Giro Femminile: Brandli wins at Paularo; Stahurskaia still in pink
It was an emotional day in Fruili at the start and finish of the 11th stage of the Giro d’Italia Femminile. Before the start of the stage Rosalisa La Pomarda -who was third overall and best placed Italian rider - was ejected from the race after UCI blood tests showed she was unfit to race. The other 35 riders tested were all within the limits. The stage finished with yet another head to head battle between the two leaders of the overall classification and a second win for Swiss rider Nicole Brandli. The Edilsavino rider took advantage of mechanical problems which stopped race leader Zinaida
Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! Download the app.
Third placed Pomarda ejected for hematocrit violation
By VeloNews Interactive
It was an emotional day in Fruili at the start and finish of the 11th stage of the Giro d’Italia Femminile. Before the start of the stage Rosalisa La Pomarda -who was third overall and best placed Italian rider – was ejected from the race after UCI blood tests showed she was unfit to race. The other 35 riders tested were all within the limits.
The stage finished with yet another head to head battle between the two leaders of the overall classification and a second win for Swiss rider Nicole Brandli. The Edilsavino rider took advantage of mechanical problems which stopped race leader Zinaida Stahurskaia just 500m from the line.
“I managed to catch Stahurskaia with a kilometer to go,” Brandli said. “Then with 500m to go she had a problem with her bike and so I opened a gap and won my second consecutive stage.”
Stahurskaia crossed the line 38 seconds after Brandli. She was beaten by Joane Somarriba and Fabiana Luperini and burst into tears at the finish, thinking she had lost the pink jersey.
Fortunately the news from the race judges that she would be given the same time as Brandli cheered her up. In fact, the rules state that whoever is the victim of a mechanical problem or crash in the final kilometer, is given the same time as the group of riders she was with.
“Fortunately I’ve still got the pink jersey,” she said. “When I crossed the line I thought I’d lost it but my lead on Brandli stays the same. Now it’s clear, we’ll going to fight it out for the Giro in the final time trial.”
The stage was saw numerous attacks and came alive after the last KOM of the day, 8km from the finish. After a group of attackers were caught, Stahurskaia tried to go clear on the descent to the finish. However Brandli caught her with a kilometer to go.
Now the Giro moves to Vittorio Veneto for a short stage of 108km (start at 12’30). For the two contenders the main aim tomorrow will be to save energy ready for the final time trial on Sunday at Valdobbiadene.
Courtesy www.Girodonne.com
Results
Result 11th stage: Paularo-Paularo:
1. Nicole Brandli (Swi), Edilsavino Anusca, in 2h32:35; avg 34.407 km/h; 2.
Joanne Somarriba (Sp), Alfa Lum Aurora, at 38; 3. Zinaida Stahurskaia
(Blr), Gas Sport Team, s.t. :4. Fabiana Luperini (I), Edilsavino Anusca,
s.t.; 5. Tatiana Stiajkina (Ukr, Alfa Lum Aurora, at 47; 6. Mirjam
Melchers (Nl), Acca Due O Lorena, at 1:02; 7. Diana Ziliute (Lit), Acca
Due O Lorena, s.t.; 8. Olga Zabelinskaja (Rus, Carpe Diem Itera, at 1:16;:
9. Marcia Eiker (Swi), Carpe Diem Itera, s.t.; 10. Cindy Pieters ( Bel,
Vlaanderen T. Interim, s.t.
Overall Classification
1. Zinaida Stahurskaia (Blr), Gas Sport Team, 1295 km in 35h39:06; avg
36.389 km/h; 2. Nicole Brandli (Swi), Edilsavino Anusca, at 20; 3. Fabiana
Luperini (I), Edilsavino Anusca, at 5:10; 4. Alessandra Cappellotto (I),
Gas Sport Team, at 5:11; 5. Edita Pucinskaite (Lit), Alfa Lum Aurora, at
5:46; 6. Diana Ziliute (Lit), Accadueo Lorena, at 6:07; 7. Joane Somarriba
(Sp), Alfa Lum Aurora, at 7:32; 8. Cindy Pieters (B), Vlaanderen
T.Interim, at 10:16; 9. Mirjam Melchers (Nl), Accaduo Lorena, at 11:49;
10. Simona Parente (I), Edilsavino Anusca, at 13:07;.