On the primary summit end of the Giro d’Italia Women, Elisa Longo Borghini (Lidl-Trek) defended her pink chief’s jersey by ending fourth on the day behind stage winner Niamh Fisher-Black (SD Worx-Protime).
Just in entrance of Longo Borghini on the mountain climb rode Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime) and Juliette Labous (DSM-Firmenich PostNL), taking podium spots, however extra importantly, they carved away at Longo Borghini’s general lead.
“The closing climb was as anticipated, very, very regular. But what actually outlined the stage was the heat and in the previous few kilometres I might actually really feel it. Fisher-Black and [Mavi] García went away, however for us, they aren’t a risk. I simply tried in a dash, however Labous and Kopecky have been simply sooner than me. Chapeau to Fisher-Black for successful,” Longo Borghini mentioned after the stage.
“This was the primary check for my legs uphill, and it went fairly effectively, I felt good. Keeping the maglia rosa is fairly particular. It’s a maglia rosa for the entire workforce, the way in which they’re driving, all of them deserve a chunk of this jersey,” she mentioned after receiving her third consecutive pink jersey.
Longo Borghini pointed to the warmth within the Po Valley as the primary problem of the stage earlier than the showdown on the ending climb.
“Keeping hydrated was the important thing. I have to thank my teammates as a result of they have been going up and down from the automobile to convey me water, bottles, and ice. So actually, because of my teammates as a result of in any other case I might have been actually cooked now.
“I’m nonetheless not fully used to the sort of climate, day-after-day we’re gaining slightly bit type within the heat. We look robust, now we have a robust workforce, and we preserve going this fashion,” Longo Borghini mentioned.
The newest race content material, interviews, options, opinions and knowledgeable shopping for guides, direct to your inbox!
The race chief was cautiously optimistic as she appeared ahead to the levels to return because the race makes its means south. However, her hole to a surging Kopecky is now simply 13 seconds.
“It was an excellent day, not just for myself, but additionally for Niamh. We know she’s a extremely robust climber, and we advised her many instances that she must take her possibilities. Today she did, and it labored out very effectively,” the World Champion mentioned.
She additionally took the crimson jersey because the chief within the factors classification, which she famous was not a precedence.
“It was not a objective earlier than the Giro, and I don’t assume that I’ll dash for the intermediates on the following days, but when I can acquire factors on the end line, then it should possibly be potential [to keep it],” mentioned Kopecky.
With her third place on the stage, Labous additionally moved right into a podium place and is now 25 seconds behind the maglia rosa. Her workforce suffered an premature puncture however was saved as Canyon-SRAM took cost of the tempo on the decrease slopes of the Toano climb.
“Unfortunately, Nienke [Vinke] had a puncture on the backside of the climb, however Canyon did the tempo we wished and had deliberate to do, so it labored out for us. I felt prefer it was fairly onerous on the backside, however I might experience into it and felt I had good legs. The podium is a pleasant stage outcome for us and with the bonus seconds, I believe we could be proud of immediately,” mentioned the French climber.
Antonia Niedermaier (Canyon-SRAM) misplaced contact with the opposite GC riders on the ultimate kilometre, ending 17 seconds down in ninth place, however the 21-year-old German nonetheless jumped to fourth place general, one second forward of Fisher-Black. She additionally defended the white U23 jersey, growing her result in 56 seconds over her teammate Neve Bradbury and 1:26 minutes to Lore De Schepper (AG Insurance-Soudal).
“I’m actually joyful I might preserve the white jersey and in addition moved up within the GC. For certain, immediately wasn’t simple, particularly with the warmth, so I’m proud of what I did. My teammates actually gave all of it, we went all-in for the final climb, they have been simply wonderful, so actually huge because of all of them,” Niedermaier mentioned.