Elisa Balsamo sprinted to her third successive victory at the Giro d’Italia Women, winning an unpredictable stage 3 by a full bike length in the end on Monday.
The Lidl-Trek rider triumphed after what was shaping up to be a very congested finish in Buja.
Balsamo retains the pink jersey and extends her lead. The American Lily Williams (Human Powered Health) took second place, with Femke Gerritse (SD Worx – Protime) from the Netherlands in third place.
Earlier, attacks from Demi Vollering (FDJ United-Suez) and Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime) failed to get away. However, 27-year-old Sigrid Ytterhus Haugset (Uno-X Mobility) mounted a spirited break away from 5km out, opening up a gap of seven seconds, but the Norwegian was caught by the peloton during the final climb to the finish line, and Balsamo timed her sprint to perfection.
“I know this sprint. I did a recon… I was ready,” the beaming victor told reporters immediately after the race. “But I was still surprised. I’m just super happy.”
“Today was such a hard day. My team did an amazing job, pulling the whole day. I was fighting… I gave it my all. This climb was so hard for me, I tried to fight and stay with small group. It was so hard.”
The Italian will go into the fourth day still wearing the Maglia Rosa, having made it hewr own for the opening three days of the race, but she knows only too well the Time Trial stage tomorrow will result in a very different outcome.
“I am laughing a bit, thinking about tomorrow,” she said. “Maybe the GC leaders wanted to try their legs today, to be ready for tomorrow. Because for them it will be a very important day. But from my side, I just want to enjoy this jersey, and tomorrow I will do my best.”
Alison Jackson led for a section and was hunting for points
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Anna van der Breggen (Team SD Worx–Protime) took Queen of the Mountain today, although the Canadian Alison Jackson (St Michel – Preference Home – Auber93) took maximum points in first Queen of the Mountains climb of day, and was clearly hunting points.
Along with two Italians, Cristina Tonetti (Laboral Kutxa – Fundación Euskadi) and Marta Pavesi (Top Girls Fassa Bortolo), Jackson was part of a three-rider breakaway that led the peloton for a long period of today’s undulating stage. They were caught on Montenars – the second category climb of the day, which has sections of up to 15% – where Van der Bregge staked her claim on the climbing creds.
British rider Pfeiffer Georgi (Team Picnic PostNL) got ahead of the peleton with 13km to go, but she was quickly reeled in. The final 10km was frantic, with multiple attacks being mounted by Movistar riders. Both Demi Vollering and Anna van der Breggen had a crack too, but with no one willing to work together, the attacks all failed and the stage was set for a potential surprise, with sprinters keeping their powder dry, lurking amid the wheels and waiting for an opportunity.
Sigrid Ytterhus Haugset’s solo burst showed promise, and she led deep into the final kilometre, but FDJ United – SUEZ were leading the hunt and right on her heels, and when the road rose up during the final stretch to the line, the Norwegian was overwhelmed. Ultimately, it was a commanding win and a well deserved stage victory for Elisa Balsamo.
Explore More
