Van Empel proves herself in second stage of Giro d'Italia Donne
Fem van Empel has come through her first stage in a stage race well. The 20-year-old talent of Jumbo-Visma Women finished just outside the top ten in the second stage. The stage win went to Annemiek van Vleuten.
After Friday's heavy rain forced the cancellation of the opening time trial, the peloton was spared the worst weather today. The riders covered 102 kilometres between Bagno a Ripoli and Marradi, with the climb of the Passo della Colla as the highlight. After several attacks, the peloton entered the final climb.
Soon after, the better climbers created a tempo shift in the peloton. Van Empel was among a tiny group of favourites that separated from the chasing pack. The young Dutch cyclist ultimately fell just short of a top-ten finish.
"The girls rode like a team today"
Sports director Carmen Small: "The girls rode like a team today. They were always well positioned in the peloton, so Fem and Noemi (Rüegg) were perfectly dropped at the foot of the Passo della Colla. Fem rode an excellent climb. Since this is her first major tour, we purposefully didn't place too much stress on her shoulders. I am delighted with her performance.”
Sunday's flat stage will provide opportunities for the sprinters. "We're looking forward to tomorrow's stage. We have a decent chance of winning the stage with Marianne (Vos)”, Small said.
Giro d'Italia Donne
Stage 2
Result
1
Annemiek van Vleuten
Movistar Team
02:40:06
2
Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig
FDJ - SUEZ
+00:00:45
3
Juliette Labous
Team dsm-firmenich
+00:00:45
12
Fem van Empel
Team Jumbo-Visma
+00:01:24
46
Noemi Rüegg
Team Jumbo-Visma
+00:04:37
52
Marianne Vos
Team Jumbo-Visma
+00:04:37
58
Teuntje Beekhuis
Team Jumbo-Visma
+00:05:56
85
Linda Riedmann
Team Jumbo-Visma
+00:08:51
89
Karlijn Swinkels
Team Jumbo-Visma
+00:08:51
132
Maud Oudeman
Team Jumbo-Visma
+00:12:05
Rankings
1
Annemiek van Vleuten
Movistar Team
02:39:56
2
Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig
FDJ - SUEZ
+00:00:49
3
Juliette Labous
Team dsm-firmenich
+00:00:51
12
Fem van Empel
Team Jumbo-Visma
+00:01:34
46
Noemi Rüegg
Team Jumbo-Visma
+00:04:47
52
Marianne Vos
Team Jumbo-Visma
+00:04:47
58
Teuntje Beekhuis
Team Jumbo-Visma
+00:06:06
85
Linda Riedmann
Team Jumbo-Visma
+00:09:01
89
Karlijn Swinkels
Team Jumbo-Visma
+00:09:01
132
Maud Oudeman
Team Jumbo-Visma
+00:12:15
