Marianne Vos (Rabobank-Liv/Giant) took victory in the second stage of the 2013 Giro della Toscana, between Porcari and Pontadera, by the smallest possible margin. The World champion crossed the line side by side with Shelley Olds (Tibco-To The Top) and it took a photofinish picture to separate them.
Olds was initially declared the winner, but further examination of the photo revealed that Vos had hit the line millimetres ahead of the American. Italian Barbara Guarischi (Vaiano-Fondriest) was third less than half a length behind.
The 110.1km stage was largely uneventful from a racing perspective until the peloton arrived at the five 9.4km finishing circuits around Pontadera, with Rabobank, Wiggle Honda and Argos-Shimano intent on the stage ending in a bunch sprint for Vos, stage one winner Giorgia Bronzini and Kirsten Wild respectively.
What was eventful, however, was that several cars had been allowed to make their way onto the race course, which forced the peloton to race conservatively around the corners in case they met one coming the other way.
Edita Janeliunaite (Pasta Zara-Cogeas) took the first intermediate sprint, in Cenaia after 46km, ahead of Simona Frapporti (Be Pink) and Bjornsrud (Hitec Products), but Vos took the Michela Fanini sprint, the second time across the finish line, to take the three second time bonus; Tiffany Cromwell (Orica-AIS) took second place, and two seconds, with Vos’ teammate Thalita de Jong taking third.
Valentina Scandolara (MCipollini-Giordana) tried to escape, but her move was covered by Rabobank-Liv/Giant and Wiggle Honda. With two laps to go Janeliunaite took the final sprint, as the race crossed the finish line for the fourth time,ahead of Malgorzata Jasinska (MCipollini-Giordana) and US champion Jade Wilcoxson (Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies).
Vos took the inside line around the final corner with 300 metres to go, and just managed to hit the line ahead of Olds.
Having crossed the line in tenth place, Chloe Hosking collided with a photographer from the race organisation who was reportedly standing in the middle of the road. The Australian thankfully escaped with only minor injuries, but the photographer was not so fortunate.
With a total of 13 bonus seconds on the stage, Vos extended her overall lead over Bronzini, who finished in eighth place, going into the decisive, mountainous third stage.
Result stage 2
1. Marianne Vos (Ned) Rabobank-Liv/Giant
2. Shelley Olds (USA) Team Tibco-To The Top
3. Barbara Guarischi (Ita) Vaiano-Fondriest
4. Valentina Scandolara (Ita) MCipollini-Giordana
5. Annalisa Cucinotta (Ita) Servetto-Footon
6. Elena Cecchini (Ita) Faren-Kuota
7. Annemiek van Vleuten (Ned) Rabobank-Liv/Giant
8. Giorgia Bronzini (Ita) Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling
9. Marta Tagliaferro (Ita) MCipollini-Giordana
10. Chloe Hosking (Aus) Hitec Products
Standings after stage 2
1. Marianne Vos (Ned) Rabobank-Liv/Giant
2. Giorgia Bronzini (Ita) Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling @ 18s
3. Tiffany Cromwell (Aus) Orica-AIS @ 21s
4. Rossella Ratto (Ita) Hitec Products @ 23s
5. Emma Johansson (Swe) Orica-AIS @ 25s
6. Anna van der Breggen (Ned) Sengers Ladies Cycling Team
7. Tatiana Guderzo (Ita) MCipollini-Giordana @ 31s
8. Claudia Häusler (Ger) Team Tibco-To The Top
9. Noemi Cantele (Ita) Be Pink
10. Evelyn Stevens (USA) Specialized-lululemon