Marta Bastianelli (UAE Team ADQ) took victory on the opening stage of the Festival Elsy Jacobs in Steinfort, grabbing her second win of the season ahead of Ally Wollaston (AG Insurance-Soudal-QuickStep) and her UAE teammate Eleonora Gasparrini.
The 111km stage, the first of two at the race, took the peloton into the hills, including a hilly closing circuit that featured the Côte de Septfontaines (1.3km at 7.8%). That climb came for the final time at around 10km from the line.
Having taken 10 bonus seconds at the finish as well as a three-second time bonus earlier in the stage, Bastianelli now enjoys a strong advantage heading into Sunday's closing stage. She lies five seconds up on Wollaston, seven up on Gasparrini, and eight up on Koster.
The chasing peloton was led home by Femke Gerritse (Parkhotel Valkenburg), who lies fifth at 13 seconds down.
Results
Results powered by FirstCycling
-
Reliving the Giro d'Italia's first GC battle on the Blockhaus - Gallery
All the best photos from the first summit finish of the 2026 Corsa Rosa -
Giro d'Italia penalties, fines and yellow cards – All the punishments handed out at the 2026 race
Tracking the rule infringements and penalties accrued on the road from Bulgaria to Rome -
Jonas Vingegaard takes control of Giro d'Italia on Blockhaus as expected, but should the narrow gap to Felix Gall be a cause for concern? – GC analysis
Where the Austrian is lacking as a contender for pink and a dive into why the Dane shouldn't be firing on all cylinders just yet -
'I tried to suffer as much as possible' - Giro d'Italia leader Afonso Eulálio survives Blockhaus after hard fight to limit time loss
Bahrain Victorious racer sheds nearly 2:55 to stage winner and top favourite Jonas Vingegaard
