| |
|
|
| |
Giro Rosa
Preview |
|
| |
|
|
| |
After dominating the prologue
Rabo Liv were back at it on stage one. On the first of 11 laps
the peloton blew up. Doing what she goes Valentina Scandolara
took advantage of the chaos and attacked. From here groups
formed and were caught with Hitec Products especially
aggressive. On the final lap a group of six
became three with Vos, Ferrand-Prevot and Longo Borghini
remaining. Vos easily distanced Longo Borghini and
Ferrand-Prevot to win and move in to the lead.
Rabo Liv are still very dominant on the GC with Vos leading,
Ferrand-Prevot 2nd +15 and Anna van der Breggen 4th +1:36.
On paper stage 3 should be a sprint stage. Not perfectly flat
and there is some undulation. The teams of the sprinters
should be able to keep it together but
expect Rabo to again look to break it up. After struggling
through yesterday the sprinters will be looking to fight for
the win today.
The Route
Again held over circuit this time six laps of 20km. There is
some undulation on the stage but nothing that should trouble
the sprinters and no categorised
climbs. After a number of corners in the closing kilometres
the final 700m is again dead strait.
The Contenders
Marianne Vos
Not a pure sprinter but she has a finish that sees her often
beat those who are. Comes in to stage with the Pink Jersey on
her back after winning yesterday.
With bonus seconds on the line Vos will be extra motivated to
increase her lead ahead of the big mountain stages.
Lucy Garner
With no Kirsten Wild in the race two time Junior World
Champion Lucy Garner will get her chance in the biggest race
on the calendar. Won a stage of the Tour
of Chongming Island last year but hasn't managed a win this
year but continues to develop and has multiple podium places.
A strong team to support her
including Amy Pieters
Melissa Hoskins
Started the race with 5th in the opening prologue so Hoskins'
spirits will be high. After two wins in 2012 had a difficult
season last year but has bounced
back in 2014. Backed by a strong Orica-AIS expect to see them
hit the front in the final 2km with MacLean an Johansson
leading her out.
Giorgia Bronzini
Has been quiet by her standards this year but has wins at
Grand Prix de Dottignies, Tour of Chongming Island and Tour of
Zhoushan Island. Top 6 on every
stage of The Women's Tour but admitted she wasn't quite at her
best. On home roads expect her to be motivated. A strong team
behind her including Collins,
Mullens and Fahlin.
Shelley Olds
One of the fastest sprinters in the women's peloton and with
no Kirtsen Wild will sense a real opportunity to pick up
another Giro stage win. Has won here
before so knows what it takes to win. Victories this year at
GP Comune di Cornaredo and Winston-Salem Cycling Classic and
3rd on every stage of the Tour of
Chongming Island
Hannah Barnes
A podium and another top 5 finish at The Women's Tour but this
is another test entirely. Took her fist professional win in
her first professional race the
Tour Femenino de San Luis but repeating that here will be hard
especially with a team protecting Mara Abbott's GC.
UnitedHealthcare is dominant in the US and
knows how to put together a train.
Jolien D'Hoore
The newly crowned Belgium Champion took her first win of the
year at the Diamond Tour last month after a long run of podium
positions. 12 top 10 finishes
this year so don't be surprised to see D'Hoore very close to
the mark here.
Other names to watch: Tiff Cromwell, Trixi Worrack, Amy
Pieters, Emily Collins, Peta Mullens and Coryn Rivera. |
|
|
|