Wild triumphs in opening sprint of Giro Rosa

Stage 1 of the Giro Rosa was dominated by Dutch women. In Margherita di Savoia, Kirsten Wild (Dutch National Team) took the stage win in front of the World and Olympic Champion Marianne Vos (Rabo Women's Cycling Team). However, Vos took bonus seconds by winning both intermediate sprints en route and became the first maglia rosa of this year's race.

The women raced 118km starting in Giovinazzo. The race stayed mostly together with many targeting the final sprint.

"You can't understand how happy I am! I'm back from one month off racing because I injured my left collarbone, and I'm really satisfied with this good result," said Wild. "I couldn't ask more of myself."

Vos said, "I missed out by an inch, but I'm proud to don the maglia rosa again. We are only at the beginning of the race, I'm getting in shape, so I hope to maintain the jersey until the very end in Cremona." Vos won the past two editions of the Giro Rosa.

Following stage 1, Marta Tagliaferro (MCipollini Giordana), who was third on the day, is wearing the blue jersey of best Italian. "I chose the right wheel, but in the final chaos, I lost the right moment to start my sprint. I'll try to win a stage in the next days!" she said.

Julie Leth (Hitec Products) from Denmark is the best young rider. "I didn't expected to wear the white jersey. I've been a professional for only one month, so I expected to finish in the back, not to be on the podium of the biggest race in the world of women's cycling," said Leth.

Valentina Scandolara (MCipollini Giordana),who took the first green jersey of the race after winning the only QoM of stage 1, said, "With my team, I'll try to do my best in the Giro Rosa."

Stage 2 will happen on Monday in Campania. The second stage, a little more technical than today's route but still for sprinters, will take place in the provence of Salerno, in particular on the Pontecagnano Faiano circuit. The women will contest four laps for a total of 100km.

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