The former Italian time trial national champion started the Giro d’Italia with a bang, winning the opening ITT by one second over FDJ-Suez’s Grace Brown. The Lidl-Trek rider was one of the first to start, and the dry roads gave her an advantage over some of the GC hopefuls who opted to start later in the day.
Longo Borghini’s teammate Brodie Chapman pulled out a phenomenal performance on the wet roads to finish third on the stage, 13 seconds down on her team leader.
GC and Stage 1 Top 10
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Brief analysis
- Only one climb graced the first stage but the descent proved the most difficult factor on the course for some riders. With four tight cobbled corners, it was a section where time was either gained or lost depending on skillset and conditions. Liv AlUla Jayco’s Silke Smulders hit the ground on one of the switchbacks but quickly jumped back onto her bike and made her way safely down the rest of the descent.
- There was a clear difference between riders who started earlier in the day and those who started later. The early riders were treated to dry roads while the later starters had to deal with rain and harsher conditions.
- The win by Longo Borghini was made more dramatic because of two past events. First, in last year’s Giro, Longo Borghini had just won a stage when she crashed out of the race. Second, Longo Borghini set the fastest time at the Italian ITT nationals recently but was disqualified after the race because her follow car was too close during the effort.
A quick roundup of where other GC hopefuls finished
- Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime) +0:25
- Juliette Labous (DSM-Firmenich PostNL) +0:29
- Ruth Edwards (Human Powered Health) +0:30
- Antonia Niedermaier (Canyon-SRAM) +0:48
- Gaia Realini (Lidl-Trek) +1:08
- Kim Cadzow (EF-Oatly-Cannondale) +1:14
- Niamh Fisher-Black (SD Worx-Protime) +1:16
- Mavi García (Liv AlUla Jayco) +1:20
- Neve Bradbury (Canyon-SRAM) +1:47
- Liane Lippert (Movistar) +2:33
Quote of the day
It’s really emotional for an Italian to wear the Maglia Rosa, it’s a big deal. To be here with such a strong team, and to be so well supported is really great. Last year was really difficult for me, I really wanted to give it a good first shot. Maybe it’s only for one day I will be wearing the Maglia Rosa, and I will be dreaming of it for so long.”
Elisa Longo Borghini after winning the first stage of the 2024 Giro d’Italia Women
What’s next
Stage 2: Sirmione to Volta Mantovana (110 km)
Date: Monday, July 8
Stage type: Slightly hilly
Summary: Ample opportunity for last-minute moves
The second stage includes two laps of a circuit with a category 4 ascent at the very end of the stage, and one uncategorized climb at the very beginning, but other than that it’s pretty flat from 29 km into the stage to 37 km to go.
At only 110 km, the stage is not a long one. The first climb is 8 km into the stage and lasts about 5.5 km. It’s not straight uphill but rather a climb that pitches and rolls, hence why it’s not categorized. The climb won’t make any massive dents in the peloton, but since it’s so early in the stage, it offers a great opportunity for some smaller teams to attack. It also means that riders might want to warm up before the stage.
Originally published in the stage-by-stage preview found here.
The crunch point of the race starts with 35 km remaining when the field hits the first of the two circuits. It’s a gradual run-in to the first climb on the circuit but the set-up by teams will be well before the real climb begins at 33 km to go. The climb itself is a little less than 1 km and maxes out at 7.3%, but after the summit, it kicks again before an up-and-down descent. There is then only about 6 km for teams to regroup before the next lap.
After the climbing on the circuit ends the road continues to pitch and roll with only one steep and short descent before the finish. The run to the line is going to be really fast, with both opportunities for attacks in the final circuit on the climb and after it, plus some fun little bonus climbs before the line. It’s not going to be a straightforward sprint and could definitely favour anyone who manages to get some distance in that final 15 km.
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