Giro Rosa 2016 Stage 1: Giorgia Bronzini sprints to victory, Megan Guarnier new leader

At 104 kilometres, stage 1 in the Giro Rosa is mostly played out on flat roads. With 23 kilometres remaining the race explodes on the only climb of the day. Stevens, Guarnier, Niewiadoma and Longo Borghini attack, but when she hooks up in the last kilometres homerider Giorgia Bronzini sprints to victory. Guarnier finishes in second and can take comfort in the fact she takes the pink jersey. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 1st stage Giro Rosa

1. Giorgia Bronzini (ita)
2. Megan Guarnier (usa) s.t.
3. Rasa Leleivyte (lit) s.t.
4. Katarzyna Niewiadoma (pol) s.t.
5. Claudia Lichtenberg (ger) s.t.
6. Tatiana Guderzo (ita) s.t.
7. Evelyn Stevens (usa) + 0.05
8. Elizabeth Armitstead (gbr) s.t.
9. Mara Abbott (usa) + 0.09
10. Elisa Longo Borghini (ita) + 0.24

GC after the 1st stage
1. Megan Guarnier (usa)
2. Katarzyna Niewiadoma (pol) + 0.08
3. Giorgia Bronzini (ita) s.t.
4. Rasa Leleivyte (lit) + 0.13
5. Evelyn Stevens (usa) + 0.14
6. Elizabeth Armitstead (gbr) s.t.
7. Claudia Lichtenberg (ger) + 0.15
8. Tatiana Guderzo (ita) s.t.
9. Elisa Borghini Longo (ita) + 0.33
10. Mara Abbott (usa) + 0.37

Race report
Early attacker Marta Tagliaferro is reeled in at the only climb of the day. Elisa Longo Borghini takes over, along with Megan Guarnier, Evelyn Stevens and Katarzyna Niewiadoma. They race to a 1 minute lead, yet in the last kilometres a group with Guderzo, Bronzini, Abbott and Lichtenberg chase them down.

As Kirchmann, De Jong and defending champion Van der Breggen misses out, the break offers a perfect chance for Megan Guarnier. She is outsprinted by Giorgia Bronzini, yet she is the second rider to cross the line and takes the pink jersey.