As expected, it was a day defined by control. An early breakaway was allowed some freedom by the peloton, but the sprint teams kept the gap under control. Due to the high pace, the peloton temporarily split into several groups halfway through the stage. However, the chasing riders managed to regain contact, allowing the race to come back together heading into the finale. The long, flat roads kept the speed high and contributed to a nervous race towards the finish in Brescello.

Team Visma | Lease a Bike rode attentively in the peloton, stayed out of trouble, and ensured that our riders completed the day safely and without losing any time. The team worked together throughout the entire stage. On the wide and fast roads, it was crucial to remain well-positioned near the front at all times. Team manager Rutger Tijssen looked back on the stage with satisfaction: “We rode a strong race as a team today and consistently stayed in good position. Even when splits occurred in the peloton, we remained calm, which proved to be the right decision as the situation was resolved pretty quickly.”

With several tough mountain stages still to come, today served as an important transitional stage. The overall classification remained unchanged, meaning everything is still possible in the fight for a strong final result. The Giro d’Italia Women is now entering a crucial phase, with the mountains set to be the ultimate deciding factor. Tijssen is confident heading into the final three stages: “There’s a good feeling within the team. Femke is currently well-positioned in the general classification, so we certainly have confidence for the coming days. It promises to be an exciting weekend.”

The plans for tomorrow’s stage are also clear: “Tomorrow we’ll give it our all once again and aim to sprint with Nienke. At the same time, we’ll make sure Femke can maintain her position in the general classification,” Tijssen concluded.