes double if the Giro course is "interesting".

Speaking on Wednesday, the Movistar rider said that "if the Giro course is interesting, I will also add the Giro to my plan". The two-time Giro winner explained: "It should make me hungry. It should be a challenging parcours."

2022 will see the inaugural edition of the Tour de France Femmes, an eight-day stage race put together by Tour organiser ASO. It is scheduled for two weeks after the Giro d'Italia Donne, a 10-day event seen by many as the premier women's stage race, which has been running since 1988.

"We have a new goal this year with the Tour de France," Van Vleuten told Cycling Weekly. "I would not say I'm in a black hole this year after the Olympics. We have another beautiful goal coming up in the Tour de France, and then I will maybe make it a bit more challenging, because if the Giro course is interesting, I will also add the Giro to my plan." 

In a warning to her rivals for both general classification titles, she said: "Then you have two super-nice races close to each other, and I like challenges. Challenges usually get the best out of myself."

The Dutchwoman has won almost everything in cycling, from the World Championships road race to the Tour of Flanders, via stage races like the Giro. The Tour is her overwhelming goal for this year, as a new standout event, but an attempt at the Giro-Tour double would further be unprecedented.

In men's cycling, the last rider to win the double was Marco Pantani in 1998. Although there is longer between the two events, the two male races are 21-stages long, which makes it a different feat to the 18 days of racing needed to complete the women's Giro and Tour.

Van Vleuten is already looking at how to recover between the two. She said: "I think it's something we've looked at, me and my coach. How to prepare well but also how to recharge between big events. 

"Those two things we have a little bit under control, how I can recharge myself after a huge goal like the Giro and then recharge for the Tour de France. Mentally and physically."

It is something that is being taken seriously by her team: "We are going to do some recons, they are already planned, my team is also excited to do that. This year there will be less emphasis on the time trial, because there is no time trialling in the Tour for example, so there will be more focus for me on the road racing, and to improve my climbing."

In terms of what the 39-year old is looking for should she target the Giro, she explained: "It should make me hungry. It should be a challenging parcours. For sure, it's a bonus if they put in a famous climb. I think also for the development and for the Giro itself it's good if you say we did the Zoncolan, or we did the Mortirolo, or we did Gavia. 

"If they add at least one famous climb where people get a feeling for what we are doing there. For sure it needs to be a mix with sprint stages also, but if there are only sprint stages you will not see me there."

Van Vleuten has twice won the Giro comprehensively, in 2018 by over four minutes and in 2019 by over three and a half minutes. In 2020 she looked to be heading to victory, leading by 1-48 before crashing out; she did not race the event last year due to her focus on the Tokyo Olympics, where she won silver in the road race and gold in the time trial.

She also said that she had a bit of a problem with the first Tour de France Femmes being "hyped" too much. 

"Maybe it's a little bit like the Olympics that everyone is talking too much about it, if you ask me," the Movistar rider said. "Because in the end, it's an eight-day stage race. It's really nice that it's on the calendar, and I think they do it really well, and it will be really big because it is related to the men's race. For the media it will be super big. It is a beautiful stage race added to our calendar. 

"I sometimes have a little bit of a problem when something gets really hyped, like the Olympics. Too many people talk about it and the media make it too big, maybe also with this Tour de France. It's super nice to have it and I'm super happy, but in the end we also have had years of the Giro d'Italia for women over 10 days and I have had super epic battles there and no one was talking about it."

After another season of improvement in 2022, charismatic Danish rider, Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig has her eye firmly set on the Tour de France yellow jersey this summer.

Her FDJ-Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope team has been strengthening over recent years and now has the depth to support the 26 year-old’s ambitions, as well as challenge for the win in most races.

Despite being near the top of the sport for some years, the 2021 season was a breakout for the Uttrup Ludwig. After consistently challenging in top tier races, last May she finally bagged her first WorldTour victory, winning an uphill stage of the Vuelta Burgos, a result which has left her wanting more.

“It was an important and meaningful victory for me,” Uttrup Ludwig told journalists during a press conference from a team camp in Spain. “It was also a big relief because I feel for a long time I’ve been up there where it’s fun in the final, but not really able to transfer that into victories. You want that same feeling again, so it’s definitely the ambition to win more this year.”

And the one race she wants to win most in her third season with the team? “The Tour de France,” she asserts firmly.

Plenty of others harbour that ambition, and Uttrup Ludwig is unlikely to roll out of Paris on July 24th as the main favourite, but she and the team cannot be counted out.

“I think my weakness has sometimes been in the longer climbs, so definitely that has been a focus during the winter period, but as we get closer to the Tour de France, it will definitely be my target to to do more,” she explains.

“I've got four or five other strong teammates with me at the Tour. It's a French team. We're in France. We're at the biggest cycling race in the cycling world. Of course, there’s going to be a lot of pressure, but I'm excited.”

Uttrup Ludwig is slated to start both the Tour and Giro Donne, with the 10 day Italian race finishing only 10 days before the start in Paris. In Italy she will share leadership duties with current French champion Evita Muzic and Marta Cavalli.

There will be four leaders in France, Uttrup Ludwig joined by Cavalli, Muzic and new signing, recently crowned Australian TT champion, Grace Brown, all looking to take chances for what will be an important race for the only French WorldTeam.

The team has not always been able to dream with such ambition, but Uttrup Ludwig’s Burgos victory was not only signifiant for her. Though it was not their first top tier success, the win after a lumpy day to Ojo Guareña was a landmark for the team.

“I was not a small victory because there were a lot of big riders, Anna van der Breggen, Van Vleuten, Niewiadoma,” explained team manager Stephen Delcourt. “It was a new step and after that we realised that all is possible. We can play to win every race.”

That conviction comes on the back of a deliberate strategy to internationalise, adding valuable experience to help their young French riders. While it was serendipitous that Muzic scored that milestone win with a stage at the 2020 Giro, it is the foreign women who have bought the Poitiers based squad most success.

Uttrup Ludwig had already joined the team when Muzic took that victory, and finished two seconds from the general classification podium that year - she might have finished higher had the team not lost 1-33 on the opening stage Team Time Trial.

And after she crashed in the same stage at last year’s re-named Giro Donne, another of the squad’s foreign legion stepped up, former Italian champion Marta Cavalli taking fifth overall after a stunning display on the mountainous parcours.

Cavalli’s signing, Brown’s arrival and Muzic’s ongoing development mean FDJ will challenge this year making big race wins more a probability than wishful thinking, including in Italy and France this July. However, the team, along with all others, will need to plan carefully given the two races’ proximity on the calendar.

“I think it's gonna be super hard,” says Uttrup Ludwig, whose thoughtful, intelligent responses are even more engaging than the gushing post race TV responses she is known for. “But on the other hand, the men can handle three weeks of stage racing, and luckily, we have a little break in between! 

“We haven't tried this before, but it is possible if you have the right planning going into it and knowing that you'll have rest period [between races.]

It was two from two efforts for Dutchwoman Lorena Wiebes on Friday, the Team DSM rider taking a second stage win at the Giro Donne.

Once again the 22-year-old proved herself the fastest in the world, out-sprinting Emma Norsgaard (Movistar) after an excellent lead out from Coryn Rivera. Maria Vittoria Sperotto (AR Monex) took third.

Movistar had been in complete control for much of the closing 30km, marshaling the front of the peloton with their whole team, while other squads had committed only one rider. The Spanish squad led the way into the closing 500m of what was a messy sprint with many other teams jostling for position.  

As they did when Wiebes won stage five, DSM left it late to come to the front, the team lurking on Movistar’s shoulder until the final 300m when Coryn Rivera led Wiebes to the front with almost embarrassing ease. 

After winning her 30th Giro stage yesterday, Marianne Vos (Jumbo-Visma) finished fifth and the Jumbo-Visma rider will miss the rest of the race, heading home to complete her Olympic preparations.

How it happened

The pre-race was notable for a number of withdrawals, with one of the pre-event favourites Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (FDJ-Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope) finally succumbing to injuries sustained in an opening day crash.

However, it also saw the entire Tibco-Silicon Valley Bank team quit the race after an internal COVID-19 test returned a positive. This came the day after the squad’s British rider, Leah Dixon failed to finish stage seven. It is not known which rider tested positive.

Stage eight’s pan flat 129.4km route between San Vendemiano and Mortegliano not only crossed from the Veneto region to Friuli-Venezia-Giulia, but also provided a last opportunity for the sprinters.

The day began in aggressive fashion with one group after another trying to get away, though none were able to build any sort of lead, the peloton once again flying along ahead of schedule.

The attacks continued well into the race and it was only with around 55km done that anything stuck, Anastasia Carbonari (Born To Win G20 Ambedo) getting a gap. She had 1-20 when she was finally caught by her team-mate Natalia Studenikina and Giorgia Vetorello (Top Girls Fassa Bortolo), and the peloton finally allowed them their heads, the advantage expanding to more than three minutes as they reached the day’s final 50km.

And that’s where the gap stayed until around 35km were left, when Emma Norsgaard’s Movistar team and the DSM squad of stage five winner, Lorena Wiebes worked together to chip away at the lead.

Joined at the front by Jumbo-Visma, the gap dropped below one minute just as the leaders passed the 15km to go marker. The bunch were always in control though, bringing the three escapees back with 6.1km to go.

The final marred by a late crash with five kilometres to go, which took out both of BikeExchange’s leaders. Amanda Spratt crashed out of last year’s Giro, and was seen clutching her collarbone on Friday, while Grace Brown also crashed. Not only does it ruin their Giro, with no news on their condition it also raises questions about their Olympic participation.

Saturday’s penultimate stage will decide whether Anna van der Breggen can hold on for a fourth Giro title. Beginning in Feletto-Umberto there is a third and second category climb before the final mountain top finish at Monte Matajur, close to the Slovenian border.

Nearly 14km at an average of 7.7 per cent there will be huge time gaps after what has been a testing week.

Results

Giro d’Italia Donne, stage eight: San Vendemiamo - Mortelgiano (129.4km)

1. Lorena Wiebes (Ned) DSM in 3-10-01
2. Emma Norsgaard (Den) Movistar
3. Maria Vittoria Sperotto (Ita) AR Monex
4. Lisa Brennauer (Ger) Ceratizit-WNT
5. Marianne Vos (Ned) Jumbo-Visma
6. Marta Bastianelli (Ita) Alé-BTC Ljubljana
7. Elena Checchini (Ita) SD Worx
8. Sofia Bertizzolo (Ita) Liv Racing
9. Ilaria Sanguinetti (Ita) Valcar Travel and Service
10. Lucinda Brand (Ned) Trek-Segafredo

General classification after stage eight

1. Anna van der Breggen (Ned) SD Worx
2. Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (RSA) SD Worx at 2-55
3. Demi Vollering (Ned) SD Worx at 3-07
4. Lizzie Deignan (Gbr) Trek-Segafredo at 5-56
5. Elise Chabbey (Sui) Canyon-SRAM at 6-27
6. Erica Magnaldi (Ita) Ceratizit-WNT at 6-39
7. Mavi Garcia (Esp) Alé-BTC Ljubljana at 7-01
8. Juliette Labous (Fra) DSM at 7-05
9. Tatiana Guderzo (Ita) Alé-BTC Ljubljana at 7-28
10. Niamh Fisher-Black (NZ) SD Worx at 7-50

Emma Norsgaard flew the flag for Denmark on Wednesday taking her first Giro Donne stage on the shores of Lake Como. After finishing second on stage five, the 21-year-old was perfectly positioned in the final, coming off the wheel to finish ahead of Coryn Rivera (DSM), with Marianne Vos taking a second consecutive third place for Jumbo-Visma.

The final sprint was a scrappy one, with a number of teams trying to position their sprinters, Trek-Segafredo in the mix with Lizzie Deignan once again leading out Lucinda Brand, but it was the pure sprinters who had the real control in the final.

The race was run at a ridiculously high place, fishing 22 minutes ahead of the fastest predicted schedule, and with a team-mate in the breakaway, overall leader Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx) was able to relax and protect her advantage.  

How it happened

For the sixth stage the Giro Donne headed north from Milan for its longest stage, a complete circuit of Lake Como amounting to 155km in the saddle. While there were no intermediate sprints or classified climbs, the route was up and down all day and suited to a punchy sprinter, with Marianne Vos looking for a 30th career stage victory.

As with the other road stages this year, the pace was very high, the first hour ridden at 43kph - 5kph faster than the fastest schedule - and no one was able to get away. Only with 45km ridden did US national champion Lauren Stephens (Tibco-Silicon Valley Bank) get anywhere, but she was only ever allowed 15 seconds before being caught.

Eventually, on one of the small climbs 65km into the race Italian champion Elisa Longo Borghini (Trek-Segafredo) got away, taking second placed Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio with her, the duo building a small gap of around 25 seconds, with Vos’s Jumbo-Visma and BikeExchange leading the chase. 

While Longo Borghini had struggled early in the race, beginning the day 21st overall, nearly 12 minutes down, Moolman-Pasio’s place at the front was more interesting. The South African was second overall, 2-51 behind SDWorx team-mate, maglia rosa Anna van der Breggen. 

Two of the strongest riders in the world, Longo Borghini and Moolman-Pasio soon ground out their advantage, extending it to 2-25 as they entered the closing 50km. However, just five kilometres later the gap began to come down dramatically.

Some 30km later, under the pressure of Vos’s Jumbo-Visma, Norsgaard’s Movistar and Rivera’s DSM, the peloton had the break on a long lead of around 1-10 on the gently undulating run into the finish.

Longo Borghini and Moolman-Pasio were eventually caught with 13km to go the pace ramping up to a tense final. 

There was a tense moment when Australian champion Sarah Roy (BikeExchange) was joined by compatriot Tiffany Cromwell (Canyon-SRAM) off the front, but the duo were unable to gain a real advantage and were caught with 1600m to go.

With race now heading towards its climax in the north east, stage seven sees the peloton head to Lake Garda for a lumpy 104km, with a third category climb coming on each or five circuits around Puegnango del Garda.

Results

Giro d’Italia Donne 2021, stage six: Colico to Colico (155km)

1. Emma Norsgaard (Den) Movistar, in 3-41-39
2. Coryn Rivera (USA) DSM
3. Marianne Vos (Ned) Jumbo-Visma 
4. Marta Bastianelli (Ita) Alé-BTC Ljubljana
5. Lisa Brennauer (Ger) Ceratizit-WNT
6. Lucinda Brand (Ned) Trek-Segafredo 
7. Ilaria Sanguinetti (Ita) Valcar Travel and Service
8. Maria Vittoria Sperotto (Ita) AR Monex
9. Elena Cecchini (Ita) SD Worx
10. Alexis Ryan (USA) Canyon-SRAM, all at same time 

General classification after stage six

1. Anna van der Breggen (Ned) SD Worx, in 14-11-47
2. Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (RSA) SD Worx at 2-51
3. Demi Vollering (Ned) SD Worx at 3-03
4. Lizzie Deignan (GBr) Trek-Segafredo at 5-53
5. Elise Chabbey (Sui) Canyon-SRAM at 6-12
6. Erica Magnaldi (Ita) Ceratizit-WNT at 6-35
7. Mavi Garcia (Esp) Alé-BTC Ljubljana at 6-57
8. Juliette Labous (Fra) DSM at 7-01
9. Niamh Fisher-Black (NZl) SD Worx at 7-22
10. Tatiana Guderzo (Ita) Alé-BTC Ljubljana at 7-24

Anna van der Breggen set up a fourth Giro Donne title on Saturday, winning the second stage alone with a gap of 1-22.

The world champion attacked a reduced group with around five kilometres to go, bridging to three riders before going straight over the top and opening a gap.

With her advantage secure, her SD Worx team-mate Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio worked hard in the chase, quickly distancing the group, and she was followed by another of the squad’s riders, La Course winner Demi Vollering.

Vollering though was caught by Marta Cavalli (FDJ-Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope) but managed to outsprint the former Italian champion to take third place ensuring SD Worx filled both the day’s podium and the top three on gnarl classification.

>>> Tour de France: Geraint Thomas and Primož Roglič dropped early on stage eight

Having begun the day eight seconds behind overall leader Ruth Winder, who led Trek-Segafredo home in the team time trial, Van der Breggen now leads the general classification by 1-26 from Moolman-Pasio, and while there are still a number of tough days to go, another win seems highly likely.

After winning the opening day team time trial Trek-Segafredo completely exploded, their leader Elisa Longo-Borghini finishing well outside the top 10 with Brit, Lizzie Deignan their first woman home, just outside the top 10, more than three minutes down.

How it happened

While the now traditional stage one team time trial opened small gaps in the general classification, this year stage two headed for a mountain top finish, and a day that was set to go a long way to decide the race overall.

With 2,000m of ascent, the 100.1km stage saw the race stay in Italy’s northwest, travelling between Boves and the ski resort of Prato Nevoso at 1607m, the final 18km averaging 6% with ramps of 13%.

With such a tough finish coming so early the race stayed together for the opening half, attacks being covered by the WorldTeams. The intermediate sprint after 57km was won by Brit Leah Dixon (Tibco-SVB), ahead of the race’s oldest rider, Silvia Valsecchi (BePink), and the race headed onto the day’s first climb, the Colle del Morte as one.

Only on the descent did Elise Chabbey (Canyon-SRAM), Coryn Rivera (DSM), Kathrin Hammes (Ceratizit-WNT) and Sofia Bertizzolo (Liv Racing) getting away, but the four were only able to take a lead of 45 seconds onto the lower slopes of Prato Nevoso.

However, even on the climb the race stayed together, though only until 10km to go when New Zealander Niamh Fisher-Black attacked, the peloton instantly thinning in response, overnight race leader Ruth Winder one of those sliding out the back.

Fisher-Black was soon joined by home rider Erica Magnaldi (Ceratizit-WNT), the pair opening a gap of around 20 seconds on an ever shrinking group. They in turn were joined by Moolman-Pasio, but Van der Breggen bridged, passing the leaders to victory, with Moolman-Pasio in pursuit.

Behind the leaders the rest of race struggled, crossing the line in dribs and drabs, with huge time gaps appearing on only the second stage. 

The race was bugged by broadcast issues, with the 4G signal dropping out and restricting what could be watched. Last year the UCI relegated the race from the WorldTour, stating a lack of live TV as one of the main reasons and today’s broadcast issues will nothing to help them return to the top tier

Stage three is another lumpy, aggressive day which may further affect the general classification, though with significant time gaps it could also suit a breakaway.

Starting in Casale Monferrato and finishing in Ovada 135km later, after a flattish start the race tackles four third category climbs.

Giro d’Italia Donne 2021 stage two, Boves - Prato Nevoso (100.1)

1. Anna van der Breggen (Ned) SD Worx, in 2-58-31
2. Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (RSA) SD Worx, at 1-22
3. Demi Vollering (Ned) SD Worx, at 1-51
4. Marta Cavalli (Ita) FDJ-Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope, at 1-53
5. Erica Magnaldi (Ita) Ceratizit-WNT, at 2-30
6. Gaia Realini (Ita) Isolmant-Premac-Vittoria, at 2-36
7. Mavi Garcìa (Esp) Alé-BTC Ljubljana, at 3-00
8. Amanda Spratt (Aus) BikeExchange, at 3-05
9. Tatiana Guderzo (Ita) Alé-BTC Ljubljana, at 3-26
10. Juliette Labous (Fra) DSM, at 3-29.

General classification after stage two

1. Anna van der Breggen (Ned) SD Worx
2. Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (RSA) SD Worx
3. Demi Vollering (Ned) SD Worx 

The UCI has defended its decision to remove the Giro Rosa from the 2021 Women’s WorldTour calendar. The world governing body has blamed years of organisational shortcomings for the decision.

The Giro Rosa was not among the races listed as part of the top tier of women’s races when it was released last week, the race has instead been relegated to the second level ProSeries.

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The race’s omission will leave a huge hole in the Women’s WorldTour with the one day La Course the only event in the whole of July. However, though it is the longest, most prestigious, and most arduous race on the calendar, it has suffered some organisational issues, not least a lack of live television coverage, something required by the UCI’s regulations.

“The Union Cycliste Internationale has withdrawn the Giro Rosa from the UCI Women's WorldTour 2021 due to various shortcomings on the part of the organiser with regard to the specifications (particularly in terms of television coverage), despite repeated requests from us over the past few years,” read a statement.

“We hope that the Giro Rosa, a historic race on the professional women's road cycling calendar that is highly appreciated by the riders, will do its utmost to reach the level required by the UCI Women's WorldTour.”

It wasn’t just the lack of live coverage that attracted criticism of this year’s event, the 31st edition of what is termed the only Grand Tour for women.

Poor roads blighted the event throughout its nine days and likely caused the incident in which Annemiek van Vleuten (Mitchelton-Scott) crashed out of the overall lead while aiming for a third consecutive victory.

A number of stages had their routes changed, at least one without proper communication, leading to teams guessing where the finish line was. Neutral sections were removed or shortened without notice, and teams were forced to sweep away rubbish before they could prepare for one stage near Naples.

Historically the routes published in the roadbook have not resembled those actually ridden, including one time trial stage in 2017 which appeared flat but in fact included the fearsome 30 per cent climb into Sant’elpidio a Mare.

Though it remains a favourite among many riders, news of a women’s Tour de France to be held in 2022 had already put the race’s future in doubt, with the two events likely to take place in very close succession to each other.

“I know the Giro is slowly stepping up each year, it’s probably not as quick as we want and fingers crossed next year we do actually get the live coverage as well,” said Mitchelton-Scott’s Amanda Spratt during this year’s race, before the race’s relegation.

“I hope that both races can survive, the Giro has been around for so long and has so much history attached to it so I’d love to see a Giro and women’s Tour de France.”

With no long stage race to replace the Giro at the top tier next year expect many of the biggest names to still be there, however, after that there is a chance that if organisers fail to step up the historic event could disappear into obscurity.

Frenchwoman Evita Muzic won her first pro race on Saturday, taking the final stage the Giro Rosa in Motta Montecorvino. The FDJ-Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope rider was part of a large, day-long breakaway, which thinned out on the final of four tough climbs.

With Australian team-mate Brodie Chapman working for her until late in the final, the 21-year-old climber from Lons-le Saunier was able to sprint to the line ahead of New Zealand champion Niamh Fisher-Black (Equipe Paule Ka) with Juliette Labous (Sunweb) third.

Finishing safely in the chasing group of general classification riders, Anna van der Breggen became only the fourth woman to win the race three times, the most recent being her compatriot and former team-mate, Marianne Vos (CCC-Liv) who won the points classification.

The stage win was hugely significant for the French squad, who had not won a WorldTour race until today. They have been working hard to internationalise in the last two seasons, with Dane Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig, who finished fourth overall, the headline signing. Though it was a French rider who took the win, that, combined with Uttrup Ludwig winning the mountains jersey proves they are now on the right track.

How it happened

Starting and finishing in Motta Montecorvino, near Foggia in the region of Puglia, stage nine took in four laps of a hilly 27.3km circuit, the finish line coming three quarters of the way up each lap’s climb.

After an initial flurry of aggression it was only on a long descent that Movistar’s former Serbian champion, Jelena Erić escaped, building a gap of 40 seconds on a still active peloton.

So active was that peloton that a huge group of women eventually escaped the overall leader’s group, chasing Erić down to form a breakaway of 27 at the front with one of four laps done.

Once again though it was the descent that did the damage, this leading group being whittled down to just nine women, while those they had left behind also began to fracture as the race headed uphill once again, but re-forming over the top.

Behind there were some speculative attempts to bridge the gap, and while they came close, none of these counter-attacks managed to make contact with the leaders and were left to dangle in no-man’s land until the end of the day.

A pattern was then set, with the breakaway fracturing and reforming on both the climb and the descent, until late on the final lap riders began to drop out of the bunch permanently. 

On the final climb four women made an early attack with around seven kilometres to go, but they were brought back. While others tried their luck late on,  a group of seven were left to contest the final.

It was unlikely anyone would be able to overhaul the 1.10 lead Van der Breggen took into the final stage, and the general classification group was relatively calm in the closing kilometres.

A group of 16 formed late on and, but only the battle for third place was open. Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (FDJ-Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope) tried to distance Elisa Longo Borghini (Trek-Segafredo), but was unable and the status quo prevailed, with the Italian rider finishing third overall, with Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM) second.

It was a good tour for the Brits. Best of them was Lizzy Banks (Equipe Paule Ka) who finished 12th overall and won stage four into Tivoli last Monday. Lizzie Deignan was part of the team time trial winning Trek-Segafredo team on stage one, and was third and second on stages five and seven respectively, while Hannah Barnes (Canyon-SRAM) was pipped into second place on stage six.

Result

Giro d’Italia Internazionale Femminile, stage nine: Motta Montecorvino - Motta Montecorvino (109.8km)

1. Evita Muzic (Fra) FDJ-Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope in 3-16-30

2. Niamh Fisher-Black (NZ) Equipe Paule Ka

3. Juliette Labous (Fra) Sunweb at same time

4. Katia Ragusa (Ita) Astana at 3 sec

5. Ellen van Dijk at 4 sec

6. Erica Magnaldi (Ita) Ceratizit-WNT at 8 sec

7. Sabrina Stultiens (Ned) at 10 seconds

8. Eugenia Bujak (Slo) Alé-BTC Ljubljana at 25 seconds

9. Arlenis Sierra (Cub) Astana at 36 sec

10. Paula Patiño (Col) Astana at 42 sec

Final general classification

1. Anna van der Breggen (Ned) Boels-Dolmans in 26-25-43

2. Kasia Niewiadoma (Pol) Canyon-SRAM at 1-14

3. Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita) Trek-Segafredo at 2-20

4. Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (Den) FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope at 2-22

5. Mikayla Harvey (NZ) Equipe Paule Ka at 2-52

6. Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (RSA) CCC-Liv at 5-02

7. Ane Santesteban (Esp) Ceratizit-WNT at 6-31

8. Paula Patiño (Col) Astana6-54

9. Mavi García (Esp) Alé-BTC Ljubljana 7-06

10. Evita Muzic (Fra) FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope at 7-47

Elisa Longo Borghini won a two woman sprint to take her first road stage win of this year’s Giro Rosa. The Italian had broken clear with Anna van der Breggen (Boels-Dolmans) at the foot of the final, vicious climb and out sprinted the Dutch champion to win by a length.

After an incredible performance all race, New Zealander Mikayla Harvey (Equipe Paule Ka) came in in third place, consolidating her place in the top five overall and her lead in the young rider competition.

The action kicked off at the bottom of the final climb, which averages 16% for the first four kilometres, when Van der Breggen’s team mate Amy Pieters launched a speculative move. 

She was brought back, and for a while Lizzie Deignan took to the front, setting a high pace on the hardest slopes setting up Longo Borghini’s (Trek-Segafredo) move.

The Italian attacked first, drawing out Olympic champion Van der Breggen and Harvey, before Harvey was dropped slightly further on.

With the withdrawal of Annemiek van Vleuten after crashing in stage seven, Van der Breggen started the day only 15 seconds behind the overall leader Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM) and with the Polish rider dropped, in the final two kilometres, as the gradient eased, she realised she would move into pink.

Longo Borghini though, won the sprint fair and square, adding to Trek-Segafredo’s stage one team time trial victory and moving back into third overall. 

How it happened

At only 91km this eighth stage between Castelnuovo della Daunia and San Marco La Catola in the  Puglia region, was always likely to be a dynamic stage, and so it proved. The peloton didn’t even have to wait for the super strong cross wind the make a difference, as the 100 starters were split on the opening, very fast descent, with a gap of over 30 seconds forming between two groups.

Taking advantage of the wind would, perhaps have been premature with only 20km raced, especially when the winds were almost guaranteed to return in the middle part of the race. However, a group of only 25 women emerged from this section to change direction by 180º into a section with cross head wind. 

Then, rather than drive home their advantage, the leaders slowed, the two groups merging, though a third drifted to more than a minute down.

On the first categorised climb Lucy Kennedy (Mitchelton-Scott) led a group up the road. She was joined by Katia Ragusa (Astana), Amy Pieters (Boles-Dolmans ), Paulina Rooijakkers (CCC-Liv), Jelena Erić (Movistar), Coryn Rivera (Sunweb), Ruth Winder (Trek-Segafredo), Lisa Brennauer (Ceratizit-WNT and, for a third consecutive day in the break, Mariia Novolodskaia.

This group crested the climb at the front but were never allowed more than 40 seconds and were kept there at arm’s length. 

For the second time in her three breakaways Novolodskaia crashed, this time on the descent, though by then the breakaway’s fate was sealed. With little in the way of flat in the valley, they were caught at the bottom of the final climb, when Pieters launched her move.

Stage eight is another short punchy day. The 109.8km stage starts and finishes in Motta Monte Corvino, taking in four tough laps, with yet another uphill finish, and though we have seen anything can happen this week, Van der Breggen’s lead of 1.10 should be enough to claim her third Giro Rosa title.

Result

Giro d’Italia Internazionale Femminile, stage eight: Castelnuovo della Daunia - San Marco la Catola ( 91.5km)

1. Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita) Trek-Segafredo in 2-33-57

2. Anna van der Breggen (Ned) Boels-Dolmans at same time

3. Mikayla Harvey (NZ) Equipe Paule Ka at 31 sec

4. Katrine Aalerud (Nor) Movistar at 1-06

5. Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (Den) at 1-19

6. Kasia Niewiadoma (Pol) Canyon-SRAM

7. Pauliena Rooijakkers (Ned) CCC-Liv all at same time

8. Liane Lippert (Ger) Sunweb 1-31

9. Marta Cavali (Ita) at 1.52

10. Sofia Bertizzolo (Ita) CCC-Liv

General classification after stage eight

1. Anna van der Breggen (Ned) Boels-Dolmans in 23-05-37

2. Kasia Niewiadoma (Pol) Canyon-SRAM at 1-10

3. Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita) Trek-Segafredo at 2-23

4. Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (Den) FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope at 2-25

5. Mikayla Harvey (NZ) Equipe Paule Ka at 2-51

6. Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (RSA) CCC-Liv at 4-48

7. Mavi García (Esp) Movistar at 5-58

8. Ane Santesteban (Esp) Ceratizit-WNT at 6-17

9. Marianne Vos (Ned) CCC-Liv at 7-29

10. Lizzy Banks (Gbr) Equipe Paule Ka at 7-49

Annemiek van Vleuten has been forced to pull out of the Giro Rosa 2020 while leading the race, after a crash in the final of stage seven.

The Mitchelton-Scott rider and her team-mate Amanda Spratt were both caught in a crash during a downhill section into Maddaloni, as Lotte Kopecky (Lotto-Soudal) rode to stage victory.

Van Vleuten was able to get back on the bike and finish the stage, but she and Spratt were taken to hospital after the finish.  

Scans confirmed that Van Vlueten had suffered a broken left wrist, while Spratt didn’t suffer any fractures but has also abandoned the race after suffering concussion and an injured right shoulder. 

While Van Vleuten has had to give up her Giro Rosa title defence because of the injury, perhaps the most disappointing news is that she will miss the World Championships in Imola next week. 

Van Vleuten, who still led the race by 1-48 over Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM) at the close of stage seven, said: “I was in a good position just going safe to the finish. It was a good day for us, I was never in trouble, we were in control, I was having fun on the bike until the last 500 metres when the girls crashed in front of me and I couldn’t avoid them.

“I felt immediately it was not good with my wrist, because I saw that my wrist was not straight, so I knew straight away that was not good. I will go home now and I will have an operation on my wrist on Saturday.

“I’m super sad it’s not possible to defend the maglia rosa, but even more, no Worlds on a course that suits me. I’m disappointed that I cannot defend my world champion's jersey."

Spratt added: “Right now my biggest feeling is just disappointment, not just for me but for Vleuty and the whole team. Our Giro was going perfectly, and it all fell apart in one instant.

“I think I am lucky I don’t have a broken bone but the shoulder is very painful still and with a concussion I have to take it easy now. I hope to recover as quick as possible and be back racing soon. Thanks to the team for the incredible support.”

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The race lead now passes to Niewiadoma, who leads Anna van der Breggen (Boels-Dolmans) by just 15 seconds, with two stages left to race. 

After finishing second then third, Lotte Koppecky finally made it to the top step of the Giro Rosa podium on Wednesday. The Belgian rider launched a long-range sprint to take her first WorldTour victory in Maddaloni, finishing ahead of Lizzie Deignan (Trek-Segafredo) and Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon-Sram) in third place.

The final was marred by a late crash which took out a number of riders, including race leader Annemiek van Vleuten (Mitchelton-Scott) and three-time stage winner Marianne Vos (CCC-Liv), and while Vos was able to attend the podium ceremony to collect the points jersey, Van Vleuten has been taken to hospital for a check-up.

>>>  Annemiek van Vleuten taken to hospital following crash at Giro Rosa

A group of leaders which came together on the final climb which crested some 8km from the line, and that was boosted as they headed towards the narrow streets of the town. As she has been all week, Koppecky was perfectly positioned, opening her sprint early on the rough lastricato paving.

Van Vleuten was assisted across the line by Marianne Vos, and it is not yet clear whether she will be able to continue to possibly take a historic third consecutive overall win.

How it happened

It was clear the moment the 112km stage between Nola, where we finished stage six, and Maddaloni was one where a breakaway would be allowed to get away. With no fight whatsoever, Ainara Elbusto (Casa-Dorada) and Silvia Zanardi (BePink) escaped off the front, and by the time 15km had been ridden their lead was 2-30 over the bunch.

After 18km the road began to edge uphill and even with a strong headwind the pair consolidated their advantage, taking it above three minutes inside the opening 10km, then extending it to nearly five minutes with 30km behind them.

However, with such a short stage this lead was not allowed for too long, and when three women leapt from the bunch to chase the leaders, the gap began to drop significantly.

That trio of Alison Jackson (Sunweb), Aude Biannic (Movistar), and Mariia Novoldskaia (Cogeas Mettler Look) were left dangling around 30 seconds from the peloton, while the leaders’ advantage came down to two minutes.

Just when it seemed the race would come back together the peloton eased up, allowing the three chasers to catch the breakaway, the five women leading by two minutes on the bunch.

As the race passed the finish line for the first of three occasions, the five leading women led the race by more than two minutes with just 34km remaining.

Of that group Jackson and Biannic were the most accomplished, but it was the Russian who attacked at the base of a short but steep climb which was tackled twice in the closing 30 kilometres.

Novolodskaia had a lead approaching a minute by the time she reached the top, but with the chasers caught on the circuit back through town, the gap came down until, as she started to climb for the final time she was caught.

Friday’s penultimate stage will see the peloton tackle another hilly day. Only 91.5km, there are 1900 metres of climbing with category two climb to the finial line in San Marco La Catola

Result

Giro d’Italia Internazionale Femminile, stage seven: Nola - Maddaloni (112km)

1. Lotte Koppecky (Bel) Lotto-Soudal in 2-52-12

2. Lizzie Deignan (Gbr) Trek-Segafredo, at 2 seconds

3. Kasia Niewiadoma (Pol) Canyon-SRAM, at 3 seconds

4. Marta Cavalli (Ita) Valcar Travel and Service

5. Anna van der Breggen (Ned) Boels-Dolmans

6. Soraya Paladin (Ita) CCC-Liv

7. Ane Santesteban (Esp) Ceratizit-WNT

8. Liane Lippert (Ger) Sunweb

9. Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (RSA) CCC-Liv

10. Floortje MAckaij (Ned) Sunweb, all at same time

General classification after stage seven

1. Annemiek van Vleuten (Ned) Mitchelton-Scott, in 20-29-43

2. Kasia Niewiadoma (Pol) Canyon-SRAM, at 1.48

3. Anna van der Breggen (Ned) Boels-Dolmans, at 2-03

4. Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (Den) FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope, at 4-21

5. Mikayla Harvey (NZ) Equipe Paule Ka, at 4-21

6. Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita) Trek-Segafredo, at 4.32

7. Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (RSA) CCC-Liv, at 4-34

8. Mavi García (Esp) Alé-BTC Ljubljana, at 4-38

9. Marianne Vos (Ned) CCC-Liv, at 5-02

10. Lizzy Banks (Gbr) Equipe Paule Ka, at 5-56

Marianne Vos took her third Giro Rosa stage win of this year’s race and her second in successive days on Wednesday. Once again the former world champion benefitted from outstanding teamwork, and duly finished it off in a shopping centre car park in Nola.

With a winding finish to the line she was perfectly positioned and crossed the line just ahead of former British champion Hannah Barnes (Canyon-SRAM), with Lotte Koppecky (Lotto-Soudal) extending her run of outstanding performances in third.

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Like yesterday, Vos’s win was once again due in no small part to her CCC-Liv team-mates, who worked to drop the specialist sprinters on the day’s classified climbs.

Tomorrow there is a chance she could replicate last season’s haul of stage wins, though much will depend on how the last climb inside the closing 10km is ridden.

Annemiek van Vleuten retained her overall lead with just three days to go.

How it happened

After the intended 11km of neutral was inexplicably reduced to about four kilometres, the race got underway through the once affluent streets of Torre del Greco, just south of Naples.

Such a short stage was always likely to attract aggressive racing and so it was, with two riders heading off the front and being caught immediately. This pattern that was repeated many times over, with Ceratizit-WNT being especially aggressive in these early stages, second three riders in different breaks.

It was only on the opening climb after 30km that the race settled at all, with Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig taking maximum points to strengthen her lead in the competition.

The race entered a period of consolidation in the valley, teams taking time to collect drinks before the next climb. There, it was CCC-Liv who came to the front as they did in stage five, when they kept the pace high enough tom drop the pure sprinters, allowing Marianne Vos a clearer route to victory.

Though other squads were aware this tactic was coming, those looking to their sprinters for a result were unable to keep them in the front group and in contention, the group over one minute back as the race topped the final climb with around 23km to go.

In the final 10km Mariia Novolodskaia (Cogeas-Mettler-Look) launched an audacious solo effort leading by 25 seconds onto the closing two kilometres. However, the Russian rider crashed leaving Vos to take the bunch sprint.

Result

Giro d’Italia Internazionale Femminile, stage four: Torre del Greco - Vulcano Buono Nola (89km)

1. Marianne Vos (Ned) CCC-Liv, in 2-14-24

2. Hannah Barnes (GBr) Canyon SRAM

3. Lotte Koppecky (Bel) Lotto Soudal

4. Coryn Rivera (USA) Sunweb

5. Amy Pieters (Ned) Boels-Dolmans

6. Arlenis Sierra (Cub) Astana

7. Ilaria Sanguineti (Ita) Valcar Travel and Service

8. Giorgia Bariani (Ita) Top Girls Fassa Bortolo

9. Stine Borgli (Nor) FDJ-Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope

10. Kasia Niewiadoma (Pol) Canyon-SRAM, all at same time

General classification after stage six

1. Annemiek van Vleuten (Ned) Mitchelton Scott, in 17-37-28

2. Kasia Niewiadoma (Pol) Canyon SRAM, at 1-52

3. Anna van der Breggen (Ned) Boels-Dolmans, at 2-03

4. Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (Den) FDJ-Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope, at 3-03

5. Mikayla Harvey (NZ) Equipe Paule Ka, at 4-21

6. Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita) Trek-Segafredo, at 4.32

7. Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (RSA)  CCC-Liv, at 4-34

8. Mavi García (Esp) Ale-BTC Ljubljana, at 4-38

9. Marianne Vos (Ned) CCC-Liv, at 5-02

10. Elise Chabbey (Sui) Equipe Paule Ka, at 5-32

Marianne Vos took stage the stage win in Terracina on stage five of the Giro Rosa.

The stage could have been one for the stranger sprinters but the former world champion used her team to perfection, ensuring she was the strongest in what was a technical final.

The finish line came around 300m from a tight, 90º corner and the Dutchwoman was perfectly positioned by her team near the front. As it opened up Vos was able to hold off Belgian Lotte Kopecky (Lotto-Soudal) who finished a close second, with Lizzie Deignan (Trek-Segafredo) in third, her best ever Giro Rosa stage finish.

Finishing on the same time in 28th place, Annemiek van Vleuten defended her overall lead.

How it happened

Starting and finishing on the coast in Terracina, some 50km south of Rome, stage five might have been the first opportunity for the sprinters in this year’s Giro Rosa.

Though there was more that 1200 metres of climbing in 110.3km stage, neither of the two classified climbs were too tough and the second topped out more than 22km for the line. Plenty of time for those sprinters who had slipped backwards to get back on.

The moment the flag was dropped Ainara Elbusto (Casa Dorada) attacked and soon had a gap of 30 seconds. Others tried their luck chasing the Spanish rider, but brought the pack with them and the attack was neutralised with 15km gone, the pack flying along the coast road.

With that attack neutralised it was Top Girls Fassa Borltolo’s turn, as they sent Giorgia Bariani away, a move whig instigated a series of attacks for some of the smaller teams who had neither will or ability to show themselves on the race’s earlier stages.

The race remained incredibly hectic until, after 30km, finally Markéta Hájková (BePink) and Małgorzata Jasinska (Casa Dorada) managed to get away, though their lead never topped 50 seconds.

As the race moved onto the the first of those classified climbs, a 16km slog to Madonna della Civita, Vos’s CCC-Liv team came to the front pushing the pace and Hájková and Jasinska were soon caught and passed.

The climb formed a south facing bowl, baking the riders and combining with the pace to split the bunch, Vos’s team attempting to distance the pure sprinters.

With the race in two parts, CCC-Liv continued to push hard ensuring the two groups that had formed on the ascent would not come back together. On the descent, and on the flat before the final climb they continued to push, beginning the second climb with a lead just over a minute.

Short and punchy this climb would never have too much impact, but over the top Elisa Longo Borghini (Trek-Segafredo) attacked reaching the top alone. Her move played directly into Vos’s hands, with other teams coming to the front to assist the chase to ensure the Italian made no gains on her sixth place overall.

Longo Borghini was finally caught with around three kilometres to go as the team jockeyed for position in the sprint.

Wednesday's sixth stage between Torre del Greco and Vulcano Buono has been altered after a bridge collapse. Shortened to 89km, it still contains 1200m of ascending, most of that coming in a long climb and we may well see a similar scenario to Tuesday's race.

 Results

Giro Rosa 2020, stage five: Terracina to Terracina (110km)

1. Marianne Vos (Ned) CCC-Live in 2-47-27

2. Lotte Kopecky (Bel) Lotto-Soudal

3. Lizzie Deignan (Gbr) Trek-Segafredo

4. Coryn Rivera (USA) Sunweb

5. Lisa Brennauer (Ger) Ceratizit-WNT

6. Alison Jackson (Can) Sunweb

7. Sandra Alonso (Esp) Casa Dorada

8. Amy Pieters (Ned) Boels-Dolmans

9. Jelena Erić (Ser) Movistar

10. Vittoria Guazzini (Ita) Valcar Travel and Service all at same time

General classification after stage five

1. Annemiek van Vleuten (Ned) Mitchelton Scott in 15-23-00

2. Kasia Niewiadoma (Pol) Canyon SRAM at 1-56

3. Anna van der Breggen (Ned) Boels-Dolmans at 2-03

4. Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (Den) FDJ-Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope at 3-03

5. Mikayla Harvey (NZ) Equipe Paule Ka at 4-21

6. Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita) Trek-Segafredo at 4.32

7. Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (RSA) at 4-34

8. Mavi García (Esp) Ale-BTC Ljubljana at 4-38

9. Marianne Vos (Ned) CCC-Liv at 5-19

10. Elise Chabbey (Sui) Equipe Paule Ka at 5-36

Lizzy Banks’s return to the Giro Rosa was a pretty good one.

Of the two editions she has started not only has she completed both, a feat in itself for many, but she has won a stage in both.

Yesterday she won the 170km fourth stage from Assisi to Tivoli after joining forces with Eugenia Bujak half way through the day. Once clear the pair worked flawlessly together and had built a lead of over six minutes on the peloton as they began descending towards the flatlands of the Roman Campagna. 

A five kilometre climb to the finish in Tivoli’s old town was the sting in the tail, and it was here, inside the final kilometre where the road ramped up beyond 10 per cent, that Banks made her move.

“Just after one K to go there’s a steeper section, just before the cobbles,” Banks said. “I was hurting so much but I knew that as soon as I had the gap, mentally she’d be f***ed behind me so I just carried on to the finish.”

Banks and her Equipe Paule Ka team had targeted today for a breakaway, but getting in it was easier said than done, said Banks.

“We thought if maybe we have a strong group then maybe we could go. I went alone and it came back, and I went again and I was alone again and I thought I cannot do this on my own. But then Eugneia Bujak came across and I knew she’s strong so I knew that we had a chance.”

The pair were initially chased by two lone pursuers, though they failed to gain much ground after not getting together, so it was left to Banks and Bujak to make it alone

“We were out for 85km, I thought maybe the peloton want a rest day so I said we’ve got to keep pushing. It was really hard and I didn’t want to have another situation like Plouay and get pipped on the line, so in my head the whole time was working out where I had to attack her,” she explained, referring to how Lizzie Deignan outsprinted her after they had been in the winning break in France two weeks ago.

Monday’s win however was no one-off. Equipe Paule Ka came to Italy looking for stage wins after their GC hopeful Clara Koppenburg was forced to withdraw with a broken foot. A lot of effort had gone into their preparation, with staff conducting recces of important parts of the race.

Not only that, they also hold fifth place overall with Mikayla Harvey secure in the best younger rider’s classification.

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Having only begun cycling competitively in 2016, Banks has been on a strong upward trajectory and this is her second Giro stage win in two years.  There have been a number of excellent rides, that second place in Plouay the most recent, but it was to last year’s Giro win, also on the race’s longest day, that Banks turned for inspiration.

“I knew how good it felt to win last year  and so that whole day I just had that feeling in my head and I was chasing that. I’m so happy, but I’m so tired right now.”

Lizzy Banks took her second Giro stage win in as many starts in Tivoli on Monday. The British rider attacked with Eugenia Bujak (Alé-BTC Ljubljana) with just over half of the 170km stage to go, the pair working well and building a lead in excess of six minutes with around 40km to go.

The final five kilometres were all uphill, though in the closing 1500m it kicked up hard, over 10 per cent before tarmac turned to cobbles in the closing 800m, just inside the city walls. It was here that Banks attacked, dropping Bujak and beating her by seven seconds.

The peloton had whittled the leaders’ advantage down to around three minutes as they entered town, and overall leader Annemiek van Vleuten (Mitchelton-Scott) led the bunch home, extending her lead with five stages left to race.

It is vindication for Banks’ team, Equipe Paule Ka, whose GC rider Clara Koppenburg was unable to start having broken her foot. They have been aggressive throughout the race so far and also lead the young rider classification with New Zealander Mikayla Harvey, who sits fifth overall.

How it happened

The longest race in the history of the Women’s WorldTour consisted of 170km of racing preceded by 12km neutral, exceeding the UCI’s maximum permitted distance by 10km.

The opening kilometres were technical, riding through built-up streets and there was little opportunity to get away. However, like previous days, even when the roads opened up no breakaway formed.

Before the race riders told us the peloton had been wary not only of the hard finishes on stage two and three, but also of this long stage which saw them climbing more than 2,200 metres for the third successive day, and with another uphill finish

Only after 37km, when the race left the early flat roads and head into the foothills of the Apennines, did Trek-Segafredo’s American champion Ruth Winder make a move off the front, soon building a lead in excess of 30 seconds.

However, the moment Małgorzata Jasinska (Cronos Casa Dorada) tried to reach the American the bunch sped up and caught her, consequently bringing Winder’s advantage down. However, despite Winder’s undoubted strength, the peloton seemed happy with a lone leader and she was allowed her head, building a lead of 45 seconds which was growing as she reached the descent.

However, it was here the gap was brought back down and she was caught on the day’s second unclassified climb a few short kilometres later.

A flurry of action came in the ensuing climbs and undulations, until, at the halfway mark when Bujak (Alé-BTC Ljubljana) and Banks (Equipe Paule Ka) emerged onto a section of flat roads 70km from the finish, with a lead of over two minutes.

Behind them Silvia Valsecchi (BePink) and Rachel Neylan (Casa Dorada) by 3-06 and 3-10 respectively, with the bunch at 4-16. But the two chasers never quite joined forces and were eventually swallowed up by the bunch.

At 110km, tomorrows’ fifth stage, starting and finishing on the coast at Terracina, south of Rome, is not only shorter with less climbing, but has a flat finish, though tired legs could be a problem for some of the world’s best sprinters present at the race.

Result

Giro d’Italia Internazionale Femminile, stage three: Santa Firoa - Assisi (142.2km)

1. Lizzy Banks (Gbr) Equipe Paule Ka, in 4-27-21

2. Eugenia Bujak (Slo) Alé-BTC Ljubljana, at 7 sec

3. Annemiek van Vleuten (Ned) Mitchelton-Scott, at 1-10

4. Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita) Trek-Segaredo, at 1-22

5. Kasia Niewiadoma (Pol) Canyon-SRAM, at 1-25

6. Liane Lippert (Ger) Sunweb, at 1-27

7. Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (Den) FDJ-Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope, at 1-31

8. Mavi García (Esp) Alé-BTC Ljubljana, at 1-36

9. Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (RSA) CCC-Liv, at 1-42

10. Marianne Vos (Ned) CCC-Liv, at same time

General classification after stage four

1. Annemiek van Vleuten (Ned) Mitchelton Scott, in 12-35-33

2. Kasia Niewiadoma (Pol) Canyon SRAM, at 1-56

3. Anna van der Breggen (Ned) Boels-Dolmans, at 3-03

4. Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (Den) FDJ-Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope, at 3-03

5. Mikayla Harvey (NZ) Equipe Paule Ka, at 4-21

6. Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita) Trek-Segafredo, at 4.32

7. Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (RSA), at 4-34

8. Mavi García (Esp) Ale-BTC Ljubljana, at 4-38

9. Marianne Vos (Ned) CCC-Liv, at 5-29

10. Elise Chabbey (Sui) Equipe Paule Ka, at 5-36

Marianne Vos took her first stage win of the 2020 Giro Rosa in Assisi on Sunday after what was a turgid day in Italy.

The former world champion overhauled an early move on the final climb to Assisi to add to her incredible array of victories at what is the longest stage race on the women’s calendar.

Stung after losing the race lead on yesterdays’s stage, Trek-Segafredo’s Elisa Longo Borghini launched an early move as the front of the race passed under the flame rouge. It was only there that the steepness of the climb to the UNESCO World Heritage site because clear.

With the ascent averaging 15% over one kilometre, Vos bade her time, and as the climb wore on she and Danish rider Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (FDJ-Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope) drew level with the Italian, the three riding abreast as they passed 300m to go.

Only in the final metres was Vos able to weave her way clear to take the win, with Uttrup Ludwig bagging up fourth place stage two with second today. Longo Borghini held on to take third place.

Finishing a few second back, Annemiek van Vleuten (Mitchelton-Scott) retains the overall lead with six stages remaining.

Finishing fifth, only 12 seconds back Annemiek van Vleuten retains the overall lead with six stages remaining.

How it happened

The final ascent up Piaggia di San Franceso was only added after the original route to Assisi was changed because of a landslide, changing the complexion of the rac, the peloton not knowing what to expect. 

Other parts of the route were changed as well with an intermediate sprint removed and the classified climb at 50km removed. 

With riders warming up on turbo trainers and expecting a tough opening climb, but what they found though was an opening 10km which was largely downhill, with the first climb on the 142.2km course between Santa Fiora and Assisi coming only after 20km. 

Onto repeated climbs of about five kilometres, and similar fast descents, the bunch stayed together throughout, the Tuscan hills giving little shelter from another day of searing sun.

Only when the race crossed the regional border into Umbria, reaching flatter terrain 63km in, was there a breakaway, when former Polish champion Małgorzata Jasinska (Crono Casa Dorada) made a move off the front.

Jasinska is an expert breakaway rider but despite starting the day some 28 minutes behind overall leader Van Vleuten, she was unable to gain any meaningful advantage and she was caught after only five kilometres, having only managed a 30 second lead.

Even on the flatter land around Perugia where control might have proved easier, no escape was allowed to go.

Inside the final 30km Australian Rachel Neylan (Cronos Casa Dorada) attacked the bunch, but once again the leader gained little more than 20 seconds before the bunch, with Van Vleuten coming to the front bringing her back.

Assisi sits on the hillside and its monasteries are visible for miles around and as it grew ever closer the race quickened. With such a large peloton the final kilometres were truly chaotic, teams fighting for position, though it was Vos’s CCC-Liv squad who positioned her for the final climb.

At 170km, tomorrow’s fourth stage between Assisi and Tivoli is the longest race day since the creation of the Women’s WorldTour in 2016. Another lumpy day the riders will tackle another short, steep climb to the line.

Result

Giro d’Italia Internazionale Femminile, stage three: Santa Fiora - Assisi (142.2km)

1. Marianne Vos (Ned) CCC-Liv in 3-53-34

2. Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (Den) FDJ-Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope at 2 sec

3. Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita) Trek-Segafredo at 5 sec

4. Liane Lippert (Ger) Sunweb at 8 sec

5. Annemiek van Vleuten (Ned) Mitchelton-Scott at 12 sec

6. Lotte Kopecky (Bel) Lotto-Soudal at 13 sec

7. Anna van der Breggen (Ned) Boels-Dolmans at 16 sec

8. Ashleigh Moolman-Pasion (RSA) CCC-Liv

9. Kasia Niewiadoma (Pol) Canyon-SRAM all at same time

10. Mavi García (Esp) Alé-BTC Ljubljana at 19 sec

General classification after stage three

1. Annemiek van Vleuten (Ned) Mitchelton Scott in 8-07-06

2. Anna van der Breggen (Ned) Boels-Dolmans at 1-22

3. Kasia Niewiadoma (Pol) Canyon SRAM at 1-37

4. Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (Den) FDJ-Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope at 2-38

5. Mikayla Harvey (NZ) Equipe Paule Ka at 3-40

6. Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (RSA) CCC-Liv at 3-58

7. Mavi García (Esp) Ale-BTC Ljubljana at 4-01

8. Amanda Spratt (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott at 4-08

9. Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita) Trek-Segafredo at 4-16

10 Marianne Vos (Ned) CCC-Liv at 4-53

Defending champion Annemiek van Vleuten stamped her authority on the Giro Rosa on Saturday, winning stage two and taking the race lead.

The rainbow jersey attacked at the bottom of the day’s only classified climb, a four kilometre stretch of rocky Tuscan white gravel, with 16km to go, and characteristically soloed to the win ahead of Anna van der Breggen (Boels-Dolmans) in second and Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM) in third.

That final climb was littered with deep gravel, making it hard to keep moving, and Van Vleuten was one of a number of riders who were forced to dismount and walk. However, she emerged from the top of the climb with 11km to the line leading Van der Breggen by almost a minute.

Van Vleuten’s final advantage was 1-16 on her compatriot, wiping out the mere five-second deficit she began the day with, and putting her in a good position with seven days remaining. Indeed, such are the time gaps it would take an incredible turnaround for any of the top three to be caught.

Tomorrow’s third stage is another hilly affair, the 142km route between Santa Fiora and Assisi taking in over 2,300m of climbing.

Its short, sharp final climb gives riders an opportunity to take back time, though Van Vleuten will surely be on her guard, and already appears to be the strongest in the race.

How it happened

One of the toughest stages of the race was exacerbated by temperatures into the low 30s, and with over 3100m of climbing in the 124.8km race the peloton were set for a tough day.

The climbing started from the flag, the race onto steep narrow roads immediately, winding through the baked Tuscan countryside heading toward the first of two white gravel sectors, similar to those used at Strade Bianche, not far away.

With such a tough day in store, the peloton were in no mood to go too hard, at least until they reached the gravel road. Here, with dust reducing visibility to just a few metres, the race split into three small groups.

However, even on the ensuing climb to the town of Roccalbegna a large peloton reformed, as the road dragged up and up.

It was only over the top that anyone managed to get away, with former French champion Aude Biannic (Movistar) and Italian Soraya Paladin (CCC-Liv) sneaking up the road, as it undulated its way through small, sleepy villages.

However, with the GC so tight after the stage one team time trial they were brought back before the intermediate sprint at Roccalbegna, won by Equipe Paule Ka’s Emma Nørsgard.

With 62km remaining Julie Van De Velde (Lotto-Soudal) attacked, gaining a lead of 50 seconds and taking the bonus at the final intermediate sprint, though as soon as the bunch crossed the line they upped the pace, closing her down quickly.

But strangely, when they had her within sight they let the gap go again, the Belgian rider taking her lead out to 50 seconds once more.

However the action began as the bunch closed in on the day’s only classified climb, the final, 4.5km gravel sector which topped out with only 11km remaining.

Van De Velde was caught by a strong quartet of Lisa Brennauer (Ceratizit-WNT), Elsie Chabbey (Paule Ka), Alison Jackson (Sunweb), and American champion Ruth Winder (Trek-Segafred0).

That group were soon caught though, bringing a counter-attack from Lizzy Banks of the super-aggressive Paule Ka. The Brit gained 25 seconds’ lead but was caught as the peloton battled for position ahead of the final climb. 

There, when she attacked, Van Vleuten was originally joined by Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (FDJ-Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope) but the Danish rider was unable to stay with the world champion on the incredibly steep pitches of rocky road and fell back to a chasing group.

That group eventually shattered leaving only Van der Breggen in pursuit. 

Results

Giro d’Italia Internazionale Femminile, stage two: Paganico - Arcidosso (124.8km)

1. Annemiek van Vleuten (Ned) Mitchelton Scott, in 3-53-20

2. Anna van der Breggen (Ned) Boels-Dolmans, at 1-16

3. Kasia Niewiadoma (Pol) Canyon SRAM, at same time

4. Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (Den) FDJ-Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope, at 1-29

5. Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (RSA) CCC-Liv, at 3-07

6. Mavi García (Esp) Ale-BTC Ljubljana, at same time

7. Mikayla Harvey (NZ) Equipe Paule Ka, at 3-11

8. Soraya Paladin (Ita) CCC-Liv, at 3-52

9. Erica Magnaldi (Ita) Ceratizit-WNT, at 3-55

10. Amanda Spratt (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott, at 3-57

General classification after stage two

1. Annemiek van Vleuten (Ned) Mitchelton Scott in 4-13-20

2. Anna van der Breggen (Ned) Boels-Dolmans at 1-18

3. Kasia Niewiadoma (Pol) Canyon SRAM, at 1-33

4. Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (Den) FDJ-Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope, at 2-54

5. Mikayla Harvey (NZ) Equipe Paule Ka, at 3-26

6. Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (RSA) CCC-Liv, at 3-54

7. Mavi García (Esp) Ale-BTC Ljubljana, at 4-01

8. Amanda Spratt (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott, at 4-07

9. Elise Chabbey (Sui) Equipe Paule Ka, at 4-15

10. Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita) Trek-Segafredo, at 4-27

Elisa Longo Borghini took the overall lead of the 2020 Giro Rosa after Trek-Segafredo won the opening stage team time trial.

The team covered the 16.8km course around the Tuscan town of Grosseto in 20-05, with Boels-Dolmans second three seconds back. and Mitchelton-Scott third a further two seconds down.

First across the line for Trek at the conclusion of the pan flat course was Italian time trial champion, Elisa Longo Borghini, who will wear the maglia rosa on stage two for the first of eight road stages.

The team have been flying in recent weeks, with Lizzie Deignan winning the last two Women’s WorldTour races at GP Plouay and La Course. The Brit was happy to acknowledge Longo Borghini’s part in both those successes, saying how she was looking forward to helping her team mate in the nine day Giro.

Though she has finished second on GC and worn the best Italian jersey on multiple occasions, this was Longo-Borghini’s first maglia rosa, though she refused to take any credit, putting the victory down the the strength of her team.

How it happened

First down the start ramp, new Spanish team Casa Dorado were the early leaders, setting a time of 22-25-56 over the course, though they were toppled by Top Girls Fassa Bortolo.

First of the WorldTeams to start was Movistar, and as was expected they smashed the old leading time, clocking 21-37, despite a strengthening wind and the threat of rain, on what was an incredibly humid day near the Mediterranean coast.

Though not a WorldTeam Equipe Paule Ka, including Brit Lizzy Banks, for a while looked like they may take the win. Their time of 20-15 was too much for former world champions Canyon-SRAM and Marianne Vos’s incredibly strong CCC-Liv squad were unable to match it either.

However, three of the last four teams down the ramp were the strongest, with only five seconds separating them the leading trio of squads.

With two classified climbs and over 3,100m of climbing in the foothills of the Apennines, defending the jersey on Saturday’s 124.8km stage two between Paganico and Arcidosso will be a challenge for Trek-Segafredo, despite their undoubted strength.

Result
Giro d’Italia Internazionale Femminile, stage one: Grosseto - Grosseto (16.8km) team time trial

1. Trek-Segafredo in 20-05-99

2. Boels-Dolmans at 3 sec

3. Mitchelton-Scott at 5 sec

4. Equipe Paule Ka at 9 sec

5. Sunweb at 13 sec

6. Canyon-SRAM at 16 sec

7. CCC-Liv at 41 sec

8. Ceratizit-WNT at 42 sec

9. Alé-BTC Ljubljana at 48 sec

10. Valcar Travel and Service at 50 sec

General classification after stage one

1. Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita) Trek-Segafredo at 20-05

2. Ruth Winder (USA) Trek-Segafredo

3. Ellen van Dijk (Ned) Trek-Segafredo

4. Lizzie Deignan (Gbr) Trek-Segafredo all at same time

5. Chantal van den Broek-Blaak (Ned) Boels-Dolmans at 3 sec

6. Amy Pieters (Ned) Boels-Dolmans

7. Jolien D'hoore (Bel) Boels-Dolmans

8. Anna van der Breggen (Ned) Boels-Dolmans

9. Karol-Ann Canuel (Can) Boels-Dolmans

10. Eva Buurman (Ned) Boels-Dolmans all at same time

Marianne Vos (CCC-Liv) won her fourth stage of this year’s Giro Rosa on the tough, uphill finish of stage 10 in Udine.

In what was a chaotic final, the former world champion was paced perfectly by her CCC-Liv team-mates to the bottom of the 200 metre cobbled climb, and sprinted home ahead of compatriot Lucida Brand (Sunweb) and Belgian Lotte Kopecky (Lotto-Soudal Ladies).

Despite the sketchy finish, behind Annemiek van Vleuten (Mitchelton-Scott) crossed the line in the bunch to win her second consecutive Giro Rosa.

Van Vleuten won the overall with two stage victories, the first at Lago di Cancano on stage five, then the following day in the individual time trial, which she left with a general classification lead of 4-17.

Though she lost slices of time during some of the ensuing days, especially stage nine where she finished second at Malga Montasio to world champion Anna van der Breggen (Boels-Dolmans), those two stage wins in the middle of the race were enough.

How it happened

The tenth and final stage of the race began in calm style, the bunch rolling out of San Vito Al Tagliamento on flat roads, seemingly happy to enjoy the hot summer sun. With Annemiek van Vleuten in pink, Mitchelton-Scott were happy to lead the way, through maze fields, occasional vineyards and small villages, where pink balloons fluttered then burst in the heat.

With over 30km of racing done, a large group got away from the bunch. These included Brits Dani Christmas (Lotto-Soudal Ladies) who was in the break on the final stage of last year’s Giro, and stage eight winner Lizzy Banks (Bigla), but they were caught after around 10km in he lead.

Then followed a period of repeated attacks, with Leah Kirchmann (Sunweb) first going clear before being caught, then Alice Gasparini (Eurotarget-Bianchi-Vittoria) getting away.

The 21-year-old was left to dangle off the front of the race for around 10km before she was finally allowed to build any sort of advantage. By the time she had raced 64 of the 120km she led bunch bunch by nearly a minute.

However, with an intermediate sprint approaching, the gap began to reduce and though Gasparini won the bonus seconds, her lead was once again just 30 seconds. With such a small gap one other rider decided to attempt to bridge to leader, but only dragged the peloton with her and Gasparini was caught, with 43km left to race.

After Banks made a second effort to get away, it was down to Alé-Cipollini to have a go, with Romy Kasper escaping off the front, though still were peloton were unhappy, chasing the German down.

With her in range Trek-Segafredo launched the newly crowned Polish time trial champion Anna Plichta off the front, and she soon caught Kasper, the pair building a lead of 1.20 just before the course began to head uphill for the day’s only classified climb.

Once again, though, the peloton were in no mood to allow anyone too much space, and as the stage entered the final 25km, they pulled escapees to within one minute, leaving them there until the climb which came with 13km to go.

Late in the piece, former French champion Aude Biannic (Movistar) attacked and was allowed 25 seconds going into the closing three kilometres, but it was to be a sprint finish with Vos’s CCC-Liv team working with Sunweb to bring the escape to heel.

Full, confirmed results to follow...

Results

Giro Rosa 2019, stage ten: San Vito al Tagliamento to Udine – (120km)

1. Marianne Vos (Ned) CCC-Liv, in 2-51-45

2. Lucinda Brand (Ned) Sunweb, at one second

3. Lotte Kopecky (Bel) Lotto-Soudal, at same time

4. Soraya Paladin (Ita) Alé Cipollini, at 4s

5. Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Pol) Canyon-SRAM, at same time

6. Ashleign Moolman-Pasio (RSA) CCC-Liv, at 6s

7. Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita) Trek-Segafredo, at 7s

8. Demi Vollering (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg, at 9s

9. Rasa Leleivytė (Ltu) Aromitalia Vaiano, at same time

10. Arianna Fidanza (Ita) Eurotarget Bianchi Vittoria, at 10s

General classification after stage ten

1. Annemiek van Vleuten (Ned) Mitchelton-Scott,in 25-01-41

2. Anna van der Breggen (Ned) Boels-Dolman, at 3-45

3. Amanda Spratt (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott, at 6-55

4. Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (RSA) CCC-Liv, at 7-54

5. Katie Hall (USA) Boels-Dolmans, at 7-57

6. Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Pol) Canyon-SRAM, at 8-03

7. Lucinda Brand (Ned) Sunweb, at 8-16

8. Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita) Trek-Segafredo, at 8-20

9. Soraya Paladin (Ita) Alé Cipollini, at 9-13

10. Erica Magnaldi (Ita) Wnt-Rotor, at 9-31

Anna van der Breggen (Boels-Dolmans) at last proved Annemiek van Vleuten (Mitchelton-Scott) is mortal by winning stage nine of the Giro Rosa. The world road champion caught her compatriot in the closing 750 metres and then attacked her to win by 17 seconds.

In what was a gripping final, the two Dutch women had been alone at the head of the race entering the final four kilometres, but van Vleuten attacked the Boels-Dolmans rider, dropping her. Van der Breggen managed to limit her losses, however, never letting the gap exceed 15 seconds.

Then, as she closed in on the final kilometre, with the road flattening, the gap came down. She caught the Mitcheton-Scott rider and then powered past to take the first stage win of the 2019 Giro for Boels-Dolmans.

Behind her Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (CCC-Liv) had been dropped by Amanda Spratt (Mitchelton-Scott), but managed to latch onto the Australian’s wheel, before sprinting past to take third place.

How it happened

Other than the brutal final climb, stage nine was to prove the calmest day of the race so far. The 125.5km route between Gemona del Friuli and the summit of Malga Montasio provided the seventh and final uphill finish of the ten day race, but was mostly flat until the base of the ascent, beginning around 18km out from the line.

Despite a few attacks nothing stuck until after 20km, when seven riders went clear, including former British road and time trial champion Hannah Barnes (Canyon-SRAM).

Barnes was joined by Nicole Steigenga (BePink), Maaike Boogaard (BTC Ljubljana), Kelly van den Steen (Lotto-Soudal Ladies), Małgorzata Jasinska (Movistar), Kseniia Dobrynina (Servetto-Piumante) and Rachel Neylan (Virtu) who gradually built a lead of one minute.

Of that group Barnes was the best placed, starting the day in 38th place, 26-52 down, meaning none of the breakaway were a threat to the overall classification.

With the gap out to 2-10, the Mitchelton-Scott team of Annemiek van Vleuten came to the head of the peloton to control the gap. And there the advantage stayed, though it briefly came down to 1.20 after the race passed the intermediate sprint in Gemona del Friuli.

Only as the race came within the final 25km did the gap begin to fall, with 25 seconds knocked off the lead in a matter of five kilometres.

As the 18km climb began the breakaway began to disintegrate and all of them were soon caught with Sunweb doing the lion’s share of the work at the head of the peloton.

The attritional climb saw riders dropping one by one, until, in the closing 10km a group of four emerged at the front of the race. Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (CCC-Liv), Lucinda Brand (Sunweb) and the Mitchelton-Scott duo of Amanda Spratt and race leader Annemiek van Vleuten tackled the tree-lined climb together.

Van der Breggen had originally been separated from the group, but made her way back on before first Brand, then Spratt and Moolman-Pasio were dropped, leaving the two Dutchwomen to contest the win.

There was disaster for Brand whose chances of a general classification podium were ruined when she suffered a mechanical in the closing 200 metres and was forced to run to the line.

Tomorrow’s final stage will see the bunch cover a 120km route between San Vito Al Tagliamento and Udine. Relatively flat, with one classified climb coming in he final 15 kilometres van Vleuten’s second overall win at the Giro Rosa is likely, with her lead currently 3-50.

Results

Giro Rosa 2019, stage nine: Gemona del Friuli to Malga Montasio – (125.5km)

1. Anna van der Breggen (Ned) Boels-Dolmans, in 3-26-27

2. Annemiek van Vleuten (Ned) Mitchelton-Scott, at 17 seconds

3. Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (RSA) CCC-Liv, at 1-38

4. Amanda Spratt (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott, at same time

5. Katie Hall (USA) Boels-Dolmans, at 1-57

6. Demi Vollering (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg, at 2-51

7. Ane Santesteban (Esp) WNT-Rotor, at same time

8.Erica Magnaldi (Ita) Wnt-Rotor, at 2-53

9.Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita) Trek-Segafredo, at 2-55

10. Juliette Labous (Fra) Sunweb, at 3-10

General classification after stage nine

1. Annemiek van Vleuten (Ned) Mitchelton-Scott,in 22-09-39

2. Anna van der Breggen (Ned) Boels-Dolman, at 3-50

3. Amanda Spratt (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott, at 7-00

4. Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (RSA) CCC-Liv, at 8-05

5. Katie Hall (USA) Boels-Dolmans, at 8-09

6. Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Pol) Canyon-SRAM, at 8-10

7. Lucinda Brand (Ned) Sunweb, at 8-25

8. Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita) Trek-Segafredo, at 8-30

9. Soraya Paladin (Ita) Alé Cipollini, at 9-26

10. Erica Magnaldi (Ita) Wnt-Rotor, at 9-31

Lizzy Banks (Bigla) rode to her first professional win on stage eight of the Giro Rosa 2019, attacking from a breakaway group with 10km to go and going solo, taking out a gap of 30 seconds by the time she crossed the finish line.

What is even more remarkable is the fact Banks only started riding in 2015. Speaking to Cycling Weekly after her win, the 28-year-old said how she had been "dying" at the start of the day but managed to turn it around to get in the breakaway and then go on to take the stage win.

>>> Lizzy Banks takes first professional victory after late solo attack on stage eight of the Giro Rosa 2019

"What a day, I can't believe it, I was really suffering in the beginning. I was saying to the girls at the start of the day 'I have really s**t legs today', I was really dying," Banks said.

"I killed myself to get over the first climb and we really wanted to get in the break today. We were a little bit down, losing some seconds on GC, but we knew we still had the strength and we really wanted to take the opportunity."

The breakaway went away after 90km had been ridden, with a group of ten going up the road, with Banks' American team-mate Leah Thomas going ahead in the group before the Brit bridged across.

"So Leah [Thomas] went up the road, some people followed and I bridged across and we were the only team with two. So we knew we had to keep it rolling until we got a gap, the peloton let us get a gap, and then about 15km to go we knew we had to go. Leah attacked, I was fully on the limit but we knew that was the moment we had to go," Banks said.

It was a one-two for Bigla, as Thomas led the breakaway group across the line 30 seconds later.

"I just found out Leah came second as well so it's the best feeling in the world," Banks continued.

"I'm just so thrilled this is my first professional win and to do it at the Giro in the WorldTour, I'm pretty emotional."

Two stages remain in the Giro Rosa 2019, with Annemiek van Vleuten (Mitchelton-Scott) leading the general classification with an advantage of more than four minutes over Anna van der Breggen (Boels-Dolmans).

Lizzy Banks won the first professional race of her career at the Giro Rosa on Sunday. The Sheffield based Brit attacked a breakaway of ten riders with around 12km of the 133.3km stage remaining and built a lead of around 30 seconds which she has able to hold.

Her Bigla team mate, Leah Thomas was in the break away behind her and frustrated other riders’ efforts to chase, stopping pedalling every occasion she found herself on the front, and chasing every other attack.

In the end Thomas finished second, with home rider Soraya Paladin in third place. Two of the break were unable to sprint having crashed on a pedestrian crossing as the first rain of the stage race fell on the finish town of Maniago.

The general classification group finished nearly three minutes down with overall leader Annemiek van Vleuten defending her advantage of over four minutes going into the final two stages. Paladin's presence in the break also moved her into sixth place overall.

How it happened

The longest stage of the ten day race began in Vittorio Veneto and headed east to Maniago. After two classified climbs in the middle of the stage, the run-in was relatively flat and the chance of a fourth stage win for Marianne Vos (CCC-Liv) meant many teams were interested in a breakaway.

As a result there were numerous attempts to form a group and such was the desire to be at the front each attempt cancelled itself out, with even a strong eight woman break which escaped after 45km proving unsuccessful.

On the climb to Forcella di Pala Baranza the race began to stretch, with a grupetto forming early on, including three Mitchelton-Scott team-mates of race leader Annemiek van Vleuten.

As the peloton further disintegrated on the ascent around one kilometre from the top, Van Vleuten attacked the race with 73km of the day remaining, saying later that attack was the best form of defence. The Dutchwoman crested the climb with a lead approaching 20 seconds, extending it early on the descent, though as the chasers reached the bottom, she was once again within touching distance.

With 50km of the 133.3km stage to go Van Vleuten was back in the group, though the action did not end there, with a large group of 11 riders, including Banks (Bigla) getting away just before the second climb.

With Banks was her team mate Thomas, Paladin (Alé-Cipollini), Paulien Rooijakkers (CCC-Liv), Shara Gillow (FDJ-Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope), Małgorzata Jasinska (Movistar), Sofie de Vuyst (Parkhotel-Valkenburg) Ruth Winder (Trek-Segafredo), Kathrin Hammes (WNT-Rotor) and the Valcar-Cylance pair of Alice Arzuffi and Elena Pirrone.

They soon managed to build a lead of 35 seconds, though Pirrone was dropped as the gradient of the climb began to take its toll.

Banks crossed the top of the climb in third place, and though the peloton closed slightly as the race closed in on the final 20km, their gap was over a minute.

With some in the peloton wanting a sprint finish it took some time for the break to establish itself and their advantage hovered around the one minute mark for some time. However, as the leaders entered the closing 15km and began attacking each other, the peloton sat up and left them to it.

Thomas tried her luck first, before Banks made her winning move to take her first professional victory.

Tomorrow’s ninth stage is yet another tough one. Mostly flat for the opening 75km, it begins to ramp up before the first category ascent to Montasio for another mountain top finish.

With Van Vleuten the strongest climber there is a chance she may extend her four minute advantage in the overall classification.

Results

Giro Rosa 2019, stage eight: Vittorio Veneto to Maniago – (133.3km)

1. Lizzy Banks (GBr) Bigla in 3-38-17

2. Leah Thomas (GBr) Bigla, at 30 seconds

3. Soraya Paladin (Ita) Alé Cipollini

4. Małgorzata Jasinska (Pol) Movistar

5. Sofie de Vuyst (Bel) Parkhotel Valkenburg

6. Kathrin Hammes (Ger) WNT-Rotor

7. Paulien Rooijakkers (Ned) CCC-Liv

8. Shara Gillow (Aus) FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope

9. Ruth Winder (USA) Trek-Segafredo

10. Alice Arzuffi (Ita) Valcar-Cylance, all at same time

General classification after stage eight

1. Annemiek van Vleuten (Ned) Mitchelton-Scott, in 18-43-01

2. Anna van der Breggen (Ned) Boels-Dolmans at 4-11

3. Kasia Niewiadoma (Pol) Canyon-SRAM at 4-26

4. Lucinda Brand (Ned) Sunweb at 5-26

5. Amanda Spratt (Aus) Mitchelton Scott at 5-33

6. Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita) Trek-Segafredo at 5-46

7. Soraya Paladin (Ita) Alé-Cipollini at 6.06

8. Katie Hall (USA) at Boels-Dolmans at 6-23

9. Ashleigh Moolman Pasio (RSA) CCC-Liv at 6-42

10. Erica Magnaldi (Ita) WNT-Rotor at 6-49

Catch up on the race so far: 

• Canyon-SRAM win Giro Rosa stage one TTT with most teams strung out by the finish
• Marianne Vos powers to stage two victory at Giro Rosa
• Marianne Vos snatches victory on stage three of the Giro Rosa after Lucy Kennedy celebrates too early
• Breakaway win on Giro Rosa stage four whilst Niewiadoma holds on to the lead
• Annemiek van Vleuten wins Giro Rosa stage five to take the maglia rosa
• Annemiek van Vleuten extends Giro Rosa lead with stage six time trial win
• Marianne Vos takes third Giro Rosa 2019 win with escape group sprint on stage seven

It's every professional cyclists worst nightmare, made even worse by the fact that these days the moment is captured on video and can be preserved for ever more.

Lucy Kennedy (Mitchelton-Scott) put in a great attack in the final of the third stage of the Giro Rosa 2019, speeding away up the final incline towards the finish line on the flat section of road across the cobbles.

>>> Winner of junior E3 BinckBank Classic takes finish line celebration to new extreme

The Australian had the finish line in her sights, looked behind to see a few bike lengths between her and Marianne Vos (CCC-Liv) and lifted her hand off her bike to punch the air in celebration.

However, after Kennedy had turned back to look ahead, Vos started sprinting, giving everything towards the line. As Kennedy slowed down, convinced she had the win in the bag, Vos quickly pulled level and edged ahead to cross the line first.

As Vos takes the stage victory, the realisation of what has just happened dawns on Kennedy, who hangs her head as she crosses the line.

Kennedy was initially upset at her mistake, but was surprisingly upbeat about it all, putting a brave face on the proceedings. Speaking post-stage, she said: "Lesson most definitely learnt: always sprint beyond the line and never celebrate early.

"It hurts to come so close to my first women's WorldTour win at the Giro Rosa today, but I can be very happy with my form and how my team executed our plan perfectly (until 3m to go)."

After the podium, Vos offered her condolences to the Australian and also congratulated her on a gutsy ride.

"I told her not to do that again," the three-time world champion said. "It looked like we were going to be sprinting for second, but at about 200 metres to go I just thought ‘let’s see how far I can get’. It was hard and the last 100 metres I actually don’t know what happened."

The Ecuadorian rider Jonathan Caicedo suffered a similar fate in 2018 as he celebrated too early at the Vuelta a Asturias.

He sat up to enjoy the victory and was edged into second place by Dmitry Strakhov.

Marianne Vos took her second consecutive Giro Rosa stage win on Sunday, out sprinting Australian Lucy Kennedy, passing her on the line. The win was not as straightforward as her stage two success as she came from a distance to catch lone leader Kennedy, who celebrated too early.

Kennedy had broken away from what was left of the peloton on the final climb to Piedicavallo, around two kilometres from the finish, and looked set for the win. Vos though, was carrying huge speed and snatched the victory from the Australian, for whom the win would have been a first Women’s WorldTour success. 

The race had broken up before the final climb as the bunch chased down Eugenia Bujak (BTC City Ljubljana) who had attacked 50km out. When she was finally caught, as the race closed in on the final 12km, Trek-Segafredo’s Tayler Wiles tried her luck, and built a lead approaching one minute as the final climb began to steepen.

The American was slowly closed down though, with the Canyon-SRAM team of race leader Kasia Niewiadoma doing much of the work. Inside the final two kilometres, with the American within striking distance, Kennedy launched her ill-fated her effort.

How it happened

The third uphill finish of the three stages so far at this year’s Giro Rosa, the 104.1km race between Sagliano Micca and Piedicavallo began quietly, the race rolling through tight, technical roads that were generally downhill.

Once the peloton reached the flatter section at the bottom of a large opening loop, a split in the race emerged with the peloton leading some 16 riders how had been dropped.

With the race settling into a rhythm, those in the bunch took time to collect bottles under the searing sun which bleached the flat lands north-east of Turin, and the group behind managed to stabilise their deficit at around 2-30.

As the race wore on, with the bunch taking it relatively easily in anticipation of the tough finish, the chaser’s deficit began to shrink.

With the remaining distance dropping below 50km and the route becoming increasingly hilly, the race suddenly burst into life with Eugenia Bujak (BTC City Ljubljana) attacking and building a lead of around a minute.

Behind, two riders tried to chase her but despite leading the bunch briefly by 40 seconds they were caught by a peloton wary of the collective strength had the three come together.

Despite the newly crowned Slovenian champion beginning the day nearly three minutes down on the overall race lead, the peloton were not happy with Bujak building any significant advantage, allowing her a gap of only a minute and a half as she approached the intermediate sprint 25km from the line.

With the sprint behind them, Bujak’s gap then began to tumble and the Slovenian was eventually caught and dropped as the action took place on the final climb.

Kennedy attacked up the incline to the finish, celebrating as she approached the line, allowing Vos to sneak through and snatch victory.

While Kennedy was initially upset at her mistake, she was remarkably sanguine after the race. Behind the podium, Vos apologised to the Australian before congratulating her on the ride.

"Lucy had a great attack and she had a good lead," Vos said afterwards. "She was on the cobbles and there were only two lines we could take in between the cobbles, she was on the right side, I was on the left and I had slightly more speed, so she put her arm in the air and I came around in the last five metres, so for her that was pretty sad. I told her not to do that again.

"It looked like we were going to be sprinting for second, but at about 200- 220 metres to go I just thought ‘let’s see how far I can get.’ It was hard and the last 100 metres I actually don’t know what happened."

Results

Giro Rosa Iccrea: Stage three, Sagliano Micca to Piedicavallo (104.1km)

1. Marianne Vos (Ned) CCC-Liv in 2-49-11

2. Lucy Kennedy (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott

3. Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (Den) Bigla

4. Annemiek van Vleuten (Ned) Mitchelton-Scott

5. Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (RSA) CCC-Liv

6. Lucinda Brand (Ned) Sunweb

7. Soraya Paladin (Ita) Alé-Cipollini

8. Ane Santesteban (Esp) WNT-Rotor

9. Anna van der Breggen (Ned) Boels-Dolmans

10. Erica Magnaldi (Ita) WNT-Rotor all at same time

General classification after stage three

1. Kasia Niewiadoma (Pol) Canyon-SRAM in 5-36-48

2. Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (Den) Bigla at 20 seconds

3. Marianne Vos (Ned) CCC-Liv at 25s

4. Alena Amialiusik (Blr) Canyon-SRAM at 40s

5. Omer Shapira (Isr) Canyon-SRAM at 45s

6. Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (RSA) CCC-Liv at same time

7. Annemiek van Vleuten (Ned) Mitchelton-Scott at 47s

8. Amanda Spratt (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott at 52s

9. Lucy Kennedy (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott at 59s

10. Anna van der Breggen (Ned) Boels-Dolmans at 1-04

Marianne Vos added yet another win to her stellar palmarès, winning the second stage of the Giro Rosa Iccrea. The triple world road champion sprinted to victory on a tough uphill finish ahead of Dutch compatriots Annemiek van Vleuten (Mitchelton-Scott) and Lucinda Brand (Sunweb).

Despite a cut to her knee from a crash earlier in the day, general classification leader Kasia Niewiadoma will continue to wear the maglia rosa as the race moves into the coming eight stages.

The final 10km of the race were extremely tough, with numerous steep ramps ensuring the bunch split, leaving only the strongest at the front. As what was left of the peloton approached the closing two kilometres, a number of riders tried their luck off the front.

First van Vleuten’s team-mate Lucy Kennedy and Lotto Soudal’s Julie van der Velde gave it a dig, but they were soon brought back. Then Tayler Wiles (Trek-Segafedo) attacked, but was also caught back to allow the reduced bunch sprint, with Vos first over the line.

How it happened

Cruelly, kilometre zero of the race’s opening road stage was at the bottom of the opening classified climb, the Colle del Lis.

Thirteen kilometres in length, it was a tough start, with varying gradients and plenty of hairpins to keep the peloton happy. Trees shaded the road from the sun and though it was hot, at around 28C, it was thankfully cooler than the stage one team time trial.

On the early slopes of the climb two riders broke clear, Antri Christoforou (Cogeas-Mettler-Look) and Sofie de Vuyst (Parkhotel-Valkenburg) building a lead of over 50 seconds on a bunch taking it relatively easy.

As they approached the top, de Vuyst attacked, gaining the maximum mountains points and a consequent visit to the post-race podium as the Queen of the Mountains.

The bunch were by then closing in and the gap was eliminated on the descent, where Sunweb’s leader, Lucinda Brand got a small gap. Brand is one of the world’s top descenders but after finishing fourth overall last year, was never going to be allowed any real advantage.

Caught on the descent, the race came back together, though that was not the end of the action as the race tackled the flat run in to the final ascent.

With the bunch relaxed and taking bottles, Kelly van den Steen (Lotto-Soudal Ladies) and Romy Kasper (Alé-Cipollini) got away and were allowed the biggest lead of the day, the gap growing to 2-50 as they raced though the valley. The Belgian van den Steen taking the virtual race lead at this point, having begun the day only 2-07 down.

With the gap static, behind the peloton was led variously by Parkhotel Valkenburg, Boels-Dolmans  and as the road began to rise, Mitchelton-Scott, who reeled in the escapees with around eight kilometres remaining.

Tomrrow’s third stage could be the only opportunity for the sprinters, though it is far from flat. Starting in Sagliano Micca, north east of Turin, the final 10km rises gently to the line in Piedicavallo.

Results

Giro Rosa Iccrea: Stage 2, Viù - Viù (78.3km)

1. Marianne Vos (Ned) CCC-Liv, in 2-15-26

2. Annemiek van Vleuten (Ned) Mitchelton-Scott

3. Lucinda Brand (Ned) Sunweb

4. Anna van der Breggen (Ned) Boels-Dolmans

5. Soraya Paladin (Ita) Ale2-Cipollini

6. Amanda Spratt (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott

7. Ane Santesteban (Esp) WNT Rotor

8. Demi Vollering (Ned) Parkhotel-Valkenburg

9. Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita) Trek Segafredo

10. Erica Magnaldi (Ita) WNT-Rotor all at same time

General classification after stage two

1. Kasia Niewiadoma (Pol) Canyon-SRAM, in 2-47-37

2. Omer Shapira (Isr) Canyon-SRAM at 12 seconds

3. Alena Amialiusik (Blr) Canyon-SRAM at 19s

4. Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (Den) Bigla at 24s

5. Marianne Vos (Ned) CCC-Liv at 35s

6. Ashleigh Moolman Pasio (RSA) CCC-Liv at 45s

7. Annemiek van Vleuten (Ned) Mitchelton-Scott at 47s

8. Leah Thomas (USA) Bigla

9. Elise Chabbey (Sui) Bigla, both at same time

10. Amanda Spratt (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott at 53s

A landslide has prevented the Giro Rosa peloton from attacking the Gavia climb en route to a summit finish on stage five of this year's race.

Organisers say that the road leading from Bormio to the top of the Gavia Pass cannot be used, instead re-routing for an alternative summit finish in Laghi di Cancano.

>>> Giro Rosa 2019: everything you need to know

Last time the race finished here, the stage was won by Emma Pooley, on stage eight of the 2011 event.

Announcing the change, the organisers said: "Due to the problem of a landslide... the arrival of the fifth stage, starting from Ponte in Valtellina, was officially moved to the Cancano Lakes, in the municipal territory of Valdidentro (Sondrio)."

The new route will be 87.5 kilometres long, as opposed to the planned 100. The parcours remains the same until the peloton reaches Valdisotto, where they'll bypass Bormio to travel through Isolaccia for the start of the final climb.

The route still contains the category two climb over the Teglio at 19km, and the replacement final ascent will be 7.3km at 8.3 per cent.

The finish will be nestled between two lakes - Cancano and San Giacomo, in Valdidentro.

This year's edition of the Giro Rosa was set out to be the hardest in the race's 30-year history, with summit finishes on the Gavia and Montasio (stage 9), plus an uphill time trial (stage 6).

It was expected that the Gavia summit would split the race and provide a platform for general classification riders to show dominance.

However, the new climb proved pivotal in 2011, when Emma Pooley and Marianne Vos finished 1 minute 29 ahead of the third placed rider, with time gaps emerging throughout the field.

The race kicks off on Friday July 5, with an 18km team time trial from Cassano Spinola to Castellania.

The 2019 Giro Rosa will be broadcast for free worldwide, with all ten stages set to be aired in hour-long episodes after the day's Tour de France stage.

This is the result of a partnership between Trek and Voxwomen, a TV show and YouTube channel dedicated to women's cycling.

The coverage, available everywhere except Italy, will include hour-long highlights from the full stage that day, accompanied with English commentary. Post-race content will also include stage previews from Trek-Segafredo's sports directors Ina Teutenberg and Girogia Bronzini.

The Giro Rosa takes place from July 5-14, with broadcasts of the show airing shortly after the day's Tour de France stage has concluded.

The 2019 Giro Rosa includes a team time trial, individual time trial and two summit finishes over ten stages.

The women's Giro d'Italia was rebranded as the Giro Rosa in 2013, with Annemiek van Vleuten winning last year's edition. After the cancellation of The Tour de l'Aude Cycliste Féminin in 2010, which was held in south-central France, the Giro Rosa remains as the only Grand Tour in women's cycling

Trek's women's team, now co-sponsored by Italian coffee brand Segafredo, were set up in 2018, with Lizzie Deignan announced as team leader after leaving Boels-Dolmans.

In April, world champion Anna van der Breggen criticised the organisers of the Ardennes Classics for not showing the women's editions of Flèche Wallonne or Liège-Bastogne-Liège live, with only the final Mur de Huy climb of Flèche Wallonne being broadcast.

Van der Breggen said: "It’s one of our biggest races together with Liège. We are fighting all day, we had echelons on the road, so it’s a pity you only saw the last climb because that is the end and the fight is before that.

"I think the Amstel Gold Race was a good example of how to do it, and by now I think we deserve to have live coverage and that people can follow us because many people would like to."

In May, it was announced that the women's Flèche Wallone and Liège-Bastogne-Liège would be pulled from the 2020 Women's WorldTour calendar because race organisers ASO refuse to provide the 45 minutes of television coverage required by new UCI reforms.

Tim Vanderjeugd, Trek's director of sports marketing, said of the planned Giro Rosa broadcasts: "The world is witnessing some of the best bike racing ever in the women’s peloton, and we feel a responsibility to provide more opportunities to watch it happen.

"Exposure is huge for cultivating the sport, and that combined with first-class athlete support is a true recipe for growth in women’s professional cycling."

The women’s elite race calendar is set for a shake up in 2021 with the launch of the new, 10-day Battle of North. The race will equal the Giro Rosa in length and will see WorldTour events in Sweden and Norway merge into one entity, with the Danish Cycle Union also stepping in.

The Giro Rosa currently dominates the women’s summer calendar, but runs concurrently with the Tour de France, restricting coverage. With the new race slated for August, the Battle of North will have less competition for coverage and could well usurp its Italian counterpart as the pre-eminent race for women.

Giro organisers see their place on the calendar as a boon, with a short highlights package built into Italian TV coverage of the Tour. The race also receives daily coverage in the country’s sports paper, La Gazzetta dello Sport, but struggles for international attention.

Battle of North, however are already in talks with TV companies to carry coverage, and if they can find the terrain on which to host a balanced but selective and attractive race, they could find themselves leading the women’s cycling world.

“We are planning for the world elite on site, millions of TV viewers and of course thousands of spectators along the course,” said Ladies Tour of Norway race director Roy Moberg, which has been part of the Women’s WorldTour calendar since 2017.

With the addition of the Danish leg, the Battle of North is likely to feature three stages in Denmark and Sweden, with the closing four days in Norway, with one rest day somewhere in the middle.

The women’s peloton currently decamp to Scandinavia for a time trial and road race in the Swedish town of Vårgårda in the third week of August, with the Norwegian race held over four stages some days later. Organisers hope the new race will occupy the same slot on the calendar.

The 2021 launch of the race will, of course coincide with he Tour de France’s Danish Grand Départ, something which has not escaped organisers’ attention.

“Scandinavia will get “the Tour de France for women,” when Denmark, Sweden and Norway goes together and introduce the new WorldTour race…” proclaims the press release.

However, it is not guaranteed the race will be included in the top tier of women’s cycling, and the UCI will need to assess whether it would overload the calendar.

This year the series comprises 53 days, which would increase by four should the race be accepted, something which would not have too much of an effect. However, even with next year’s introduction of Women’s WorldTeams, the women’s peloton does not have huge depth, and squads may struggle if other races follow suit or are created in the intervening period.

Organisers of lower level races are also likely to be concerned as any increase in top level race days could reduce the number of leading riders and teams at their events, risking sponsor investment.

Annemiek van Vleuten (Mitchelton-Scott) won the final stage of the 2018 Giro Rosa, confirming her place as the overall winner.

Van Vleuten took her third win at this year's edition of the Italian race, attacking with five kilometres remaining to ride solo to the line ahead of Lucinda Brand (Suweb) and Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM).

An early break was caught on the opening slopes of the day's only classified climb, giving way for a group of ten - including Van Vleuten - to push the pace.

As the summit approached, the Dutch rider attacked and made her winning move to distance herself from the leading group, riding solo to the line and reaching it almost half a minute before the sprint for second and third place ensued.

The second GC spot went to Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (Cervelo-Bigla) with Van Vleuten's team mate Amanda Spratt third.

How it happened

The 120 kilometre stage, starting and finishing in Friuli, was a hilly route with one classified climb to San Leonardo which began just 17km left to the line.

With around 15km of racing under their belts, a large group of 13 riders broke away to gain a margin of 20 seconds on the peloton.

The escapees included Chantal Blaak (Boels-Dolmans), Chloe Hosking (Ale-Cippolini), Alice Gasparini (Eurotarget – Bianchi – Vitasana), Katia Ragusa (BePink), Dani Christmas (Bizkaia Durango – Euskadi Murias), Elena Cecchini (Canyon-SRAM), Carmela Cipriani (Conceria Zabri-Fanini-Guerciotti), Sheyla Gutierrez (Cylance), Małgorzata Jasińska (Movistar), Anna Ceoloni (S.C. Michela Fanini Rox), Juliette Labous (Sunweb), Eva Buurman (Trek Drops) and Jeanne Korevaar (WaowDeals).

The best placed rider in the break was Christmas, who was 24-03 down on race leader Van Vleuten going into the stage. Come 96km remaining, and the gap had grown to 34s, rising to 1-07 with 81km left.

The intermediate sprint, at Faedis with 72km left, went to Ragusa, with Christmas second.

The gap between the 13 rider break and the peloton continued to stretch, with 50km left there was 2-44 of open road between the groups.

As the classified climb grew closer, with 28km left Ellen van Dijk (Sunweb) attacked the peloton, getting within 1-25 of the break who lead the peloton by 2-20.

Come the opening ramps of the climb, Van Dijk was caught, with the gap to the lead 13 sinking to only 3os.

Once the catch was made, the race's most prolific climbers took their chance to attack the final mountain of the 2018 Giro Rosa.

The 10 strong selection included maglia rosa Van Vleuten and Spratt, Megan Guarnier (Boels-Dolmans), Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM), Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (Cervelo-Bigla), Victoria Garcia (Movistar), Moolman-Pasio, Lucinda Brand (Sunweb), Juliette Labous (Sunweb), Dani King (WaowDeals) and Ane Santesteban (Ale Cippolini).

The climb almost dispatched, with 5km remaining, race leader Van Vleuten attacked - gaining 20s on her team mate Spratt who controlled the chasers.

The Dutch rider reached the line alone, 27s ahead of the chasers, with Brand and Niewiadoma taking the other two podium spots.

Results

Giro Rosa stage ten, Friuli to Friuli (120km)

1. Annemiek van Vleuten (Ned) Mitchelton-Scott

2. Lucinda Brand (Ned) Sunweb, at 27s

3. Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Pol) Canyon-SRAM

4. Megan Guarnier (USA) Boels-Dolmans

5. Margarita Victoria Garcia (SPA) Movistar

6. Amanda Spratt (AUS) Mitchelton-Scott

7. Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (RSA) Cervelo-Bigla

8. Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (Den) Cervelo-Bigla

9. Ane Santesteban (SPA) Ale Cipollini, at same time

10. Juliette Labous (Fra) ,Sunweb, at 1-14

Final General Classification

1. Annemiek van Vleuten (Ned) Mitchelton-Scott

2. Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (RSA) Cervelo-Bigla, at 4-12

3. Amanda Spratt (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott, at 6-30

4. Lucinda Brand (Ned) Sunweb, at 7-36

5. Megan Guarnier (USA) Boels-Dolams, at 9-20

6. Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (Den) Cervelo-Bigla, at 10-38

7. Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Pol) Canyon-SRAM, at 10-46

8. Eider Merino (Spa) Movistar, at 12-37

9. Ane Santesteban (Spa) Ale Cippolini, at 13-12

10. Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita) Wiggle High5, at 13-47

Annemiek van Vleuten (Mitchelton-Scott) rode solo to the crest of Monte Zoncolan on the queen stage of the Giro Rosa to fastightenten her grasp on the maglia rosa.

It was the first time the race has visited the climb since 1997, and that year it approached from the easier side of Sutrio; as opposed to the 10km at 11.5 per cent the rider's faced this year.

An early break away trio consisting of Silvia Valsecchi (BePink), Sara Penton (Team Virtu Cycling Women) and Olena Pavlukhina (BTC City Ljubljana) built up a lead approaching three minutes early on, but the escapees were caught before the rider's arrived at the pivotal mountain.

With just over 5 kilometres left, Van Vleuten responded to an attack from Moolman-Pasio - and the duo sped away from the reduced bunch, before Van Vleuten dug deep to distance her companion with 2km left.

The battle for third was left to Amanda Spratt - the maglia rosa's team mate who won solo on stage six - and Eider Merino (Movistar), with Spratt proving herself the more capable of the two on the day.

How it happened

The 104 kilometre stage from Tricesimo to Monte Zoncolan opened with 86 fairly flat km's, excluding a shorter climb in Bordano at 61km, before the riders approached the mountain.

One notable absence from the peloton was Marianne Vos (WaowDeals) who, after winning stage eight, was forced to abandon the race after falling ill overnight, commenting "it would be irresponsible to start today, in such a brutal stage to the Monte Zoncolan."

A pile up just 10km into the race left some riders chasing on, but most had regained contact with 80km remaining. In the mean time a group of five - containing Eri Yonamine (Wiggle High5) and Christine Majerus (Boels-Dolmans) attacked to create some distance, but they were caught soon after.

That led the way for an attack cooked up between Valsecchi, Penton and Pavlukhina. Come the 48m to go mark, they'd managed to build up a lead of 2 minutes 55 seconds.

Of the three, Pavlukhina was the best placed on GC - in 61st place and over thirty minutes down, meaning the bunch could well allow them to slip away without danger of affecting the battle for overall.

The three stayed away on the first climb at Bordano, Valsecchi was first, followed by Pavlukhina and Penton - though their lead was sinking, down to 2-20. In the peloton, Dani King (WaowDeals) finished the climb first ahead of best Italian rider Elisa Longo Borghini (Wiggle High5).

Come the intermediate sprint at Tolmezzo, they were still away. The finish order - Valsecchi, Pavlukhina and Penton - was identical to that of the climb, but the gap was much smaller - at 1-48.

Approaching the early slopes of the climb, the catch was close, and it was made with 14km to go - by which time the entire peloton was enjoying the cooling effect of a mountain downpour.

The average gradient of 11.5 per cent over 10km caused splits in the peloton. The lead bunch was whittled down to 40 riders - with more dropping off as the metres ticked by.

The front group contained key players such as Van Vleuten, Moolman-Pasio, Megan Guarnier (Boels-Dolmans), Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (Cervelo-Bigla), and Spratt.

It was Moolman-Pasio who attacked first, Van Vleuten chasing after her - with 5km to go the pair had a gap of 38s over Guarnier and her companions - including Spratt, Merino, Ane Santesteban (Ale Cippolini), Victoria Garcia (Movistar) and Lucinda Brand (Sunweb).

Spratt and Merino soon left the others behind, before Spratt began to drop off the pace, leaving Merino to chase the duo out front on her own.

With 4km remaining, Moolman-Pasio and Van Vleuten had a 56s lead over Merino, Spratt was 1-06 down and Brand was 1-30 back.

As Merino began to slow, Spratt was able to rejoin her - and up ahead, her team mate attacked with 2km left.

Under the flamme rouge, Van Vleuten was on her own and 25s ahead of Moolman-Pasio - eventually crossing the line solo with the Cervelo-Bigla rider second, 40s behind, and Spratt battling Merino to take third - at 2-54.

Time differences on the stage mean that Moolman-Pasio overtakes Brand to move into second, with the Sunweb rider falling out of the podium positions behind Spratt.

Results

Giro Rosa stage nine, Tricesimo to Monte Zoncolan (104km)

1. Annemiek van Vleuten (Ned) Mitchelton-Scott

2. Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (RSA) Cervelo-Bigla, at 40s

3. Amanda Spratt (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott, at 2-54

4. Eider Merino (Spa) Movistar, at 2-59

5. Megan Guarnier (USA) Boels-Dolmans, at 4-00

6 Lucinda Brand (Ned) Sunweb, at 4-06

7. Ane Santesteban (Spa) Ale Cippolini, at 4-39

8. Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (Den) Cervelo-Bigla, at 4-52

9. Margarita Victoria Garcia (Spa) Movistar, at 5-16

10. Katrine Aalerud (Nor) Team Virtu Cycling, at 5-28

General Classification after stage nine

1. Annemiek van Vleuten (Ned) Mitchelton-Scott

2. Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (RSA) Cervelo-Bigla, at 3-35

3. Amanda Spratt (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott, at 5-33

4. Lucinda Brand (Ned) Sunweb, at 7-05

5. Megan Guarnier (USA) Boels-Dolmans at 8-43

6. Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (Den) Cervelo-Bigla, at 10-01

7. Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Pol) Canyon-SRAM, at 10-13

8. Eider Merino (Spa) Movistar, at 11-12

9. Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita) Wiggle-High5, at 12-14

10. Ane Santesteban (Spa) Ale-Cippolini, at 12-35

Marianne Vos (WaowDeals pro cycling) won stage eight of the Giro Rosa, ahead of best placed Italian rider Elisa Longo Borghini (Wiggle High5) and Sunweb's Lucinda Brand.

The 126 kilometre stage from San Giorgio di Perlena to Breganze included two classified climbs, the second of which came with just 8km of the day remaining.

Both ascents caused major splits in the peloton, with the first chopping the group in two and the second forcing further selection.

The winning move came following the second climb, when the podium finishers broke away to build up a time gap of 30 seconds come the final kilometre.

Vos, who has three Giro Rosa general classification wins to her name, was fastest of the trio with Georgia Bronzini (Cylance) winning the bunch sprint behind.

How it happened

A reduced peloton of 142 riders - down from 165 at the start of the race - rolled out of the host town, and it wasn't long before the race became active.

The first intermediate sprint came after just 11km, with Lucinda Brand (Sunweb) taking the lion-share of points ahead of Alexis Ryan (Canyon-SRAM) and Brand's Sunweb team mate Leah Kirchmann.

The day's first selection looked set to kick off come the first ascent to Schiavon.

Sure enough, with 100km to go the bunch was stretched out over the climb, with around 60 riders losing contact.

Just 4km later Rossella Ratto (Cylance), Aude Biannic (Movistar) and Ana Maria Covrig (Eurotarget–Bianchi–Vitasana) achieved some distance over the 70 or so riders still in contention.

Chloe Hosking (Ale-Cippolini) looked set to bridge to the trio, but after Christine Majerus (Boels-Dolmans) put in an attack, a select group chased her down and also closed the space between themselves and the earlier break.

In the end, Longo Borghini was first to the top of the ascent, with 2018 Giro Rosa stage winners Ruth Winder (Sunweb) and Amanda Spratt (Mitchelton Scott) second and third.

With around 67km covered, the front bunch was ahead of those dropped on the climb by 3 minutes 40 seconds.

The leaders were by no means settled though, and multiple attacks enlivened the race - including a hopeful bunch of nine which included Longo Borghini alongside Amy Pieters (Boels-Dolmans), Hosking (Ale-Cippolini), Tiffany Cromwell (Canyon-SRAM), Lotta Lepistö (Cervelo-Bigla),  Rossella Ratto (Cylance), Liane Lippert (Sunweb), Anouska Koster (WaowDeals) and Amy Cure (Wiggle High5).

Unrepresented teams weren't happy with a GC threat up the road, and the escapees were caught before they had gathered more than 20s of distance.

The second intermediate sprint lay around 20km to the line, and until that point the leading bunch remained largely in a rhythm, keeping the pace at around 41kph. The maximum points for the sprint went to Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (Cervelo-Bigla) ahead of Brand and Lepistö.

The gap to the dropped riders sunk to 1-25 before increasing once again to 2 minutes, by which point it was clear they'd never regain contact.

The second ascent of the day came with 8km remaining, and once again cracks appeared in the main bunch. The majority, however, stayed together over the top of the climb and onto the downhill section before a flat finish.

With 2km remaining, Brand attacked, taking with her Vos and Longo Borghini and the trio set off in hot pursuit of the line.

They'd created a time gap of 30s come the final kilometre, leaving the trio to set about preparing to sprint.

Of the three, Vos showed herself to be the most powerful, taking the stage win which WaowDeals set as their goal for the 2018 race.

GC leader Annemiek van Vleuten (Mitchelton-Scott) crossed the line 23s down on Vos, and holds on to the maglia rosa.

Results

Giro Rosa, stage eight, San Giorgio di Perlena to Breganze (126km)

1. Marianne Vos (Ned) WaowDeals

2. Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita) Wiggle High5

3. Lucinda Brand (Ned) Sunweb, at same time

4. Giorgia Bronzini (Ita) Cylance, at 23s

5. Sorya Paladin (Ita) Alé Cipollini

6. Maria Giulia Confalonieri (Ita) Valcae PBM

7. Sofia Bertizzolo (Ita) Astana

8. Elena Cecchini (Ita) Canyon-SRAM

9. Nadia Quagliotto (Ita) Top Girls Fassa Bortolo

10. Eugenia Bujak (Slo) BTC City Ljubljana

General Classification after stage eight

1. Annemiek van Vleuten (Ned) Mitchelton-Scott

2. Lucinda Brand (Ned) Sunweb at 2-32

2. Ashleigh Moolman (RSA) Cervelo Bigla at 1-51

3. Amanda Spratt (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott at 2-53

5. Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Pol) Canyon-SRAM at 4-21

6. Megan Guarnier (USA) Boels-Dolmance at 4-33

7. Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (Den) Cervelo-Bigla at 4-39

8. Ruth Winder (USA) Sunweb at 5-52

9. Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita) Wiggle High5 at 6-05

10. Sabrina Stultiens (Ned) WaowDeals at 6-36

UCI Time Trial World Champion, Annemiek van Vleuten (Mitchelton-Scott) won the mountain time trial at stage seven of the Giro Rosa, moving into the overall lead.

Van Vleuten, who won the deceptively hilly ITT at the Italian stage race last year, completed the 15 kilometre uphill course in 46 minutes 6 seconds - opting to use a time trial bike whilst many others chose road bikes. 

The Dutch rider's nearest competitor was Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (Cervelo-Bigla), who reached the finish line 2-29 down; Lucinda Brand (Team Sunweb) was next, 2-54 slower than Van Vleuten - who took third spot on the overall podium at the end of the 2017 race.

Other key general classification threats include Megan Guarnier (Boels-Dolmans) who won the race in 2016, but was 3-17 slower than Van Veluten to sit in sixth overall. Elisa Longo Borghini (Wiggle High5) was second overall in 2017 and came in 3-28 down - she now holds the ninth spot on the GC, and the best Italian rider's jersey.

Canyon-SRAM Katarzyna Niewiadoma was 3-28 in arrears to move into fifth overall.

Van Vleuten takes the maglia rosa from her team mate, Amanda Spratt, who charged ahead during the mountain preceding a summit finish on stage six. She left Van Vleuten comfortably in the lead group, in what appears to have been a well staged two-part scheme.

Newly crowned British National Time Trial champion Hannah Barnes (Canyon-SRAM) did not start stage seven, having sustained a broken collarbone in a crash on stage six.

Stage eight will be a 126km day from San Giorgio di Perlena to Breganze, with three climbs along the way - then stage nine sees the peloton attack the Monte Zoncalon.

Results:

Giro Rosa 2018 Stage seven, Lanzada – Campo Moro (15km TT):

1) Annemiek van Vleuten (Mitchelton Scott) in 46-06

2) Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (Cervelo-Bigla Pro Cycling) at 2-29

3) Lucinda Brand (Team Sunweb) at 2-54

4) Megan Guarnier (Boels Dolmans Cycling) at 3-17

5) Amanda Spratt (Mitchelton Scott) at 3-26

6) Elisa Longo Borghini (Wiggle High5) at 3-28

7) Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Canyon SRAM Racing) at 3-38

8) Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (Cervelo-Bigla Pro Cycling) at 4-06

9) Alice Maria Arzuffi (Bizkaia Durango Euskadi) at 4-18

10) Tayler Wiles (Trek-Drops) at 4-30

General Classification after stage seven

1) Annemiek van Vleuten (Mitchelton Scott) in 16-25-23

2) Amanda Spratt (Mitchelton Scott) at 2-53

3) Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (Cervelo-Bigla Pro Cycling) at 2-54

4) Lucinda Brand (Team Sunweb) at 3-01

5) Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Canyon SRAM Racing) at 4-21

6) Megan Guarnier (Boels Dolmans Cycling) at 4-33

7) Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (Cervelo-Bigla Pro Cycling) at 4-39

8) Rush Winder (Team Sunweb) at 5-52

9) Elisa Longo Borghini (Wiggle High5) at 6-34

10) Sabrina Stultiens (Waowdeals Pro Cycling Team) at 6-36

Amanda Spratt (Mitchelton-Scott) won stage six of the Giro Rosa after the breaking away on the 15 kilometre climb towards the summit finish.

The Australian rider attacked with 4km left of the stage and crossed the line 29 seconds ahead of her team mate, Annemiek van Vleuten, to take the maglia rosa - becoming the first rider outside of Team Sunweb to take the honours in the 2018 event.

Third place went to Ashleigh Moolman (Cervelo-Bigla), with 2016 winner Megan Guarnier (Boels Dolmans) chasing at her heels just one second behind.

Pink jersey wearer at the start of the stage, Ruth Winder (Sunweb), dropped off the leading group at around the 10km to go mark, rolling in almost two minutes down on the winner - but her stage five advantage means she still sits in second overall.

How it happened

We'd been expecting stage six of the 2018 Giro Rosa to provide a glimpse into the GC battle we can look forward to over the coming stages, and it didn't disappoint.

The 114 kilometre stage from Sovico to Gerola Alta featured a fairly flat opening profile, until the last 15km, where the road went upwards towards a summit finish.

A peloton of 149 riders rolled out from Sovico, travelling north alongside Lake Como towards the Dolomite mountains.

A tailwind sped the riders towards the base of the climb, and with temperatures sitting at 26ºC after some hot and humid conditions earlier in the week riders were treated to pretty amicable conditions.

In the opening 10km, several riders attempted to break clear of the peloton. However, the bigger teams weren't having it - with each acceleration matched and closed down. Not a single break attempt managed to gain more than 20s on the cagey bunch.

Wiggle High5's leader Elisa Longo Borghini struggled with mechanicals alongside the lake, changing her bike three times before settling back into the peloton.

The race was enlivened with an intermediate sprint in Andalo, with 19km to go - won by Riejanne Markus (WaowDeals Pro Cycling) with team mate Dani King second.

Once the climb began, the fractures we'd been waiting for began to appear within the bunch, with a clear selection made.

The leading group continued to shed riders, until with 10km to go it consisted of just the strongest climbers, including 2016 winner Megan Guarnier (Boels Dolmans) 2017's second and third placed Elisa Longo Borghini (Wiggle High5) and Annemiek van Vleuten (Mitchelton-Scott) alongside her team mate Amanda Spratt plus Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM), Ashleigh Moolman (Cervelo Bigla) and Shara Gillow (FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope).

The group also contained Eider Merino and Victoria Margarita Garcia (Movistar), Ane Santesteban (Ale Cippolini), Lucinda Brand (Subweb), Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (Cervelo Bigla) and Sabrina Stultiens (WaowDeals) - and as their advantage grew, maglia rosa wearer Ruth Winder (Subweb) slipped back to hold a 10s deficit with 7km to go.

As the road continued to slope upwards, more riders were shed to reveal a group of six - Guarnier, Garcia, Moolman, Niewiadoma, Van Vleuten and Spratt.

With 4km of uphill gradient left, Spratt put in a decisive attack to separate herself from the elite selection. By this point the remainder of the early lead group - including Longo Borghini - was distanced by around 40s, and the maglia rosa aboard the shoulder of Winder was 1-52 in arrears.

Spratt was able to hold on to her advantage, with Van Vleuten making it a Mitchelton-Scott 1-2, crossing the line 29s later and Moolman in third, 31s back.

The result means that Spratt moves into the maglia rosa though Winder's stage five advantage means she sits in second place before the new leader's team mate, Van Vleuten.

Giro Rosa stage six, Sovico – Gerola Alta, 114km,

1) Amanda Spratt (Mitchelton Scott) in 2-57-49

2) Annemiek Van Vleuten (Mitchelton Scott) at at 29s

3) Ashleigh Moolman (Cervelo-Bigla Pro Cycling) at 31s

4) Megan Guarnier (Boels Dolmans Cycling) at 32’s

5) Ane Santesteban (Ale Cipollini)

6) Victoria Garcia (Movistar Team Women), at same time

7) Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Canyon SRAM Racing) at 34s

8) Sabrina Stultiens (Waowdeals Pro Cycling Team) at 35s

9) Sabrina Brand (Team Sunweb)

10) Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (Cervelo-Bigla Pro Cycling), at same time

General Classification after stage six

1) Amanda Spratt (Mitchelton Scott) in 15-38-44’

2) Ruth Winder (Team Sunweb) at at 30s

3) Annemiek van Vleuten (Mitchelton Scott) at 33s

4) Lucinda Brand (Team Sunweb) at 40s

5) Ashleigh Moolman (Cervelo-Bigla Pro Cycling) at 58s

6) Cecile Uttrup Ludwig (Cervelo-Bigla Pro Cycling) at 1-06

7) Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Canyon SRAM Racing) at 1-16

8) Megan Guarnier (Boels Dolmans Cycling) at 1-49

9) Leah Kirchman (Team Sunweb) at 2-08

10) Sabrina Stultiens (Waowdeals Pro Cycling Team) at 2-31

Ruth Winder (Team Sunweb) won stage five of the Giro Rosa, charging ahead of her two breakaway companions Taylor Wiles (Trek Drops) and Alice Maria Arzuffi (Bizkaia Durango–Euskadi Murias) who took second and third respectively.

The break formed following the classified climb which came in the later half of the 122 kilometre day starting and finishing in Omegna.

The trio held off the chasers until the end, and Marianne Vos (WaowDeals) won the bunch gallop behind to take fourth 1 minute 17 seconds behind USA rider Winder.

Winder continues Team Sunweb's domination of the maglia rosa by moving into pink - she's the fourth rider from the German squad to lead the race in five days.

How it happened

After a selection of fairly flat days, stage five marked the beginning of the more climb-laden second half of the race - climaxing with Monte Zoncolan on stage nine.

The key ascent of the day was the Someraro mountain pass, a 6km ascent at around 7 per cent which appeared at the 90km mark. However, it was followed by a descent and then a flatter roll into the finish.

Early in the race, a break of twelve strong riders formed - this consisted of Christine Majerus (Boels-Dolmans), Elena Cecchini (Canyon SRAM), Clara Koppenburg (Cervelo Bigla), Eugénie Duval (FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope), Sara Roy (Mitchelton Scott),Liane Lippert (Team Sunweb), Barbara Guarischi (Team Virtu Cycling Women), Silvia Persico, Chiara Consonni and Giulia Maria Confalonieri (Valcar PBM), Dani King (WaowDeals) and Emilia Fahlin (Wiggle High5).

As the rider's approached a long stretch alongside the Lago d’Orta, they'd managed to create a one minute distance between themselves and the peloton, which was headed by the teams that didn't have representation in the break - such as Cylance.

The break increased its lead to 1-20, but this began to drop as they turned into a headwind towards Maggiore, and come the 50km to go mark the hopeful bunch was caught.

The key climb of the day arrived with 35km remaining, and it was Sabrina Stultiens (WaowDeals) who put it upon herself to stretch out the bunch.

She was eventually swept up and the first riders to crest the climb were Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM), Amanda Spratt (Mitchelton Scott) and Elisa Longo Borghini (Wiggle High5) - Longo Borghoni doing enough to hold on to the climber's jersey.

However, an attack cooked up between Arzuffi (Bizkaia Durango – Euskadi Murias), Winder (Team Sunweb) and Wiles (Trek Drops) proved to be pivotal.

The three climbers - Niewiadoma, Spratt and Longo Borghini tried to close the gap, but to no success as the escapees picked up speed down the mountain and charged towards the finish.

With 3km remaining, Arzuffi attacked her companions, but gained no distance, leaving the gate open for Windsor to charge to the win, ahead of Wiles, leaving Arzuffi the third space on the podium.

The peloton reached the line 1-17 down, with Vos being the first to cross it.

Stage six should be an exciting race, with a summit finish preceded by a 15km climb, and the 15km mountain time trial on stage seven is likely to see selections made in the general classification ahead of the Monte Zoncolan on stage nine.

Results

Giro Rosa 2018 stage five: Omegna – Omegna, 122km

1 Ruth Winder (USA) Team Sunweb in 3-01-06

2 Taylor Wiles (USA) Trek Drops

3 Alice Maria Arzuffi (Ita) Bizkaia Durango – Euskadi Murias

4 Marianne Vos (Ned) WaowDeals, at 1-17

5 Megan Guarnier (USA) Wiggle High5

6 Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita) Cylance

7 Giulia Confalonieri (Ita) Valcar–PBM

8 Amanda Spratt (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott

9 Soraya Paladin (Ita) Alé Cipollin

10 Nadia Quagliotto (Ita) Top Girls Fassa Bortolo

General Classification after stage five

1. Ruth Winder (USA) Sunweb in 12-39-36

2. Leah Kirchmann (Can) Subweb, at 1-27

3. Lucinda Brand (Led) Sunweb, at 1-33

4. Amanda Spratt (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott, at 1-38

5. Annemiek van Vleuten (Ned) Mitchelton-Scott, at same time

6. Ellen van Dijk (Ned) Subweb, at 1-44

7. Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (Den) Cervelo Bigla, at 1-49

8. Ashleigh Moolman (RSA) Cervelo Bigla, at same time

9. Lotta Lepistö (Fin) Cervelo Bigla, at 1-51

10. Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Pol) Canyon-SRAM, at 2-00

Jolien D'Hoore (Mitchelton-Scott) took her second consecutive win of the 2018 Giro Rosa on stage four, sprinting to the line ahead of Marta Bastianelli (Alé Cippolini) and Lotta Lepistö (Cervelo Bigla).

The shortest day since the opening team time trial, the 109 kilometre route starting and finishing in Piacenza was shortened by 3km on the day.

The QOM climb featured around the halfway point, followed with just a few ramps towards the finish and though Olena Pavlukhina (BTC City Ljubljana) succeeded in gaining over a minute on the bunch she was swept up with just under 10km remaining.

The peloton remained largely intact, meaning that Leah Kirchmann (Sunweb) still holds the pink jersey ahead of the more mountainous stages over the second half of the race.

How it happened

The bunch rolled out in hot and humid conditions with temperatures soaring to 30°c during the race, but it didn't take long before the first breakaway attempt at around 15km.

Kseniia Dobrynina (Servetto-Stradalli Cycle-Alurecycling) attacked, gaining just over 10 seconds and leaving Christine Majerus (Boels Dolmans) and Dalia Muccioli (Valcar PBM) an opportunity to bridge.

The brief excitement was neutralised quickly, in time for Elena Franchi (Conceria Zabri-Fanini-Guerciotti) to test her legs with a dig at 75km to go, gaining 24s.

Franchi was still out front come the first intermediate sprint in Rivergaro, taking maximum points with Silvia Persico (Velcar PBM) winning from the bunch with Ellen van Dijk (Sunweb) third.

Coming into the QOM, Franchi was caught, and it was Elisa Longo Borghini (Wiggle High5) who reached the top of the climb - a 3.4km ascent at a 6.5 per cent gradient - first. Behind her was Amanda Spratt (Mitchelton-Scott), followed by Karol-Ann Canuel (Boels-Dolmans).

The pace on the climb led to splits in the peloton, with a brief spell where around 60 riders led on the 100 or so dropped - but the splintered pack came back together once the gradient flattened out.

With 29km remaining, Pavlukhina tried her luck out front, gaining a maximum of 1-10 before the sprinter's teams began to work to pull her back to 18s by the 15km mark.

The unavoidable catch came at 9km, followed soon after by a crash in the bunch, though most involved were able to make it back to the speeding peloton.

Multiple roundabouts appeared in the last 2k, eventually giving way to a long straight.

Once again, Jolien D'Hoore proved herself the strongest in the bunch gallop, flanked by Marta Bastianelli (Alé Cippolini) and Lotta Lepistö (Cervelo Bigla).

Whilst so far we've had a collection of sprint stages, the GC battle is likely to pick up from stage five with an ascent of the Monte Rosa.

The climb is followed by a flat finish, but stage six ends with a 15km uphill slog and a summit finish, before the 15km mountain time trial on stage seven followed by the looming figure of Monte Zoncolan on stage nine.

Results

Giro Rosa stage four, Piacenza to Piacenza, 109km

1. Jolien D’Hoore (Bel) Mitchelton-Scott

3. Marta Bastianelli (Ita) Alé Cipollini

3. Lotta Lepistö (Fin) Cervelo Bigla

4. Leah Kirchmann (Can) Sunweb

5. Roxane Fournier (Fra) FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope

6. Kirsten Wild (Nld) Wiggle High5

7. Amy Pieters (Nld) Boels-Dolmans

8. Emilia Fahlin (Swe) Wiggle High5

9. Barbara Guarischi (Ita) Team Virtu Cycling Women

10. Alexis Ryan (Usa) Canyon-SRAM

General classification

1. Leah Kirchmann (Can) Subweb

2. Lucinda Brand (Nld) Sunweb

3. Ellen van Dijk (Nld) Sunweb, at 8s

4. Ruth Winder (USA) Sunweb, at 9s

5. Amanda Spratt (USA) Mitchelton-Scott, at 10s

6. Annemiek van Vleuten (USA) Mitchelton Scott

7. Gracie Elvin (Aus), Mitchelton-Scott, at same time

9. Chantal Blaak (Nld) Boels-Dolmans, at 21s

10. Kirsten Wild (Nld) Wiggle High5, at 25s

Jolien D'Hoore (Mitchelton-Scott) won stage three of the Giro Rosa following a technical eight lap circuit race in challengingly hot conditions.

D'Hoore launched a long sprint from the final corner, beating stage two winner Kirsten Wild (Wiggle High5) and Canyon-SRAM's Alexis Ryan.

The maglia rosa stays on the shoulders of Team Sunweb, moving to Leah Kirchann who takes it from Lucinda Brand.

How it happened

Stage three, starting and finishing in Corbetta covered 132 kilometres and consisted of eight laps of a 16.5km course, with a near 180 degree bend 3km from the finish and another 90 degree turn with 300m remaining.

The bunch stayed together in the opening laps, with Kirsten Wild (Wiggle High5) winning the first intermediate sprint with 99km remaining, still in good form following her stage two victory, with Leah Kirchann and team mate Lucinda Brand (Sunweb) second and third respectively.

Attacks began with around 85km to go - the first was caught and gave way to a stronger counter from Sara Penton (Team Virtu Cycling Women), Chiara Perini (Top Girls Fassa Bortolo) and Carmela Cipriani (Conceria Zabri-Fanini-Guerciotti).

At 73km the three escapees had a gap of 25 seconds on the twisty circuit, and at the half way point this had increased to 28s.

Whilst the trio built up their lead to 1-01, Jessica Parra (Servetto–Stradalli Cycle–Alurecycling) put in an attack, quickly gaining 50s on the peloton. Parra increased her lead, but was never able to catch the lead group, eventually being swallowed back into the peloton after the fifth lap.

With 25km to go, the three riders out front had 1-50 on the bunch, but the peloton was never going to sit back and let them sail through the line without a fight.

Sprinter's teams began to come to the fore, increasing the pace and rapidly chipping away at the advantage until it was only 30s at 10km to go.

With 4km left, the break had been caught, and a crash in the bunch split the peloton, but those still gunning for the finish line continued their charge.

Narrow streets, cobbles and a 90° bend all presented themselves in the closing metres.

In the end, it was Julien D'Hoore (Mitchelton Scott) who took victory, ahead of Kirsten Wild (Wiggle High5) and Alexis Ryan (Canyon-SRAM).

D'Hoore said after the race: "Today everybody was expecting a bunch sprint, so during the race it was pretty easy. But then the last lap was pretty hectic and there were a lot of crashes again, but I could stay safe and out of trouble and I just found my way through the bunch, thanks to being a trackie I guess.

"I came round the last corner in fifth position, so I had to go then or it would be too late, so it was a really long sprint, but I could hold it until the end."

Results

Giro Rosa 2018, stage three: Corbetta to Corbetta (132km)

1 Jolien D'Hoore (Bel) Mitchelton - Scott, in 3-15-47

2 Kirsten Wild (Wiggle - High5)

3 Alexis Ryan (Canyon - SRAM)

4 Leah Kirchmann (Ned) Team Sunweb

5 Girogio Bronzini (Ita) Wiggle High5, all same time

General classification after stage three

1 Leah Kirchmann (Ned) Team Sunweb, in 6-56-07

2 Lucinda Brand (Ned) Team Sunweb, at 5s

3 Ellen van Dijk (Ned) Team Sunweb, at 9s

4 Ruth Winder (USA) Team Sunweb, at same time

5 Amanda Spratt (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott, at 10s

Kirsten Wild (Wiggle High5) sprinted to Giro Rosa victory on stage two, ahead of Giorgia Bronzini (Cylance) and Marianne Vos (WaowDeals Pro Cycling) in a fast finish following a 120 kilometre stage starting and finishing in Ovada.

The hilly day featured rolling terrain in the first half, but this was followed by a flat 25 km run-in to the line, resulting in a tense final three kilometres, with two breakaway riders being swept up under the flamme rouge.

The maglia rosa moved from the shoulders of Ellen van Dijk, to her team mate Lucinda Brand after the Sunweb rider collected bonus points and kicked off the chase in the last 15km.

How it happened

The peloton was treated to a 6km climb after just 2km of riding - but the 165 starting riders stayed largely together early on.

A group of nine riders made a break for it with 103km to go, but were neutralised without too much bother from the peloton.

The first intermediate sprint went to Sunweb's Leah Kirchmann with team mate Lucinda Brand just behind.

At 68 km to go, the route returned  to Ovada, crossing the finish line. Here, Sheyla Gutiérrez (Cylance) attacked, and very quickly accumulated a gap of a minute.

At the foot of the classified climb - Belforte Monferrato, with 57.5km left - she had a gap of 2-30, with three chasers caught in the middle at 1-10. In the end, only Alice Maria Arzuffi (Bizkaia Durango–Euskadi Murias) was able to bridge to Gutiérrez

At 57km to go, they had built up a 50s advantage - neither a threat to the GC, having started the race 3-11 and 2-23 down respectively.

The gap increased to 1-45 with 40km to the line, reaching 2-50 with 28km left - and holding steady until 15km to go.

However, soon after the 15km mark, Brand attacked, and with 3km to go the lead had been cut to just 33s, then 23s with 2km left.

A nail biting final kilometre saw the break caught with just 500 metres to the line.

Wild was the fastest of the bunch, followed by Bronzini in second and Vos taking the final podium spot.

Commenting after the stage, Wild said: "the girls put me in the perfect position in the last 300 metres... and I just went full gas to the line."

She added: "I didn't think about it as a sprint stage because it was quite uphill... but the other [sprint] days [in the race], yes as a team, we'll go for it."

Brand keeps the maglia rosa on the shoulders of a Sunweb rider, commenting after the stage "that was the goal of the team today, we don't give it away easily."

You can catch up with the highlights via Facebook streaming here. Stage 1's TTT will be on Eurosport 1 on Saturday July 7, at 20:30-21:15 and you can catch stage 2's highlights on Sunday July 8, at 20:30-21:15

Results

Giro Rosa, stage one: Ovada to Ovada, 120km

1) Wild Kirsten (Wiggle High5) in 3-22-00

2) Bronzini Giorgia (Cylance Pro Cycling)

3) Vos Marianne (Waowdeals Pro Cycling)

4) Bastianelli Marta (Ale Cipollini)

5) Pieters Amy (Boels Dolmans Cycling)

6) Ryan Alexis (Canyon SRAM Racing)

7) Sanguineti Ilaria (Valcar PBM)

8) Fournier Roxane (FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine)

9) Spratt Amanda (Mitchelton Scott)

10) Brand Lucinda (Team Sunweb), at same time

General Classification

1) Brand Lucinda (Team Sunweb) in 3-40-22

2) Kirchmann Leah (Team Sunweb)

3) Van Dijk Ellen (Team Sunweb) at 3s

4) Winder Ruth (Team Sunweb)

5) Labous Juliette (Team Sunweb)

6) Lippert Liane (Team Sunweb)

7) Soek Julia (Team Sunweb)

8) Spratt Amanda (Mitchelton Scott) at 4s

9) Elvin Gracie (Mitchelton Scott)

10) Van Vleuten Annemiek (Mitchelton Scott) at same time

Team Sunweb won the opening team time trial of the Giro Rosa, taking the top step of the podium ahead of Mitchelton-Scott and Boels-Dolmans.

The UCI World Champion TTT team completed the 15.5 kilometre course in Verbania in 18 minutes 24 seconds, just 1s ahead of Mitchelton-Scott; Boels-Dolmans were 12s adrift.

The first Sunweb rider to cross the line was former World champion time triallist and reigning Dutch national champion, Ellen van Dijk who goes into the second stage - a 120km route starting and finishing in Ovada - wearing the maglia rosa. 

"It's a bit of a double feeling, I'm super happy we won this as a team but it feels a little weird to get the jersey" she said, adding "it was a great feeling to win the prologue with this team."

"We had a very clear plan and I think almost everything went according to plan. And I think that's what you really need here to win this race. It was a super fast and demanding course, you know you cannot make any mistakes here."

Sunweb came to the Giro Rosa in search of stage wins, opting not to bring a GC contender within its roster of Lucinda Brand, Ellen van Dijk, Leah Kirchmann, Juliette Labous, Liane Lippert, Julia Soek and Ruth Winder.

Coach Hans Timmermans said: "This year’s Giro is very hard, but also interesting for a team like ours. We come with a strong squad and can play a lot of cards for good stage results."

The top ten in the prologue featured two British squads - Wiggle High5 in seventh, 39s behind the winners and relative new comers Trek-Drops also snuck in at 10th just 1-18 down.

Stage two is a hilly day, featuring a 6km climb just 2km into the route. There are undulations throughout, however from the 25km to go mark it's pretty much flat.

Any breakaway rider, or riders, will have to work hard to fend the peloton off over the closing stages - and it's more likely that we'll see a bunch sprint.

You can catch the highlights on PMG sports here or see today's action on Eurosport 1 on Saturday July 7 at 20:30-21:15.

Results

Giro Rosa, stage one: 15km TTT from Verbania

1 Team Sunweb 18-24

2 Mitchelton-Scott at 1s

3 Boels Dolmans Cycling Team at 12s

4 Cervelo-Bigla at 22s

5 Canyon-SRAM at 26s

6 WaowDeals Pro Cycling at 35s

7 Wigle-High5 at 39s

8 Movistar Women at 1-11

9 FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope at 1-13

10 Trek-Drops at 1-18

Classifications after stage one:

General Classification: Ellen Van Dijk (Team Sunweb)

Points: Sarah Roy (Mitchelton - Scott)

Mountains: Karol-Ann Canuel (Boels Dolmans Cycling)

Best young rider: Liane Lippert (Team Sunweb)

Best Italian rider: Elena Cecchini (Canyon-SRAM Racing)

Claudia Cretti has returned to her hometown of Brescia to continue her recovery following her horror crash at this year's Giro Rosa.

After nearly a month in hospital in Benevento, the Vaclar-PBM rider was driven to a new rehabilitation clinic where her doctor explained that "today is day zero", as reported by Gazzetta dello Sport.

Cretti took an eight hour ambulance journey with two doctors back to the Lombardy town with her mother Laura Bianchi heralding her return as a "new adventure."

The Italian had to be airlifted to hospital after suffering severe injuries to her head in a 90kph crash. Her injuries were so bad that she was placed into a medically-induced coma as fears of permanent brain damage began to mount.

Things could've turned out much differently according to her father, Joseph Cretti, who spoke with doctors who were first on the scene. "[They] confided in me that if they had arrived 10 minutes later there would be nothing to do" he explained.

Cretti showed determination in her recovery after waking from her coma in the latter part of July and was interacting with her family and doctors. As she slowly begins to get better, Cretti looks to regain the full use of her voice and mental comprehension.

There is no word whether Cretti will return to racing once she has recovered.

Claudia Cretti has started on her long road of recovery from her horror crash at this year's Giro Rosa after her mother has confirmed that she is awake.

The Valcar-PBM rider had to be airlifted to hospital after crashing at 90kph, leaving her in a critical condition. She was placed into a medically-induced coma after it was feared she would suffer from permanent brain damage due to the injuries that she received to her head.

Originally the doctors reported that she was in a "critical but stable neurological condition" but in a recent Facebook post her mother, Laura Bianchi, confirmed that she was awake and interacting.

"Claudia is moving very well and observes everything with curiosity. She's listening to audio messages. Looks at photos on her cellphone" she said. "Doctors say it's going well."

The Italian star will soon be moved to a rehabilitation centre that will be closer to her home. There's no set return date as the rider is still in the early days of her recovery but these are encouraging signs for someone who was initially feared to have been on the end of permanent brain damage.

It was double triumph for Boels-Dolmans in Italy today as American Megan Guarnier won the final Giro Rosa stage and Anna van der Breggen won the overall.

The team have held the maglia rosa since the opening stage, with the Olympic champion taking it after day two.

Guarnier’s win came at the end of an odd stage where the peloton negotiated nine flat laps of 11.1km around Torre del Greco, before climbing half way up Mount Vesuvius to Mounmento Vesuviuo, arriving there with just 4 of the 124km to race.

An early break of eight had been hoovered up on the approach to the climb where the general classification riders lit it up. Ovo Energy Women’s Tour winner Kasia Niewiadoma (WM3 Energie) was first to attack, at the bottom of the climb, before Annemiek van Vleuten (Orica-Scott) made a last ditch effort to close the 1.39 deficit she had on van der Breggen.

Those three crested the climb with Guarnier, Elisa Longo-Borghini (Wiggle-High5) and van Vleuten’s team mate Amanda Spratt, who took second place on the stage, Niewiadoma coming third.

Arriving at the race as the defending champion, today was only Guarnier’s second win of the year, after she suffered severe concussion in and early season crash, and she was satisfied with her performance.

“I don’t think it is any secret that it’s been a tough year for me, so any personal victory is really sweet right now,” the former US national champion told Cycling Weekly. “I was out in the wind early and Spratt came round me pretty fast, but I opened it up and got it.”

The American may have challenged more for the overall had in race timings nt ben misleading during Stage two, where she lost 1.54.

“Anna and I were both strong GC contenders, but it was settled pretty early after we had somewhat incorrect time gaps on the first day. In one kilometre it went from 40 seconds to two minutes and we didn’t stop riding , so that information kind of decided the GC.”

Van der Breggen had set the foundations for her victory on that day, finishing second behind van Vleuten, taking and defending the lead from then, depose challenges from van Vleuten on nearly every climb of the race.

“I have to say it is a big relief. I’m happy it’s over and I could make it up that climb also,” she said. “That was harder than I thought. It started steep, the middle part was OK and the end was steep again. We did a recce this morning so I was happy I knew what was coming up.”

“I was a bit scared at the start of the race because I didn’t feel that good and of course nine days is long, every day you have some pressure, so I was counting and near the end of the race I was really good again.”

The Olympic champion also reclaimed the lead of the Women’s WorldTour from Niewiadoma, won last year by Guarnier. But with that jersey she will now go on holiday.

“I am going with my boyfriend in the camper, and we will go with the wind, where nobody is.”

Giro d’Italia Internazionale Femminle Stage 10 Result

1. Megan Guarnier (USA) Boels-Dolmans 3-09-37
2. Amanda Spratt (Aus) Orica-Scott
3. Kasia Niewiadoma (Pol) WM3 Energie
4. Annemiek van Vleuten (Ned) Orica-Scott
5. Anna van der Breggen (Ned) Boels-Dolmans
6. Elisa Longo-Borghini (Ita) Wiggle-High5 all at same time
7. Lucinda Brand (Ned) Sunweb at 0-46
8. Arlenis Sierra (Cub) Astana at 1-04
9. Janneke Ensing (Ned) Alé-Cipollini
10. Romy Kasper (Ger) Alé-Cipollini all at same time

General Classification after the final stage of the Giro Rosa

1. Anna van der Breggen (Ned) Boels-Dolmans 25-39-43
2. Elisa Longo-Borghini (Ita) Wiggle-High5 at 1-03
3. Annemiek van Vleuten (Ned) Orica-Scott at 1-39
4. Megan Guarnier (USA) Boels-Dolmans at 2-57
5. Amanda Spratt (Aus) Orica-Scott at 3-26
6. Kasia Niewiadoma (Pol) WM3 Energie at 3-58
7. Lucinda Brand (Ned) Sunweb at 4-12
8. Karol-Ann Canuel (Can) Boels-Dolmans at 5-26
9. Claudia Lichtenberg (Ger) Wiggle-High5 at 6-09
10. Arlenis Sierra (Cub) Astana at 6-19

Cheers followed Marta Bastianelli down the street as she made her way to the podium after winning Saturday’s ninth stage at the Giro Rosa.

The 2007 world champion sprinted to the win ahead of Finnish champion Lotta Lepsstö Cervélo-Bigla) and compatriot Giorgia Bronzini (Wiggle-High5) to take the first Home win of the race.

Bastianelli was helped when her Alé-Cipollini team mate Anna Trevisi escaped with Lauren Kitchen (WM3 Energie) and Malgorzata Jasinska (Cylance) in the final 25km of the 122km stage.

The trio were permitted a lead of 1.30, while the peloton familiarised themselves with the finishing circuit.

However, the peloton were always in control and, with knowledge of the technical final two kilometres, closed the break down to set up a bunch sprint.

“I am very happy for me and my team,” Bastianelli told Cycling Weekly at the sweltering finish line. “It was a hard stage because of the sun and the roads, and in the first kilometres there were a lot of big hills.

“It was emotional because I did not know I had won.

“It is the best for an Italian to win at the Giro Rosa, so I am also happy for the Italian people.”

The first 50 kilometres of the race contained a number of challenging, though unclassified hills which combined with the 39º heat to split the peloton, leaving around 50 riders unable to get back on when the road levelled out.

Those that had stayed in those early kilometres were able to stay in contact with the bunch, in what was an otherwise uneventful race.

The general classification remains unaffected, with Dutch woman Anna van der Breggen maintaining the lead she has held since stage two. Should she hang on through tomorrow’s final stage, which concludes after a climb of the lower slopes of Mount Vesuvius, the 27-year-old will bag her second Giro title.

“It’s not that steep, it looks a bit like the one we has on the second day,” van der Breggen said of the climb. “The corners are steepest bit, so we have to see tonight, and put it in Strava and see how it really is, because you cannot see much from the road book.”

Van der Breggen’s Boels-Dolmans team have held the pink jerseys since winning the opening team time trial near Venice, and it is them she credits for her current position.

“The team around me are incredible and it is special to be in pink the whole Giro. They do everything and they keep me out of trouble, so it fair to say I wouldn’t be in pink without them.

“Anything can happen on the last stage, but all I have to do is follow, but I think that final climb suits me.”

Giro d’Italia Internazionale Femminile Stage nine result

1. Marta Bastianelli (Ita) Alé-Cipollini 3-05-09
2. Lotta Lepistö (Fin) Cervélo-Bigla
3. Giorgia Bronzini (Ita) Wiggle-High5
4. Arlenis Sierra (Cub) Astana
5. Coryn Rivera (USA) Sunweb
6. Alexis Ryan (USA) Canyon-SRAM
7. Ilarta Sanguinetti (Ita) BePink
8. Amalie Dideriksen (Den) Boels-Dolmans
9. Emilie Moberg (Nor) Hitec Products
10. Natalya Saifutdinova (Kaz) Astana All at same time

General Classification after stage nine

1. Anna van der Breggen (Ned) Boels-Dolmans 22-30-06
2. Elisa Longo-Borghini (Ita) Wiggle-High5 at 1-03
3. Annemiek van Vleuten (Ned) Orica-Scott at 1-39
4. Megan Guarnier (USA) Boels-Dolmans at 3-07
5. Lucinda Brand (Ned) Sunweb at 3-26
6. Amanda Spratt (Aus) Orica-Scott at 3-32
7. Kasia Niewiadoma (Pol) WM3 Energie at 4-02
8. Karol-Ann Canuel (Can) Boels-Dolmans at 4-22
9. Claudia Lichtenberg (Ger) Wiggle-High5 at 5-05
10. Arlenis Sierra (Cub) Astana at 5-15

Lucinda Brand (Team Sunweb) took a solo win on stage eight of the Giro Rosa, crossing the line 12 seconds ahead of a lone chaser, with the bunch finishing further back.

The Dutch rider broke away with a small group, chasing an earlier attack. Eventually, she was able to pass - taking the win herself, with the next rider - Tetyana Riabchenko (Lensworld-Kuota) in second at 12 seconds and Megan Guarnier (Boels-Dolmans) leading the bunch at 1-33.

>>> Liv launches Langma climbing bike for Team Sunweb to debut at the Giro Rosa

The 141km stage from Baraonissi to Palinuro had a sombre beginning, with the Valcar-PBM team mates of  Claudia Cretti - the Italian rider who crashed on stage seven - taking to the start whilst she remained in hospital.

However, being the Queen stage of the ten day race, it was pipped as the most influential and breaks formed early.

The pivotal move came when Janneke Ensing and Tetyana Riabchenko  (Lensworld-Kuota) chased a lone rider - Ane Santesteban (Alé Cipollini). Santesteban was soon dropped, as was Ensing - leaving Riabchenko alone.

Eventually Anouksa Koster (WM3 Pro Cycling) and Brand bridged to Ensing, with British rider Hannah Barnes eventually making an attempt to join them before being reeled back in by the 42kph pace of the peloton.

Riabchenko continued solo for some time, but eventually Brand's pace dropped her companions and she caught the lone rider with 10km to the line.

With 5km to go, Brand hit the deck on a descent - losing her new companion - but she was soon back on the bike and chasing hard. With 2km to go, she'd regained the time, and accelerated past Riabchenko. This time, never looking back and crossing the line 12 seconds ahead.

In the meantime, Ensing and Koster had been caught and passed by the peloton, with Guarnier taking the bunch sprint and the GC contenders Elisa Longo Borghini (Wiggle High5), Annemiek van Vleuten (Orica Scott) and Anna van der Breggen (Boels-Dolmans) finishing together.

Speaking to Cycling Weekly after the stage, Brand said she'd highlighted the stage as one to suit her early on - saying: "We said we'd try to be in the break again today.. and I told the girls it was a stage that would suit me. Luckily I could make it."

Talking us through the final kilometres, she said: "[Whilst I was] chasing [Riabchenko], I was almost catching back - I crashed in the descent with 4 to 5km to go - I had to get up quickly. [I knew I had the win] with 3km to go, when I saw her losing speed. Then I knew I'd win this."

The GC leaders all finished at the same time, so van der Breggen stays in the maglia rosa, with Longo Borghini second and van Vleuten third.

Giro Rosa stage eight results

1. Lucida Brand (Ned) Team Sunweb in 3-46-10
2. Tetyana Riabchenko (Ukr) Lensworld-Kuota at 12s
3. Megan Guarnier (USA) Boels Dolmans at 1-33
4. Annemiek van Vleuten (Ned) Orica-Scott at 1-33
5. Elisa Longo-Borghini (Ita) Wiggle-High5 at 1-33
6. Anna van der Breggen (Ned) Boels-Dolman at 1-33
7. Kasia Niewiadoma (Pol) WM3 at 1-33
8. Amanda Spratt (Aus) Orica-Scott at 1-33
9. Karol-Ann Canuel (Can) Boels-Dolmans at 1-33
10.  Claudia Lichtenberg (Ger) Wiggle High5 at 1.39

Giro Rosa General classification after stage eight

1. Anna van der Breggen (Nld) Boels-Dolmans
2. Elisa Longo-Borghini (Ita) Wiggle-High5 at 1-03
3. Annemiek van Vleuten (Ned) Orica-Scott at 1-39
4. Megan Guarnier (USA) Boels-Dolmans at 3-07
5.  Lucinda Brand (Nld) Team Sunweb at 3-26
6. Amanda Spratt (Aus) Orica-Scott at 3-26
7. Kasia Niewiadoma (Pol) WM3 Energie at 4-02
8. Karol-Ann Canuel (Can) Boels-Dolmans at 4-22
9. Claudia Lichtenberg (Ger) Wiggle High5 at 5.05
10. Arlenis Sierra (Cub) Astana Women's Team  at 5.15

A black cloud hovers over the Giro Rosa ahead of stage eight as Italian rider Claudia Cretti remains in a critical condition in hospital following a collision with the barriers on Thursday.

The crash took place on a descent during stage seven, from Isernia to Baronissi. Her team - Valcar-PBM - has reported that she was riding at around 90kph when she lost control of the bike.

The greatest worry for the 21-year-old rider's health is a head injury which, early reports say could leave her with permanent brain damage.

Organisers at the Giro Rosa are "being reserved" about the rider's prognosis, and her team have published a medical bulletin that states she is in a "critical but stable neurological condition".

Cretti was flown to hospital in Rummo, in Benevento, straight after the accident where she had emergency surgery on her head and shoulder - which is broken.

She had fallen once already, on stage two - but recovered well to secure eighth place in the sprint on stage four.

Her team-mates will start the stage seven despite the incident, saying "this is the best way to stay close to Claudia."

Earlier they released a statement: "The condition is very serious and the athlete is on the danger list, because it is feared brain damage. We kindly ask you to respect the people directly involved in the affair: the athlete's family first, and then all our athletes who are very shaken by what happened."

They later added via a Facebook update that she was "in critical but stable neurological condition" and in a medically induced coma.

Riders at the only women's Grand Tour have responded with concern and compassion.

Friday's stage is a 141.8km route from Baraonissi to Palinuro - it begins with a long descent, then riders will attack two longer ascents before a flat finish.

The Giro Rosa dished up a breakaway finish today with Cylance Pro Cycling’s Sheila Gutierrez sprinting to the win on stage sevem.

She edged first over the line, taking the victory from a group of 12 riders who escaped after British rider Dani King's attack was pulled back.

The 23-year-old’s stage seven success was the first WorldTour victory of her career and just her fourth at UCI level.

'Amazed' with the victory

Having previously been active, Gutierrez had instigated the attack which brought her victory after about 50 of the 145km stage had passed, and formed a group of 13 riders who managed stay away despite a rapidly approaching peloton.

“I am really happy but it was really difficult because everyone wanted to be in the break,” the recently crowned Spanish champion told Cycling Weekly under the broiling Italian sun.

“Fortunately I had a team mate with me, Rosella Ratto and she worked really hard to build the gap. It was very nervous because the stage was very long and really hot and everyone was very tired in the final. I wanted to push really hard, you have to work for it and finally we reached the goal.

“I was first, and I am amazed with this victory!”

The Spanish champion’s team had been determined to place someone in the break with Gutierrez herself trying early in the piece, before Britain’s Dani King escaped solo with over 100km to ride. With so far remaining King’s attempt was unlikely to be successful and she soon sat up.

“We have tried every stage,” continued Gutierrez, “I worked very hard before today and we had to find a different strategy and finally it worked for the team. It is incredible.”

High temperatures make for hard miles

The peloton were suffering the highest temperatures so far when they rolled out of Isernia for the hot dusty race to Baronissi, the seventh of ten stages. The race began very fast with just a few forays by some of the lesser teams, and it was not until around 20km were ridden that the front of the race began to stir with Gutierrez’s first attempt.

The break of the day formed the moment King was brought to heel, and soon had a gap of over two minutes.

Originally 13 women, Chloe Hosking (Alé-Cipollini) was dropped on one of the lesser climbs, leaving the remaining dozen to battle it out. As they approached the only categorised ascent of the day, the gap reached 3.22 and Sunweb’s Sabrina Stultiens became a threat to Annemiek van Vleuten’s third place on general classification.

Van Vleuten keep her eyes on the prize

After the race, having finished just 47 seconds behind Stultiens, van Vleuten (Orica-Scott) was unmoved, clearly not racing for places, telling us, “It is up to Boels if there is anything dangerous and I don’t have to care at all.”

Despite her deficit to race leader and compatriot Anna van der Breggen remaining 1.39 with only three days to go, van Vleuten is confident she can fight for victory.

“No, it is all done, I cannot believe I can win it," she joked, before adding, “I tried today, but it was not ideal as the climb was not long enough and too far from the finish, so it is a little bit hard for me to gain the one and a half minutes. An uphill finish would make it a bit different in the tactics, but there are still some hills and tomorrow.

“The show is over on Sunday.”

Tomorrow’s stage takes the peloton on an undulating 141.8km course from Baronissi to Centola south of Naples.

Giro d’Italia Internazionale Femminile Stage seven - Isernia - Baronissi - Result

1. Sheila Gutierrez (Esp) Cylance 3-43-16
2. Soraya Paladin (Ita) Alé- Cipollini
3. Eugenia Bujak (Pol) BTC City-Lubjana
4. Alexis Ryan (USA) Canyon-SRAM
5. Lauren Kitchen (Aus) WM3 Energie
6. Sabrina Stultiens (Ned) Sunweb
7. Alison Jackson (Can) BePink Cogeas
8. Tatiana Guderzo (Ita) LEnsworld-Kuota
9. Carmela Cipriani (Ita) Conceria Zabri Fanini
10. Clara Koppenburg (Ger) Cervélo-Bigla all same time

General Classification after stage seven

1. Anna van der Breggen (Ned) Boels-Dolmans 15-37-14
2. Elisa Longo-Borghini (Ita) Wiggle-High5 at 1-03
3. Annemiek van Vleuten (Ned) Orica-Scott at 1-39
4. Megan Guarnier (USA) Boels-Dolmans at 3-11
5. Amanda Spratt (Aus) Orica-Scott at 3-32
6. Kasia Niewiadoma (Pol) WM3 Energie at 4-02
7. Karol-Ann Canuel (Can) Boels-Dolmans at 4-22
8. Shara Gillow (Aus) FDJ-Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope at 4-53
9. Arlenis Sierra (Cub) Astana at 4-57
10. Sabrina Stultiens (Ned) Sunweb at 5-02

Lotta Lepistö was first across the line on the sixth stage of the Giro Rosa - a predominantly flat stage which provided a welcome relief following unexpectedly steep inclines on stage five's time trial.

The Cervelo-Bigla rider won from a bunch sprint after three breakaway riders - including British rider Hannah Barnes - were caught with 13 km to go.

The Finnish National road race and time trial champion edged out Sunweb's fast finisher Coryn Rivera and Italian rider Georgia Bronzini (Wiggle High5).

How the race unfolded

With some riders still smarting from the "hilariously misleading" course profile offered by Giro Rosa organisers yesterday - in which a seemingly flat time trial turned out to contain 30% inclines - the peloton set off on a 116km course from Roseto Degli Abruzzi - finishing in the same town.

The course consisted of four laps of a 27km circuit, with a third category climb and an intermediate sprint on the third loop. The finish was on a long straight, but it followed a fast descent and a collection of junctions.

Temperatures have been well over 30 degrees for most of the race - but seemed to have increased to their highest yet - but the pace hovered at just over 40kph (25mph) throughout.

A headwind on the climb, followed by a tail wind on the descent made for some potentially interesting tactics.

In the first 50km, there were several short lived attacks - mostly controlled by Boels-Dolmans - though Alison Jackson (BePink)'s solo gave her the points in the intermediate sprint, with Janneke Ensing (Ale Cipollini) second and Dani King (Cylance) third.

At 78km, just before the categorised climb, Jackson was caught and the climbers points went to Hannah Barnes (Canyon/SRAM), Soraya Paladin (Ale Cipollini), Sofia Bertizzolo (Astana) and Lucinda Brand (Sunweb).

Soon after, Barnes, Paladin and Bertizzolo broke off the front and launched into an attack - quickly building a lead of 20 seconds, eventually accumulating 48 seconds with 22km to go.

The gap briefly looked like it might hold, before the peloton began to chip away - and with 13km to go they were swallowed.

Race leader Anna van der Breggen (Boels Dolmans) came to the fore on the final climb, before second place GC rider Elisa Longo Borghini took over the honours on the descent - preparing the Wiggle High5 sprint train with Bronzini and stage three winner Jolien D'Hoore both in contention.

However, it was Lepistö who launched first over the line, with Rivera and Bronzini close behind.

Van der Breggen maintains GC lead with four stages to go

Nine riders, including van der Breggen, finished with the same time, whilst second and third place GC riders Annemiek van Vleuten (Orica Scott) and Longo-Borghini were three seconds in arrears.

Tomorrow's stage seven covers 142km and looks more rolling. Another intimidate sprint and a flat finish following a fairly tough stage could give Barnes another shot at reclaiming the points jersey she gained after stage four, whilst stage eight is the same length with two more notable ascents.

1. Anna Van Der Breggen (NED) Boels Dolmans in 11-53-11
2. Elisa Longo Borghini (ITA) Wiggle High5, at 1-03
3. Annemiek van Vleuten (NED) Orica Scott, at 1-39
4. Megan Guarnier (USA) Boels Dolmans, at 3-11
5. Amanda Spratt (AUS) Orica Scott, at 3-32
6. Katarzyna Niewiadom (POL) WM3, at 4-02
7. Karol Ann Canuel (CAN) Boels Dolmans, at 4-22
8. Shara Gallow (AUS) FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine, at 4-53
9. Sierra Arlenis (CUB) Astana Women’s Team, at 4-57
10. Claudia Lichtenberg (GER) Wiggle High5, at 5-02

Annemiek van Vleuten won the Giro Rosa stage five time trial, taking back some of the time she lost during a stage four race split.

The Dutch rider, who showed her prowess on the climbs at the Olympic road race in Rio before her infamous crash, also holds the 2017 National Time Trial honours: a recipe for success on the tough course which contained two steep climbs with gradients reaching 30 per cent.

The Orica-Scott rider covered the 12.73km course in 25-29. Second place went to race leader Anna van der Breggen with a time of 26-10 and in third place was Elisa Longo Borghini (Wiggle High5) in 26-44.

That means that the top three GC riders appeared on the podium in the stage - albeit in a slightly different order. Stage winner Van Vleuten sits in third place, 1-36 behind race leader Van der Breggen with Longo Borghini still in second at 1 minute.

The terrain came as a surprise to most riders, with many choosing not to burn their matches on the inclines. GC leader Van der Breggen said: “This extreme TT looked like it was almost flat in the profile. To be honest, I think it was a bit too much. The girls who aren’t going for the general classification or a good TT result had no option to save themselves.”

"We had to climb two times a ‘wall’ which was really difficult to do on a time trial bike. Except for Annemiek, I think no one chose their time trial bike,” she added.

First British rider was Hannah Barnes, who took a win on stage three and moved into the points jersey following stage four. The Canyon/SRAM rider posted a time of 27-42 to take ninth on the stage.

Van Vleuten keeps her eyes on the GC

The day provided a remedy following disappointment on stage four: "Of course you also need good legs but I have been feeling really good throughout this Giro and I showed that again today," commented Van Vleuten.

"I was super disappointed yesterday but I managed to stay focused and I knew today was a chance to take some time back."

With five stages to go, the GC is still a focus for her, sitting just one minute behind van der Breggen: “the time gap on GC is still a lot but today gives me more confidence. We will look at things day by day, I learnt the lesson the hard way yesterday not to switch off on flat stages so tomorrow I will be really focused."

GC leader van der Breggen commented: “It was a good day for the general classification, winning some seconds on everybody but Annemiek, who came a bit closer after a good time trial.”

'Hillier' than expected

Organisation of the Giro Rosa has raised eyebrows in the past and riders expressed surprise at the profile of the course.

Images in the course booklet did look fairly flat - but it later transpired the route contained two climbs with gradients knocking on 30 per cent, with an average gradient of 22% for the final 330 metres of the second 'hill'.

The riders took the surprise with good humour: “We had some laughs about the profile in the book,” Van der Breggen said.

British rider Dani King (Cyclance Pro Cycling) - who with Olympic medals in the team pursuit could suit a short time trial - called the profile "hilarious misleading".

Wiggle High5's Annette Edmondson - also a rider with track pedigree - offered a similar assessment of the course, comparing it to mountaineering.

Winner of the Women's Tour, Kasia Niewiadoma (WM3) commented "in the profile in the race booklet we saw something completely different and it turned out that the climbs are pretty steep here. For sure it's one of the hardest courses for a time trial I've ever done."

Giro Rosa 2017 general classification after stage five

Tomorrow's stage six race ferries riders from Roseto Degli Abruzzi and back again, over a 116km course. The route is meant to be predominantly flat - but only time will tell.

The current GC, with five stages still to go, stands at:

1. Anna Van Der Breggen (NED) Boels Dolmans in 9-02-35
2. Elisa Longo Borghini (ITA) Wiggle High5, at 1-00
3. Annemiek van Vleuten (NED) Orica Scott, at 1-36
4. Megan Guarnier (USA) Boels Dolmans, at 3-08
5. Amanda Spratt (AUS) Orica Scott, at 3-29
6. Katarzyna Niewiadom (POL) WM3, at 3-59
7. Karol Ann Canuel (CAN) Boels Dolmans, at 4-19
8. Claudia Lichtenberg (GER) Wiggle High5, at 4-36
9. Shara Gallow (AUS) FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine, at 4-50
10. Arlenis Sierra (CUB) Astana Women's Team, at 4-54

Jolien D'Hoore (Wiggle High5) won the fourth stage of the Giro Rosa in a photo finish sprint whilst British rider Hannah Barnes moved into the points lead.

It was unclear at first who had cinched the win in a close finish, with initial reports putting Chloe Hosking (Ale Cipollini) in the top spot. However, officials placed D'Hoore ahead of the Australian sprinter, followed by Coryn Rivera (Team Sunweb) in third.

British rider Hannah Barnes (Canyon/SRAM) took fourth, meaning she dons the points jersey after her stage three win. 

How the race unfolded

The beating sun meant that cars were allowed to dispense bidons from 25km, as opposed to the regular rule of 50km - temperatures were in excess of 30 degrees hours before race start.

The route included two intermediate sprints. The first went to Megan Guarnier (Boels Dolmans) with Dani King (Cyclance Cycling) second and Stephanie Pohl (Cervelo Bigla) third.

At 72km, two riders - Danilea Magnetto Allietta (Conceria Zabri Fanini) and Alice Gasparini (Servetto Giusta) - made a break for it. They were chased by Malgorzata Jasinska (Cylance) Lotte van Hoek (Lares-Waowdeals) - and soon after the group was back together.

However, strong winds finally forced a selection at 77km. The peloton was pulled apart, and a lead group emerged, with 10 chasers behind them, followed by the peloton.

Coming into the second intermediate sprint in Ferrara, the riders gained protection from the wind thanks to the built up area.

At 90km, the break had a 25 second advantage, and Lucinda Brand (Team Sunweb) took the intermediate points with Chantel Blaak (Boels Dolmans) second and team mate Megan Guarnier third.

The gap grew, and with 10km to go it had increased to 70 seconds. With 4km to go, it had reached over 90 seconds and it was clear a win would come from the group.

Key sprinters's groups came to the fore. The finish represented a technical challenge, with two roundabouts in the final kilometre.

The final sprint was a close call between D’Hoore and Hosking, with the Dutch rider taking the honours - though initial reports had the result the other way round.

Rider reactions

The stage sees a re-shuffle on GC, as Annemiek Van Vleuten (Orica Scott Women) - who was in second on GC - did not make the selection.

“It was really fast, because we had a gap on a big group with Annemiek [van Vleuten ] in it, so we were riding for GC,” D’Hoore told CW.

“We came into the sprint and there were two roundabouts in the last 800 metres so it was pretty dangerous. I was in fifth position on the last roundabout, I started my sprint, and I couldn't get my chain on my 11... so I sprinted on my 12... I felt Chloe coming and it was really close.”

Barnes, whose 2016 season was marred by a long lay off in the off season following injury, took a stage win on day three and was pleased to move into the points lead.

“The last 15km was pretty hectic, we just tried to stay out of trouble, in the bunch, saving energy," she said.

"With 3km to go it got a bit messy but we just tried to stay together - the roundabouts with 500m to go were a bit challenging, and a bit of a free for all.”

“For me, the legs aren’t 100 per cent and just with a drag race like that I'm not able to compete with Jolien [D'Hoore] and everyone, but to take fourth I'm happy and to have the points jersey is pretty cool.

"Hopefully I can try to keep it to the end now. This is the only Grand Tour we have in women's peloton... so to come away with a stage win already, and potentially to fair well in the points jersey - I can be happy.”

The result means that Anna van der Breggen (Boels Dolmans) remains in pink. Behind her is Wiggle High5's Elisa Longo Borghini, 26 seconds back and last year's winner Megan Guarnier (Boels Dolmans) sits 1-56 back. Van Vleuten, who was in second after stage three, has slipped to fourth at 2-17.

>>> Molly Weaver: Almost paralysed to Giro Rosa in sub six months 

There were two key abandons  - Canyon/SRAM's Tiffany Cromwell did not start the stage, and Molly Weaver (Team Sunweb) suffered a puncture in the previous day’s stage and couldn't access the neutral service.

General classification after stage four

Anna Van Der Breggen (NED) Boels Dolmans in 8-36-25

Elisa Longo Borghini (ITA) Wiggle High5, at 26s

Megan Guarnier (USA) Boels Dolmans, at 1-56

Annemiek van Vleuten (NED) Orica Scott, at 2-17

Amanda Spratt (AUS) Orica Scott, at 2-22

Katarzyna Niewiadom (POL) WM3, at 2-37

Karol Ann Canuel (CAN) Boels Dolmans, at 2-43

Lucinda Brand (NED) Sunweb, at 2-59

Floortje Mackaij (NED) Subweb, at 3-02

Sabrina Stultiens (NED) Subweb, at 3-02