| |
|
|
| |
Giro Rosa
Preview |
|
| |
|
|
| |
Yesterday former World Time Trial
Champion Emma Pooley was able to hold off the charge from a
six rider chase group containing three Rabo Liv riders to take
the win. Of the four winners in the race so far Marianne Vos
(World Champion), Giorgia Bronzini (World Champion), Emma
Pooley (World Champion) and Annemiek van Vleuten (Overall
World Cup Winner). It is an impressive group.
While Rabo didn't quite manage the win yesterday they took
2nd, 3rd and 4th and had a total of five in the top 10. They
look just as good on the GC. Vos continues to lead, teammate
Pauline Ferrand-Prevot is 2nd, Anna Van der Breggen 4th,
Katarzyna Niewiadoma 7th and Annemiek Van Vleuten 8th. Rabo
fills half the GC top 10. Although with the big mountains
still to come I would expect Niewiadoma and Van Vleuten to
fall outside by the end of the race. But it still shows just
how strong Rabo are. The words ‘a league of their own’ are not
unreasonable.
The Route
The climbing starts from the 200m mark to the only climb of
the day, the cat 2 GPM point coming in Teglio after 7.3km. The
road flattens off before a long descent in to Chiuro 15km
later. From here much of the rest of the stage is flat and
should allow riders dropped time to rejoin or it will be a
long day for those unable to. The final 10km gradually rise
before levelling off at around 3km to go. The respite is short
lived as the road kicks up again to the finish in Chiavenna.
It will be interesting to see what happens. Some riders will
be dropped but there is a long way to get back on. But the
finish is anything but easy. The 10km uphill rise towards the
finish will put the sprinters under pressure. Especially if
Rabo takes it up as they have done all week. The slight kick
up inside the final km is perfect for Marianne Vos.
The Contenders
Marianne Vos
Again she is the favourite. Has not finished outside the top 5
all race and has won three stages. I said yesterday the only
way she would be beaten was if she let a teammate win or a
rider out of GC was allowed to stay away. Well not sure
allowed is the right word as they were chasing Pooley down but
she was out of contention for GC. Today is the last chance for
Vos to gain a bit of time ahead of the big mountains. She was
strong yesterday but the next two days will be something else
again with two summit finishes. You wouldn't bet against her
but she will still want as much of a buffer as possible.
Emma Johansson
The World Number 1 struggled yesterday on the steep cat 1
climb and dropped back to 9th. Not a pure climber and while a
top 10 overall is still possible a podium is now out of the
question. Orica-AIS has several top 5 finishes with Hoskins
and Johansson but is missing that stage win. GC is also gone
thanks to mechanicals and crashes. Today is Johansson's last
chance to get a stage win so expect Orica-AIS to through
everything at getting it. Their team may not match Rabo but it
is arguably the second strongest in terms of overall depth.
The uphill kick suits her but again so does it Vos. Johansson
beat Vos on stage 1 of The Women's Tour so expect her to come
close.
Giorgia Bronzini
With the uphill finish the win might be hard for Bronzini here
especially against the likes of Vos and Johansson but don't
discount another strong performance. Has a stage win so the
pressure is off but she would not doubt like another. Wiggle
doesn’t really have a GC rider so today is their final change
to grab another stage win.
Tiff Cromwell
Has been pretty quiet all race but today could see a chance
for Cromwell. The team has Evelyn Stevens just outside the top
10 on GC but Cromwell likes these sorts of days. Her finishing
speed has improved this year but it seems her climbing has
suffered for it. While the team has other chances, today is
probably their last realistic chance for a stage win. The
short uphill finish will suit Cromwell although a hard ask to
beat the likes of Vos.
Annemiek Van Vleuten
Vos has three wins and Van Vleuten two. The two summit
finishes to come are not for Van Vleuten so today is her final
chance. What Rabo will do it anyone’s guess and while Vos will
probably be the one in the sprint she will also be up there,
Ashleigh Moolman
Was found out on the final climb yesterday and dropped outside
the top 10. Will play a key role in supporting Elisa Longo
Borghini's quest for an overall podium in the following two
stages but today could be for her. Was on the podium last year
at La Flèche Wallonne and took 5th this year. The Final climb
is not as steep or long but it shows it is the sort of finish
for Moolman.
Pauline Ferrand-Prevot
Sitting 2nd on GC but doesn't have a stage win to her name.
Vos might want to change that and help her team mate get a
stage as well. Today however probably isn't the day to do it.
By no means slow on the line, just look at her results in the
bunch sprints here. But to back her today risks giving the
stage away to riders like Emma Johansson. With two hard stages
coming up and one of the best on the climbs Ferrand-Prevot
might look to keep herself safe for tomorrow.
Peta Mullens
The stage might prove too much for Bronzini but Mullens on the
other hand. From here she heads to the dirt for the
Commonwealth Games but Mullens has been posting strong
results. Can climb well and the uphill kick might suit her. A
hard ask to win the stage but if everyone goes right could
well see her inside the top 10, maybe even higher.
Other names to watch: Shelley Olds, Mel Hoskins, Carmen Small,
Evelyn Stevens, Mayuko Hagiawara, Katarzyna Niewiadoma, Katrin
Garfoot, Jessie Daams, Anna Van der Breggen. |
|
|
|