Without Marianne Vos, who wasn’t fully fit and didn’t take the start, the peloton prepared itself for the queen stage of this year’s Giro d’Italia Women. Featuring four categorized climbs - 3300 alimetres - and a summit finish on Monte Nerone, it promised to be a brutal day. However, Geurts launched an early attack.

Riding solo, she quickly built up a solid gap. On the penultimate climb, Geurts was joined by Shirin van Anrooij and Usoa Ostoloza and the trio gained a maximum lead of six minutes. At the foot of the final ascent, Van Anrooij rode away and left Geurts and Ostoloza behind.

However, the GC contenders weren’t about to let the stage win slip away and soon reeled in Van Anrooij. Sarah Gigante proved to be the strongest on the final climb and claimed the stage victory, while Elisa Longo Borghini took over the leader’s jersey from Marlen Reusser. A visibly exhausted Geurts reached the finish minutes later.

“It was special to ride by myself in the lead for a long time, but also very quiet. I had hoped someone would go with me when I rode away, but that didn't happen. I felt better than yesterday, which definitely wasn’t my best day. In that sense, I’m happy I could bounce back and show myself today.”