Strong riding as Eleonora Ciabocco sprints to 4th place on uphill finish in Aprica

With the opening time trial behind them, the Giro d’Italia Women peloton took on the open roads on Monday for a short but sharp 92 kilometre stage to Aprica. A fast descent to start with was followed by some valley roads, before a long and extended climb up to the finish; which featured a several sections of various gradients, before a shallower drag to the line.

Team Picnic PostNL rode well as a unit all day and came into the steepest part of the climb in a good position, with the breakaway duo three minutes ahead. Over those steep sections the peloton completely exploded and Eleonora Ciabocco made it into a reduced peloton, which set off in pursuit of the break. However, those ahead would hold onto enough of an advantage to fight for the stage win, while the bunch battled for the final podium spot. Ciabocco showed a good kick and turn of speed to get up for a strong fourth place come the end of the stage: her best ever result in a WorldTour level race.

After the stage Ciabocco expressed: “Today was a quite short stage with a really fast start, but we tried to stay together. That was important also because it was so technical in the first part. We said that we wanted to be in position around the sprint. Becky and Josie did a good job, then we also needed to use Francesca too. There was a really steep part of the climb, and I could make it into the first part of the peloton there when it split. In front the break held on for the win, and in the peloton a hard pace was set by UAE. I tried to follow as best as I could, and then it came down to a sprint from the bunch for the final podium spot; where I could take second there so fourth on the stage. I think we can be pleased and satisfied with that, and can look forward to the next stages and more chances.”

Team Picnic PostNL coach Callum Ferguson added: “It was a good day for us. In the end, the climb was ridden harder than we expected. We positioned Eleonora well and she came over the steepest part in the front of the peloton, and could sprint to a really nice result at the end of the stage. I think it’s something that she can take confidence from and you can see that her level is continuing to build year-on-year she has been in the team, and that she has taken another step up in the past few months. Today gives us all some confidence so we’re looking forward to the next days.”