13.09.2020 World-Tour, News, Race news
A tough climb to Assisi
Kasia Niewiadoma finished in ninth place today in a tough finale to the third stage of the Giro Rosa in Assisi, Italy. After several late minute changes to the parcours, the final into Assisi became a 700m steep climb at 15% gradient. Marianne Vos (CCC) crossed the line first, while riders behind followed with several small time gaps between them.
Wearing the ciclamino points jersey, Kasia said the team plan was to bring her into position for the final climb.
“Our aim was to be in the front, especially with 5km to go to keep me safe, and allow me to enter the climb in a good position,” described Kasia.
“Today’s stage was quite a roller coaster. I would divide the race into three parts. The first part where we were climbing and descending for two hours, which was followed by a really slow section which made the peloton basically sleepy, and then the final 20km where the action started again.”
Kasia continued, “My teammates were riding strong in the front and then with 1km to go I was swamped from both sides and lost a few places. The final sprint started straight after the left corner with 700m to go but at one point we also almost stopped still, and then the sprint started again.”
“It was just that explosiveness that I missed today. I was fighting hard but didn’t have that real kick.”
The general classification order remain unchanged with Kasia still in third, now 1 minute 37 seconds behind race leader, Annemiek van Vleuten (MTS).
Tomorrow’s stage four is the longest of the tour with 170km from Assisi to Tivoli. Omer Shapira said “We did a recon of the last 70km of this stage. It was nice and fast roads, mainly descending, but, as expected from the Giro Rosa, the final is very challenging. The rider who wins definitely needs to have some power left at the end of the race.”
#TAKETHELEAD
