Third Giro Rosa stage win for Vos

Marianne Vos won the fifth stage in the Giro Rosa. It was the third stage win for the Rabo-Liv champion in the Italian stage race. She edged Giorgia Bronzini (Wiggle-Honda) and Shelley Olds (Alé-Cipollini) and on the line in Cesenatico. She also keeps the pink jersey.

The fifth stage was the last opportunity for the sprinters before the peloton hits the mountains. Between Jesi and Cesenatico, the birthplace of Marco Panatani, the course was flat with only one climb after 70 kilometres of the 118,3 kilometre stage.

There were some breakaway attempts in the furthermore uneventful stage. Powerful riders like Roxane Knetemann (Rabo-Liv) and frequent attacker Valentina Scandolara for Orica-AIS were the most notable group to try. Shelley Olds’ Alé Cipollini brought the dangerous duo back.

Despite strong crosswinds on the Adriatic coast Audrey Cordon managed to escape from the bunch. The French rider for Hitec was caught back just after the midway point.

The only climb of the day followed shortly after. Anna van der Breggen was the first up the hill with the leader in the mountain classification Valentina Scandolara in second place. The Italian keeps her jersey.

With an average speed of over 43 kilometres the second half of the stage was fast. No rider managed to escape the peloton and a bunch sprint was inevitable.

Marianne Vos was yet again the fastest beating stage 2 winner Giorgia Bronzini and Shelley Olds. It was her 14th victory on the road this season, and number six in the last month alone.

Due to the bonus seconds, Marianne Vos now leads over her teammate Pauline Ferrand Prevot by 41 seconds. Last year’s winner Mara Abbott (Unitedhealthcare) sits in 11th place at 2:54 from Vos.

Stage 6 brings the peloton to Treviso where after 2,300 altitude metres, the finish line is drawn in the town Gaiarini to San Fior after 112 kilometres.

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