Nooijen fifth in opening time trial Giro d’Italia Women
Lieke Nooijen delivered a strong performance in the opening time trial of the Giro d’Italia Women. The Dutch rider, competing in only her third race day of the season, managed to hold her own in a competitive field and fight for a top result. Nooijen ultimately finished in fifth place. The stage was won by Marlen Reusser.
As is tradition, the Giro d’Italia Women kicked off today with a race against the clock. The riders faced a fourteen-kilometre time trial in Bergamo. Nooijen, who made her return to racing last week with a third place at the Dutch National Time Trial Championships, recorded an impressive time of 17:46, earning her fifth place.
“I gave it everything from the start,” Nooijen reflected. “I knew I had to ride at a high pace right from the beginning. I managed to pace my effort well, which allowed me to give it everything again in the final kilometres. I’m happy with my performance, and this gives me confidence for the days ahead.”
"This gives me confidence for the days ahead"
Alongside Nooijen, 18-year-old Viktória Chladoñová also put in a strong ride. “The course was very technical, which made it challenging at times. Still, I look back on my time trial with satisfaction. I felt pretty good out there and gave it everything I had to achieve the best possible result,” said the Slovak champion.