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| Marianne Vos on the podium after winning Stage 3 of Giro Rosa. Photo: Giro Rosa Press Office |
The main news of stage 3 is that Marianne Vos
finally won a stage and once again demonstrated she is the Queen of cycling. She
displayed her skills downhill, uphill and in the flat part of the stage. The World
and Olympic Champion crossed the line alone after a long
break where she dropped all her fellow escapees. Naturally, Marianne Vos keeps the Pink Jersey.
The stage started out with a break of six riders
getting away. Vos had teammate Brand with her together with White Jersey Guarischi,
the Green Jersey Scandolara and Cromwell and Hall. After 65 km Vos made another
selection and this time only Cromwell could keep up. Unfortunately Cromwell
crashed on the final descent with few km to go and had to see her stages of a
stage win wash away. “I will try again on another stage”, Cromwell said after
crossing the line.
The steep finish of 10 % wasn't a problem for Marianne
Vos who managed to keep a gap of 45 seconds to Claudia Hausler and Tatiana
Guderzo. Rossella Ratto crossed the line 50 seconds after Marianne Vos and she’s
now new rider in the White Jersey.
After her stage win Vos explained that it wasn’t
her plan to attack that far from the finishing line. However it served her well
as she took 55 seconds on her main rival Evelyn Stevens. Overall Marianne Vos
now leads with 1:13 min and one could wonder if the Giro has already found its
winner.
Today’s stage winner Marianne Vos says: ”After ending second twice in a row I needed
to win! The final part was very steep and very demanding on paves. I’m very happy I
was able to extend my overall lead”.
After the stage we talked with Danish
youngster Julie Leth about her first Giro Rosa. Leth managed to take the White Jersey on the very first stage and that came as a big surprise.
“I am
here to support my teammates and it wasn’t my plan to take the White Jersey on
Stage 1. I was planning to leadout my teammate in the first intermediate sprint
but she overlooked the sprint and in the end only Vos overtook me. Therefore I
got some unexpected bonus seconds. I didn’t think much about it but after the
stage a teammate told me I might have gotten the White Jersey. It was a big
surprise for me and I am very happy for it. This is my first Giro and I clearly
didn’t expect this”, Julie Leth tells and explains her role on the team for
the rest of the race.
“The terrain isn’t really for me so I won’t
focus much on my own chances. Our designated team leader Elisa Longo Borghini crashed at her national championships and therefore we are only here with 5
riders which makes it very hard. However my teammate Rossella Ratto now has the
White Jersey and I will do whatever I can to help her keep it”.
Wednesday’s Stage 4 is longest of this year’s
Giro Rosa. The 137 km to Castelfidardo will be very hard for the girls but
despite a slightly uphill finish, we expect a bunch sprint.
Stage 3 results:
1. Vos Marianne (Rabo Woman Cycling Team)
2. Hausler Claudia (Team Tibco To The Top) a 45’’
3. Guderzo Tatiana (MCipollini Giordana) a 45’’
4. Luperini Fabiana (Faren Kuota) a 48’’
5. Ratto Rossella (Hitec Products Uck) a 50’’
6. Moolman Ashleigh (Lotto Belisol Ladies) a 55’’
7. Stevens Evelyn (Specialized Lululemon) a 55’’
8. Van der Breggen Anna (Nazionale Olanda) a 58’’
9. Abbot Mara (Nazionale Usa) a 58’’
10. UckGillow Shara (Orica Ais) a
1’02’’
Overall Classification:
1. Vos Marianne (Rabo Woman Cycling Team)
2. Hausler Claudia (Team Tibco To The Top) a 1’13’’
3. Guderzo Tatiana (MCipollini Giordana) a 1’15’’
4. Luperini Fabiana (Faren Kuota) a 1’22’’
5. Ratto Rossella (Hitec Products Uck) a 1’24’’
The 5 Jerseys:
Leader: Vos Marianne (Rabo Woman Cycling Team)
Points: Vos Marianne (Rabo Woman Cycling Team)
KOM: Scandolara Valentina (MCipollini Ale Galassia)
Youth: Ratto Rossella (Hitec Products Uck)
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