Dutch champion takes her second stage and a huge lead after hilly stage across Marche hinterland
Marianne Vos (Nederland Bloeit) seized back the race lead in the Giro d’Italia Femminile, with an emphatic victory in the third stage between Potenza Picena and Fermo. The Dutch champion, who had won on stage one, beat breakaway companion Emma Pooley (Garmin-Cervélo) by 19 seconds, after escaping the former British champion just before the steep climb to the finish.
Judith Arndt (HTC-Highroad) led a very select group over the line, 2’50” behind Vos, to take third place on the stage.
“It was a very difficult stage,” said Vos at the finish. “especially the final part. I’m really pleased to have taken back the pink jersey; now I hope to keep it for as long as possible, and take it day by day.”
The 104km stage was started by local former Safi-Pasta Zara (now Diadora-Pasta Zara) rider Marina Romoli, who is still confined to a wheelchair after her training accident of last June. It began with a 25km local loop, during which a 25-rider group went clear, including pink jersey Shara Gillow (Bizkaia-Durango), green mountains jersey Valentina Scandolara (Gauss-RDZ-Ormu) and Italian champion Noemi Cantele (Garmin-Cervélo). The group was able to get 1’20” clear of the rest of the peloton.
The first two classified climbs, at Potenza Picena and Sant’ Elpidio Mare, were taken by Ashleigh Moolman (Lotto Honda), outsprinting Scandolara for the first one. After 70km though, Vos put in a huge acceleration on the first ascent of the Muro del Ferro – the iron wall – and only Pooley was able to go with her.
Behind the duo the big teams sent riders to the front of the peloton, including the Diadora-Pasta Zara team of defending champion Mara Abbott and the MCipollini-Giambenini team of five-time winner Fabiana Luperini and former World champion Tatiana Guderzo. Between them they tried to keep the size of the gap down, but between them the two climbers continued to pull away.
Vos and Pooley were together as they crossed the top of the penultimate climb, but on the descent Vos attacked and Pooley was unable to hold onto her wheel as she sped down the steep roads.
On the cobbled climb to the finish Vos kept the pressure on and crossed the line alone to finish 19 seconds clear of Pooley. Having lost a lot more time than they intended, the next group came in 2’50” back, led over the line by Arndt.
Gillow lost 4’22” to Vos, crossing the line with her previous day’s breakaway companion Sharon Laws (Garmin-Cervélo), and with it she loses her pink jersey. Overnight third place overall Sylwya Kapusta (Gauss-Rdz-Ormu) finished in the Arndt group, but is now eight seconds behind Vos; the Dutch champion takes back the pink jersey.
As well as the pink leader’s jersey, Vos also holds the ciclamino points jersey and the green mountains jersey.
Result stage 3
1. Marianne Vos (Ned) Nederland Bloeit, km 104.2km in 2h58’04’’
2. Emma Pooley (Garmin Cervelo) @ 19s
3. Judith Arndt (HTC-Highroad) a 2’50”
4. Rasa Leleivyte (Ltu) Vaiano-Tepso-Solaristech
5. Emma Johansson (Swe) Hitec Products-UCK
6. Ruth Corset (Aus) Bizkaia-Durango
7. Tatiana Guderzo (Ita) MCipollini-Giambenini
8. Sylwia Kapusta (Pol) Gauss Rdz Ormu Unico1 @ 2’59”
9. Tatiana Antoshina (Ita) Gauss-Rdz-Ormu @ 3’12”
10. Fabiana Luperini (Ita) MCipollini-Giambenini @ 3’24”
Standings after stage 3
1. Marianne Vos (Ned) Nederland Bloeit
2. Sylwya Kapusta (Pol) Gauss-Rdz-Ormu @ 8s
3. Emma Pooley (GBr) Garmin-Cervélo @ 36s
4. Shara Gillow (Aus) Bizkaia-Durango @ 1’15”
5. Sharon Laws (GBr) Garmin-Cervélo @ 1’19”