Race News

Giro Rosa Stage 6: Soaring Temperatures and a Hungry Peloton

The relentless peloton pushed on leading to a climatic bunch sprint finish for Stage Six.

The sixth stage of the 18th annual Giro Rosa kicked off today in Roseto degli Abruzzi where the riders were challenged to an 116km looped route.

To recap on yesterday’s Stage Five… We saw and intense individual time-trial race around Sant’Elpidio a Mare with a number of riders rotating through the hot-seat, no one could come near to Annemiek Van Vleuten (Orica-Scott) outstanding time of 25:29. With more exciting stages to come, here’s a reminder of the stages of the Giro Rosa 2017:

Stage 1: Aquileia – Grado 11.5 km (TTT)
Stage 2: Zoppola – Montereale Valcellina 122.3 km
Stage 3: San Fior – San Vendemiano 100 km
Stage 4: Occhiobello – Occhiobello 118 km
Stage 5: Sant’Elpidio a Mare – Sant’Elpidio a Mare 12.7 km (ITT)
Stage 6: Roseto degli Abruzzi – Roseto degli Abruzzi 116.2 km
Stage 7: Isernia – Baronissi 142 km
Stage 8: Baronissi – Palinuro 141.8 km
Stage 9: Palinuro – Polla 122.3 km
Stage 10: Torre del Greco – Torre del Greco 124 km

There are five rider jerseys up for grabs each day and after Stage Three here’s who’s wearing what as riders went into Stage 6…

PINK Jersey COLNAGO: Anna Van der Breggen (Boels Dolmans)
CYCLAMINE Jersey SELLE SMP: Annemiek Van Vleuten (Orica-Scott)
GREEN Jersey PURPLE by GLOBAL STOCK: Annemiek Van Vleuten (Orica-Scott)
WHITE Jersey COLNAGO: Floortje Mackaij (Team Sunweb)
BLUE Jersey GSG: Elisa Longo Borghini (Wiggle High5)

Stage 6: Roseto degli Abruzzi loop – 116.2 km

On what was probably the hottest day of the Giro Rosa 2017 so far, the peloton got underway to cycle 4 laps of the course, totalling 116km.

Early attempts were made in the first 47km but the peloton wouldn’t let them get by as the peloton maintained an average speed of 37.1kph. However, riders were dropping off the back as the heat soared and cumulative effects of the previous days caught up.

With half of the race being covered, the peloton didn’t let anyone get more than a 10-second lead and quickly caught all attack attempts. Canyon//SRAM rider, Leah Thorvilson abandoned the race shortly after the halfway point.

At the 78km mark, two riders attack the categorised climb followed by a crash on its descent involving Sarah Roy (Orica Scott), fortunately, all was ok and Sarah got back on to ride the last lap of 27km to the finish.

As the final lap got underway, three riders broke away for an attack and gained a 40-second lead over the peloton but with 13km to go, the break is caught by the peloton resulting in a very tight bunch sprint.

Lotta Lepisto (Cervélo Bigla) made a mad dash for it and took the stage 6 win today.

Results:

1.Lotta Lepisto (Cervélo Bigla)
2.Coryn Rivera (Team Sunweb)
3.Giorgia Bronzini (Wiggle High-5)

Jersey results

PINK Jersey COLNAGO: Anna Van der Breggen (Boels Dolmans)
CYCLAMINE Jersey SELLE SMP: Annemiek Van Vleuten (Orica-Scott)
GREEN Jersey PURPLE by GLOBAL STOCK: Annemiek Van Vleuten (Orica-Scott)
WHITE Jersey COLNAGO: Floortje Mackaij (Team Sunweb)
BLUE Jersey GSG: Elisa Longo Borghini (Wiggle High5)