All eyes were on the final climb in this second stage of the Italian stage race, where the peloton broke apart. Chladoňová showed her strength on the ascent and crossed the line alongside the top contenders. Henderson, who attacked with 40 kilometers to go, proved the strongest in a two-up sprint.

While Chladoňová was able to stay with the front group, Marianne Vos unfortunately couldn’t follow the pace of the favorites. "The steep section at the start of the climb was just a bit too much for me. Lieke and Eva tried to bring me back after that, but unfortunately it didn’t work out. Thankfully, Viktória managed to stay up there with the front group. It’s a pity, but tomorrow’s a new day," the Dutch rider said after the finish.

Despite missing out on a shot at the stage win, sports director Jan Boven remained positive. "Our goal was to go for the win with Marianne, but it became clear early on that that wasn’t going to happen. Viktória showed her strength today by staying with the best. This performance gives us confidence to keep fighting for the white jersey in the coming days."