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Giro Rosa
Preview |
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The two big questions of the day
are. Will the dominance of Rabo continue in the high
mountains? Will Marianne Vos hold on to the lead? Vos has won
the race twice before but last year was found out when the
road really started to go up. Vos was with the best of them on
the first big mountain day (stage 6) but today is something
else with a summit finish. Vos seems to be on her best
possible form but the pure climbers will come out to play
today.
The Route
The penultimate stage of the race serves as the queen stage.
Of the 90.3km riders will face today most of the first 67km is
flat. There are a few small rises that present opportunities
to attack in the opening 10km. From here the next 45km are
flat but it is the final 23km riders will be worried about.
The final 13km climb to San Domenico (cat 1) is the same climb
that saw Mara Abbott seal her race win on stage 6 last year.
At 8% average gradient it will open up some big gaps on the
general classification.
The Contenders
Marianne Vos and Rabo
You probably have to say she is the favourite but if she has a
weakness then the big mountains are probably it. Vos is by no
means a bad climber but could struggle if the pure climbers
are at 100% Vos has one minute over everyone so she has some
breathing room. But a bad day in the mountains can see one
minute go just like that. Ferrand-Prevot is untested going for
GC at the Giro but today could be a day she shines. Anna van
der Breggen is the third card Rabo has to play. All three sit
in the top 4.
Elisa Longo Borghini
The Italian might not have won a stage but she has been the
closest to the Rabo trio and is the only non Rabo rider within
around one minute to Vos. Missed the race last year with
injury but finished 9th and won the Best Young Riders jersey
in 2012. When it comes to the long climbers she is one of the
best. Will be on her own towards the finish but has support
from Moolman on the early slopes.
Mara Abbott
The Defending Champion and two time winner has been quiet.
Lost time on the first few road stages and now sits over 3
minutes down. On the first mountain stage finished in the top
10 in the same group as Vos showing the form is there. Was in
a league of her own on the climbs last year but might not be
as dominant this year. Will need to gain a lot of time to get
back in contention for the win.
Claudia Lichtenberg (Hausler)
Like most of the peloton Lichtenberg lost time to Vos early on
but showed her climbing skills on stage 6 finishing with Vos.
Is two and a half minutes down and it will be a hard task to
get all of that back. On the climb will be isolated early with
most of Giant-Shimano sprint focused. A former winner so she
knows how to perform. Expect to see her try and attack.
Fabiana Luperini
Over 9 minutes down on GC so the overall win is now out of the
question. The stage win is still up for grabs. In the final
years of her career but the former winner is still a
formidable climber. Kicked out of the race last year with a
bike that didn't meet UCI weight requirements. Given she is
out of GC contention could be given a little room to take the
stage.
Boels Dolmans - Megan Guarnier and Jessie Daams
Both have been under the radar this week. Guarnier is the
teams leader and best placed on GC, although over 6 minutes
down. Guarnier is currently sitting 10th and will hope for a
top 10 finish. Daams is just outside in 14th and while she
will ride for Guarnier is likely to consolidate a strong GC
finish for herself. In a few years Daams will be fighting for
a much stronger position herself.
Emma Johansson and Orica-AIS
The Queen of Consistency has been just that consistent.
Struggled on the steep climb on stage 6 and fell from 4th to
9th overall. The big climbs are not Johansson's strength and
if she is not feeling 100% today could fall further back.
Don't discount her though she will fight. Shara Gillow was 4th
last year and crashes and mechanicals took her out of
contention this year. On long climbs like this Gillow is one
of the best as we saw last year. She is 23 minutes down so
could be allowed to go for the stage. Garfoot is again a
wildcard but both will be a big help to Johansson.
Other names to watch: Tetiana Riabchenko, Alena Amialiusik,
Evelyn Stevens, Emma Pooley, Tiff Cromwell and Linda
Villumsen. |
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