Abbott solos to Stelvio stage

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The Queen stage of the Giro Donne lived up to the pre-race predictions, with American Mara Abbott proving once again she is the peloton's purest climbing talent. Riding in the colors of national champion, Abbott soloed to the win ahead of Briton Emma Pooley (Cervelo TestTeam).

The victory helped Abbott pad her lead over German Judith Arndt (HTC-Columbia), who lost 1:43 to the American on the final climb, and gives Abbott an excellent chance of becoming the first rider from the US to win the Giro Donne.

On the day's first climb, it was Pooley who took the top first, adding to her lead in the climber's classification ahead of Evelyn Stevens (HTC-Columbia), Amanda Miller (U.S. National), Marianne Vos (Netherlands) and Eugeny Vysostka (Team Valdarno).

The US team lost captain Amber Neben to a crash on the descent, leaving Abbott without one of her main helpers for the finishing climb.

But Abbott proved that she can take the reins on her own, and from a group of only 15 riders to come together at the base of the Stelvio, she was able to break free from the group, chased only by Pooley who was forced to leave her leader Claudia Häusler behind.

Arndt and best Italian Tatiana Guderzo (Team Valdarno) worked to limit their losses while Pooley and Abbott continued to put time into the chasers.

With 2km to go, Abbott left the Cervelo rider in her wake, opening up a 27 second gap by the line to claim her second successive stage victory.

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