22nd March – Milano-Sanremo Donne: Genova – Sanremo
After several years off the calendar the “Primavera Rosa” returned today for the Women’s peloton with a 156 kilometre route from Genova to Sanremo. It was a steady start to proceedings but ahead of the three capi the pace increased and the early break was caught, where unfortunately Francesca Barale was caught up in a crash. Team Picnic PostNL rode well as a unit with Nienke Vinke looking after the rest of the squad ahead of the run to the Cipressa.
There a touch of wheels near the front saw another crash which held up Megan Jastrab, leaving Franziska Koch to help position Marta Cavalli and Pfeiffer Georgi onto the climb. Over the top Georgi and Cavalli made the ever reducing front bunch, where the fight for position remained on until the Poggio. A strong pace saw a reduced group of 13 make it over the top, including Cavalli, but things stretched out on the descent. Cavalli was caught behind a split but made it back on with others as they hit the flat run into Sanremo, but having given her all throughout the day, it was ultimately 13th place come the line for Cavalli and the team.
Cavalli expressed: “We started in some bad weather and the first 30 kilometres or so were hectic, but then the sun came out and things calmed down. We rode well as a team over the three capi and then we were really at the front heading onto the Cipressa, which was great. Our goal as a team was to really be at the front there which we did well, but nothing really happened on the climb. Pfeiffer and I made it over in the front and we expected some fireworks on the Poggio but that didn’t really happen either until around one kilometre to go. Then the attacks were made and I was in the front group of 13 over the top, which was nice. The descent was crazy and really fast. The last three kilometres I was on the limit and it was super fast so I couldn’t really sprint in the end. It was a nice race though and I’m gaining confidence in each race with the team, so hopefully that continues to build in the next ones.”
