'Expect anything at the Giro!': Riders react to 7 kilometre Giro Donne 'neutral zone' climb

Stage three of the Giro Donne might have had the toughest neutral opening section ever, a seven kilometre climb at an average of 7%

The 2022 Giro Donne peloton ascend out of Cala Gonone in the neutral section at the start of stage three
The 2022 Giro Donne peloton ascend out of Cala Gonone in the neutral section at the start of stage three
(Image credit: Dario Belingheri/Getty)

“We always say expect anything on the Giro,” said a breathless Amanda Spratt after the Giro Donne’s third stage. “That one of those you put in that book I guess.”

Racing at Saturday’s third Giro Donne stage only began in the small village of Dorgali, but teams formed up by the seaside in the picturesque village of Cala Gonone and faced what the road book said was an 8.5km neutral section at an average gradient of 7.2%.

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Owen Rogers is an experienced journalist, covering professional cycling and specialising in women's road racing. He has followed races such as the Women's Tour and Giro d'Italia Donne, live-tweeting from Women's WorldTour events as well as providing race reports, interviews, analysis and news stories. He has also worked for race teams, to provide post race reports and communications.