Bronzini wins stage 1 of 2013 Tour de l’Ardeche
Italian lands 14th win of the 2013 season
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Giorgia Bronzini continued her winning ways on Tuesday, taking stage 1 of the Tour de l’Ardeche in Beauchastel, France. Bronzini (Wiggle Honda) took the top spot in a bunch sprint to close the 120-kilometer leg from Rochegude. It was the Italian former world champion’s 14th win of 2013.
Tiffany Cromwell (Orica-AIS) was second and Elena Cecchini (Faren-Kuota) was third.
Prologue winner Linda Villumsen (Wiggle Honda) retained her overall lead.
“It wasn’t in our plan to try for a bunch sprint, but to save Linda’s legs,” said Bronzini. “To keep the jersey if we can.
“During the stage we saw that the climb was not so hard, so Linda spoke to me and asked if I felt good for trying to arrive in a sprint. I said ‘okay, I’ll try to save my legs, and we can do that.'”
The Tour de l’Ardeche continues Wednesday with the 3.5km stage 2 time trial in Vals Les Bains in the morning and the 77.4km third stage, from Vals Les Bain to Le Teil, in the afternoon.