Only in her second 12 months of racing in Europe, Ana Vitória ‘Tota’ Magalhães (BePink-Bongioanni) is making a reputation for herself as a breakaway artist. The Brazilian rider attacked on the ultimate stage of the Vuelta a Burgos Féminas in May, and now she went on a breakaway of greater than 100km on stage 2 of the Giro d’Italia Women, driving solo for 30km and solely being caught with 1.8km to go.
“I’m most likely going to consider the final two kilometres tonight after I fall asleep, however I’m happy with how I raced. It’s my type of racing to assault, and sometime, I’ll win. I’m simply going to maintain believing and maintain exhibiting up, and sometime, the breakaway will win,” Magalhães informed Cyclingnews after the race.
At first, the 23-year-old Brazilian time trial champion solely focused the mountain classification jersey. But because the hole to the peloton elevated an increasing number of, maxing out at 6:28 minutes, she started to dream of profitable the stage.
“I used to be interested by the mountain jersey. But when the time hole elevated, I began believing that possibly the stage additionally can be attainable. Unfortunately, it was 1.8km longer than I may maintain,” mentioned Magalhães.
Having attacked with Alessia Missiaggia (Top Girls Fassa Bortolo) after solely seven kilometres into the 110km stage, the duo collectively for a very long time to maintain the breakaway going. Magalhães dropped her companion on the primary of two ascents to Cavriani on the ultimate circuit.
“We have been on the identical stream, on the identical base, kind of. She helped rather a lot, and I feel she additionally believed that possibly we may win the stage,” Magalhães was completely happy along with her companion.
On the ending circuit, nevertheless, the primary ascent of the climb to Cavriana spelled the top of their cooperation because the Italian couldn’t sustain with the Brazilian, who appeared round however then determined to maintain occurring her personal.
“I didn’t count on to drop her on the climb. I used to be doing my very own tempo as a result of I wished to take the QOM factors. On the highest of the climb, I used to be interested by whether or not to attend for her or not, however then I used to be like, ‘it’s now or by no means’, so I simply stored pushing,” Magalhães defined her determination.
Although she couldn’t get the massive prize and win the stage, which was taken by Chiara Consonni (UAE Team ADQ), the 23-year-old Brazilian went to the rostrum to gather the blue mountain jersey – solely the second Brazilian rider to put on the Giro Women’s mountain jersey after Flávia Oliveira. Magalhães, who rolled throughout the road in 87th place, acknowledged that preserving the jersey on her shoulders was going to be troublesome as stage 3 solely options the third-category ending climb.
“Of course I’m going to attempt to defend it, however I do know it’s going to be fairly onerous. We will see, there are a number of sturdy climbers, stronger than me, however I’m going to attempt my greatest,” she mentioned.
Proving herself in one of many largest races on the ladies’s calendar was one thing that Magalhães hoped may open the door for others by exhibiting what is feasible in biking.
“I hope it evokes others, not solely Brazilians, to imagine in your self and present up. Today wasn’t the result that I hoped for, however sometime will probably be, and it’s all going to be value it,” mentioned Magalhães.
“We are such a giant nation with a number of expertise. I do know that we’re a soccer nation, however it’s such a giant nation that it may be additionally biking nation. I hope that this QOM jersey can encourage the longer term era to imagine in your self, to pursue your goals, and I hope that there might be extra Brazilians right here racing in Europe,” Magalhães completed.
