Nat Bromhead
Annemiek van Vleuten has made history for Mitchelton-Scott in winning the final stage and overall leader’s jersey of the most prestigious women’s race on the calendar, the Giro-Rosa.
The Aussie outfit dominated the 10-day race to finish first and third overall with van Vleuten and Amanda Spratt claiming six of the ten stage victories with three different riders as well as securing the mountain and points jerseys.
The team set out with joint leaders in van Vleuten and Spratt, with Spratt taking the race lead after a Stage 6 victory. A 15km uphill Time Trial the following day suited van Vleuten and the jersey swapped hands between the teammates again after Stage 7.
In the lead before the Queen stage, van Vleuten extended her grip with a stunning solo victory on Monte Zoncolan. The 35-year-old backed up with a third victory at Stage 10, securing the biggest win of her career and an important milestone for the team.
Mitchelton-Scott In Control
Belgian Jolien D’hoore began the team’s winning ways, claiming two stage wins on the third and fourth day in sprint finishes.
On the sixth stage, the first general classification test, Spratt attacked and took classy solo win to move into Maglia Rosa.
Van Vleuten dominated on an uphill time trial on stage seven, the first of three stage victories before going on to win on Monte Zoncolan and today’s final stage.
In addition to the team’s first and third overall and six stage victories, van Vleuten added the points’ jersey to her collection along with Spratt winning the mountains’ jersey.
Dream Come True For van Vleuten
Van Vleuten headed into the tenth and final stage with a hard-to-beat three-minute 35second lead over her nearest rival on the general classification, Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (Cervelo-Bigla).
She later said the result was a dream come true. “We prepared so well for this race and to win six stages,” she said.
“The overall and three jerseys and do it in this way racing with confidence and control it’s a super story for the team. Especially because before I thought that I would never win the Giro-Rosa. My first one was in 2010 and I always thought that I am not a climber, so it won’t happen, but yesterday to win on the Zoncolan and then today to win the GC, it’s very special.”
Spratty Third Overall
Amanda Spratt, who finished third overall, said the team “came wanting to win the Giro-Rosa as a team and Annemiek has done it and it is really thanks to the entire team.”
“The riders, the staff, everyone has worked so hard for this,” she said. “It’s giving me goosebumps to see how well we have all worked together.”
Giro-Rosa Stage 10 Results
1. Annemiek van Vleuten (Mitchelton-SCOTT) 3:24
2. Lucinda Brand (Team Sunweb) +0:27
3. Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM) ST
Giro-Rosa Overall General Classification
1. Annemiek van Vleuten (Mitchelton-SCOTT) 25:50
2. Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (Cervelo-Bigla) +4:12
3. Amanda Spratt (Mitchelton-SCOTT) +6:30
Images Courtesy of Mitchelton-Scott
