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We are already halfway through the 2017 Giro Rosa so it’s time to catch up on all the action and see women’s cycling’s biggest event through the lens of photographers Anton Vos and Jeff Clark.
Now in its 28th edition, the Giro Rosa is the only remaining Grand Tour on the women’s calendar, and winning it comes with a lot of prestige. The battle for the iconic Maglia Rosa (pink jersey) is hard-fought, and while less hilly on paper, the 2017 edition has been filled with excitement.
From brutal 30% grades to inspiring teamwork and photo finish finales, the first five stages of the tour have been filled with action, and we’ve still got five more stages to go!
Quick recap:
Boels-Dolmans took control of the race after winning the stage one team time trial. Their Canadian rider Karol-Ann Canuel was the first to wear the pink jersey, only to hand it off to teammate and Olympic champion Anna van der Breggen in stage two.
Stage two saw a three-person break of jersey wearers go free on the biggest climb of the day. Anna van der Breggen in pink, Annemiek van Vleuten in the climbers’ jersey and best Italian rider Elisa Longo Borghini rode into the finish together nearly two minutes on the next group of riders. The three-up sprint was won by GC hopeful Van Vleuten (Orica-Scott), but Van der Breggen remained in pink.
Despite various attacks and breakaway attempts, stage three ended in a bunch sprint. After coming so close in the Women’s Tour last month, Canyon-SRAM’s Hannah Barnes finally bested her fellow sprinter, crossing the line ahead of Lotta Lepistö (Cervélo-Bigla) and Kirsten Wild (Cylance).
Stage four was a prime example of excellent teamwork. A pancake flat course in hot temperatures was made interesting by Boels-Dolmans’ efforts to break up the peloton, splitting the bunch in several groups and reducing the 165-rider field to around 60 riders at the time of the finish. The sprint was a nailbiter. Chloe Hosking was believed to be the winner, but after consulting the finish photo, it was Wiggle-High5’s Jolien D’Hoore who walked away with the stage win. Missing the break, Van Vleuten fell off the GC podium and would have to put up an impressive time trial in stage five to make up some time.
Stage five was an individual time trial with brutal climbs that were steeper than the race bible had indicated. Riders struggled as gradients pitched up to 30%. Annemiek van Vleuten had an incredible ride, coming in 41 seconds ahead of race leader Van der Breggen and 1:15 ahead of Longo Borghini.
Current GC standings:
- Anna van der Breggen (Boels-Dolmans)
- Elisa Longo Borghini (Wiggle-High5) – 1:00 behind
- Annemiek van Vleuten (Orica-Scott) – 1:36 behind
- Megan Guarnier (Boels-Dolmans) – 3:08 behind
- Amanda Spratt (Orica-Scott) – 3:29 behind
Race reports and video highlights:
- Stage 1: Opening team time trial easy prey for Boels-Dolmans
- Stage 2: Annemiek van Vleuten wins the stage as Van der Breggen remains in pink
- Stage 3: Hannah Barnes fastest in bunch sprint
- Stage 4: Sprinters’ day shakes up GC
- Stage 5: Riders struggle with surprise climbs in the ITT
The 2017 Giro Rosa in photos:
- A Swedish rider walks to the team presentation. | Photo by Jeff Clark
- Presentation flowers | Photo by Jeff Clark
- Plenty of media attention for American sprinter Coryn Rivera on the opening eve | Photo by Jeff Clark
- Weaver warms up for the opening team time trial of the 2017 Giro Rosa.
- Molly Weaver gets dressed for the TTT inside the team bus | Photo by Jeff Clark
- Race official climbs back into the car after waving the start flag. | Photo by Jeff Clark
- Boels-Dolmans took control of the pink jersey in stage 1 and never let it go. | Photo by Jeff Clark
- Orica-AIS in the opening TTT
- Team Sunweb during the TTT | Photo by Jeff Clark
- Police officer looks on as the TTT comes into Grado | Photo by Jeff Clark
- | Photo by Jeff Clark
- Team Sunweb on their way to a second place finish in the opening team time trial. | Photo by Jeff Clark
- Members of the Grado Cycling Club watch the podium ceremonies as skies open up | Photo by Jeff Clark
- The 2017 Giro Rosa’s first race leader Karol-Ann Canuel of Boels-Dolmans | Photo by Cor Vos
- First confetti of the 2017 Giro Rosa. | Photo by Cor Vos
- Riders keep cool in the shade ahead of tstage 2 | Photo by Cor Vos
- Lots of interest from the locals as the women’s peloton leaves Zoppola | Photo by Jeff Clark
- The jersey wearers escape } Photo by Cor Vos
- Pink dreams: Van Vleuten wins stage 2
- Immediately after winning stage 2, Van Vleuten hopped on the rollers for a cooldown while addressing fans and media. | Photo by Anne-Marije Rook
- Floortje Mackaij gets some love from her dog Saartje after earning the young rider’s jersey in stage 2 | Photo by Jeff Clark
- Champagne and confetti for Van Vleuten after stage 2
- GIro Rosa jersey wearers after stage 2 | Photo by Cor Vos
- Photographers get showered in champagne as Anna van der Breggen celebrates another day in the pink jersey. | Photo by Anne-Marije Rook
- World champion Amalie Dideriksen signs in. | Photo by Cor Vos
- Lizzie Deignan pre-race.
- A relaxed race leader Anna van der Breggen and Brazilian champ Silva Clemilda Fernandes joke around before the start of stage 3 | Photo by Cor Vos
- Hannah Barnes wins stage 3
- A pat of encouragement for WM3 rider Moniek Tenniglo. | Photo by Cor Vos
- Hannah Barnes of Canyon-SRAM celebrates her stage 3 victory | Photo by Corvos
- Jersey wearers after 2017 Giro Rosa stage three.
- The many jerseys of Boels-Dolmans.
- Last year’s Giro Rosa winner Megan Guarnier assumes domestique duties | Photo Cor Vos
- Chloe Hosking thought she’d won. Finish photo, however, determined Jolien D’Hoore to be the winner. | Photo by Cor Vos.
- Tough break for Aussie Chloe Hosking. She lost a photo finish sprint in stage 4 to Jolien D’Hoore. | Photo by Cor Vos
- One is not like the other. | Photo by Cor Vos
- After a finish line camera review, D’Hoore was determined the winner of stage 4 | Photo by Cor Vos
- Anna van der Breggen wins her second Giro Rosa | Photo by Cor Vos
- Lucinda Brand (Team Sunweb) suffering on one of the climbs in the 2017 Giro Rosa stage five ITT.
- Chantal Blaak (Boels-Dolmans) tackles the 30 % grade climb in the ITT with relative ease. | Photo by Cor Vos
- Anouska Koster (WM3 Pro Cycling) riding onto the hot seat in 2017 Giro Rosa stage five.
- Coryn Rivera (Team Sunweb) struggling up the 30% pitch in the ITT of the 2017 Giro Rosa.
- After the stage five ITT, Anna van der Breggen (Boels-Dolmans) is even firmer in pink, halfway through the 2017 Giro Rosa.
- Annemiek van Vleuten wins the brutal ITT with an impressive margin of 41 seconds. | Photo by Cor Vos