Giro Rosa 2015 Stage 1

photo credits @ Giro Rosa/Twitter

Barbara Guarischi (Velocio -SRAM Cycling Team) claimed stage 1 of this year’s Giro Rosa in Ljubljana City, Slovenia today.

Guarischi’s victory, was the result of hard work on the part of her teammate, European Games Gold Medal Alena Amialiusik, who delivered the Italian rider into position to beat Lucinda Brand (Rabo-Liv) and her teammate Tiffany Cromwell, in the sprint.

However, Brand’s second place finished was enough to wrest the mglia rosa from the shoulders of Annemiek Van Vleuten, and move her into the overall lead. 

Race Highlights

Malgorzata Jasinska (Alè-Cipollini) and Ana Maria Covrig (BePink-La Classica), marked the day’s breakaway. However, after a long period out front, the peloton brought their hopes to a close, as the duo were caught just 5 kilometers from the finish.

Shortly thereafter, Silvia Valsecchi made a lone attempt to ride clear during the final few kilometers, but a determined peloton succeeded in reeling her in as well.

From there, the race boiled down to a sprint finale, with Guarischi emerging as the fastest rider. 

The Giro Rosa heads back to Italy tomorrow for stage 2 – a hilly 121.5 kilometer route from Gaiarine to San Fior.

Top 10 Finishers Stage 1 (Kamnik – Ljubljana, 102.5 km):
1° Barbara Guarischi (Velocio-SRAM) 2h32’23”
2° Lucinda Brand (Rabo-Liv) +0”
3° Tiffany Cromwell (Velocio-SRAM) +0”
4° Elena Cecchini (Lotto Soudal Ladies) +0”
5° Floortje Makaaj (Liv-Plantur) +0”
6° Giorgia Bronzini (Wiggle Honda) +0”
7° Annalisa Cucinotta (Alè-Cipollini) +0”
8° Anna Zita Maria Stricker (Inpa Sottoli Giusfredi) +0”
9° Mia Radotic (BTC City Ljubljana) +0”
10° Anna Trevisi (Inpa Sottoli Giusfredi) +0”

General Classification after Stage 1:
1° Lucinda Brand (Rabo-Liv) 2h35’06”
2° Barbara Guarischi (Velocio-SRAM) +4”
3° Annemiek Van Vleuten (Bigla Pro Cycling Team) +5”
4° Roxane Knetemann (Rabo-Liv) +6”
5° Tiffany Cromwell (Velocio-SRAM) +7”
6° Anna Van der Breggen (Rabo-Liv) +7”
7° Ellen Van Dijk (Boels Dolmans Pro Cycling Team) +8”
8° Ashleigh Moolman (Bigla Pro Cycling Team) +8”
9° Valentina Scandolara (Orica-AIS) +8”
10° Megan Guarnier (Boels Dolmans Pro Cycling Team +9”

The Jerseys after the Stage 1:
Pink Jersey: Lucinda Brand (Rabo – Liv)
Ciclamino Jersey: Lucinda Brand (Rabo-Liv)
Green Jersey: Malgorzata Jasinska (Alè-Cipollini)
White Jersey: Pauline Ferrand-Prevot (Rabo-Liv)
Blue Jersey: Barbara Guarischi (Velocio-SRAM)