Megan Guanier (Boels Dolams) still holds the Maglia Rosa after stage four of the Giro Rosa.
Giro Rosa 2015: Prologue to Stage Two
The fourth stage covered 103km from Piotello to Pozzo d’Adda and was claimed by Annaslisa Cucinotta (Ale Cipollini) in a bunch sprint.
The day featured a breakaway involving Silvia Valsecchi (BePink-LaClassica), Mieke Kroeger (Velocio-SRAM), Valentina Bastianelli (INPA Sottoli Giusfredi), and Lindsey Williams (Orica-AIS).
The group did manage to build up a three minute lead, but the peloton caught them before the final lap of the finishing circuit. Ale Cipollini played a pivotal role in the chase, as they lined up Cucinotta for the win.
In second was Marta Bastianelli (Aromitalian Vaiano Fondriest), and Elena Cecchini (Lotto-Soudal) took third place.
The previous day’s racing saw a fairly flat 130km route, that finished with a select group of nine riders charging for the line, with Lucinda Brand (Rabo Liv) taking the win.
The nine riders made their break after a climb in Mozambano, around 80km into the route. Flavia Oliveria (Ale Cipollini) won the points for the mountain competition, then Brand and eight other riders made their move to escape.
Today’s Stage Five will be a 128km route from Adda to Aprica – and it will feature some tougher climbs. The GC positions and times have remained static for several days, so this should be a chance for the strongest riders to shine.
The current GC classification is as follows:
1. Megan Guarnier (Boels Dolmans) 11h53’45”
2. Anna Van der Breggen (Rabo-Liv) +2″
3. Ashleigh Moolman (Bigla) +5″
4. Lucinda Brand (Rabo-Liv) +12”
5. Elisa Longo Borghini (Wiggle-Honda) +13”
6. Evelyn Stevens (Boels Dolmans) +15”
7. Katarzyna Niewadoma (Rabo-Liv) +17”
8. Karol-Ann Canuel (Velocio-SRAM) +24”
9. Mara Abbott (Wiggle-Honda) +37”
10. Elena Cecchini (Lotto-Soudal) +39”
