After a strong showing yesterday where Eleonora Ciabocco took fourth place, Team Picnic PostNL were motivated once more to fight for another top result on Tuesday’s stage, where a bunch sprint was a possibility. However, to get to the finale the team and riders would have to traverse the long climb of Passo del Tonale which took place in the opening 20 kilometres of the stage.
Riding well as a group, the team came over the top well and surrounded sprint finisher Megan Jastrab; ensuring that she came back to the peloton on the descent and following flatter roads. From there, it was about biding your time until the finale. Moving forward well as a group, the team took control at the front from the last ten kilometres and kept in a good position. Going around a roundabout just inside three kilometres to go, a rider slipped out on the wet roads and with that took down four riders from the team. It meant that Josie Nelson, who had already been pulling on the front, was left in a very small group that would fight for the stage win. Surfing the wheels well and showing a good kick, Nelson sprinted to second place behind Wiebes – securing her first ever Grand Tour and World Tour level podium finish.
