The first three days of the Giro d’italia Internazionale Femminile have seen Team Sunweb lead the way throughout, holding the race lead after each of those days. The Dutch registered outfit are team time trial UCI World Champions, so their win in the discipline on stage one was no surprise.That victory on the pan flat course on the shores of Lake Maggiore handed the leader’s Maglia Rosa to former time trial UCI World Champion Ellen van Dijk.Though she lost the lead on stage two, team mate Lucinda Brand was the next Sunweb rider to wear the famous jersey after finishing 10th in a hard and hot Stage two day in Ovada. Wiggle High5’s Kirsten Wild won that stage, using her characteristic excellent positioning skills to come late to the front, taking Wiggle High5’s first win of the race. Stage three in Corbetta saw Jolien D’hoore open Mitchelton Scott’s account, winning the predicted bunch sprint ahead of Wild. Fourth place ensured Canadian Leah Kirchmann became the third rider from Team Sunweb to wear the leader’s Maglia Rosa.There are seven more stages in which the race will develop, with the climb of Monte Zoncolan sure to define the ten-day event, but whether Team Sunweb can maintain their dominance remains to be seen.The UCI Women’s WorldTour standings will not updated until the race is complete, but with Anna van der Breggen not in Italy, her lead in the individual classification is under threat from both Annemiek van Vleuten and Marianne Vos, second and third respectively.Leader of the young rider classification, Sofia Bertizzolo is riding the Giro Rosa, so may well be able to further cement her position at the top of the standings.
Giro d'Italia Internazionale Femminile > Friday, July 6-15
- Photo of the week -
- Focus on Sarah Penton -
Former road Swedish Champion Sarah Penton has proved herself as one of the peloton’s most aggressive riders this year. The 29-year-old has been especially active of late, constantly attacking and making the break on the third stage of the Giro Rosa, after her first effort that day had been unsuccessful.
Last year was perhaps her biggest breakthrough. Top ten placings in big races were followed by victory in the Swedish road race Championship, breaking a seven-year stranglehold on the blue and yellow jersey by Emma Johansson and Emilia Fahlin.
Penton finished the year with a lone break off the front of the UCI World championships road race in Bergen, Norway, in September, showing the world what she is about.
A former footballer, she has only been racing since 2013, and started her professional career with Lares-Waowdeals in 2016. The following year she joined Team Virtu Cycling and her continued presence on the Danish based outfit has clearly aided her development in the sport.
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