Giro Rosa 2016 Stage 5: Mara Abbott soloes to pink victory over the Mortirolo

Stage 5 in the Giro Rosa is marked by the Mortirolo. 10 kilometres up the climb Mara Abbott goes solo and she crests the top 2 minutes ahead of Emma Pooley, while a group maglia rosa Evelyn Stevens is 3'40" down. Abbott powers on to take one of the most impressive victories in her career. As a bonus she will wear the pink jersey tomorrow. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 5th stage Giro Rosa

1. Mara Abbott (usa)
2. Elisa Longo Borghini (ita) + 0.37
3. Tatiana Guderzo (ita) s.t.
4. Megan Guarnier (usa) s.t.
5. Glaudia Lichtenberg (ger) s.t.
6. Anna van der Breggen (nld) + 1.36
7. Ksenyia Tuhaui (blr) + 1.51
8. Yevgenia Vyotska (ukr) + 1.52
9. Evelyn Stevens (usa) + 2.02
10. Doris Schweizer (swi) + 2.48

GC after 5th stage
1. Mara Abbott (usa)
2. Megan Guarnier (usa) + 0.10
3. Elisa Longo Borghini (ita) + 0.15
4. Claudia Lichtenberg (ger) + 0.33
5. Tatiana Guderzo (ita) + 0.36
6. Evelyn Stevens (usa) + 1.22
7. Anna van der Breggen (nld) + 2.10
8. Yevgenia Vysotska (ukr) + 3.04
9. Katarzyna Niewiadoma (pol) + 3.49
10. Doris Schweizer (swi) + 4.42

Race report
Following an energetic start a group with Pooley is in the lead, yet Abbott joins them to go solo on the Mortirolo. When cresting she is 2 minutes ahead of Pooley and a group with maglia rosa Stevens, Van der Breggen, DorisSchweizer, Longo Borghini, Guarnier, Lichtenberg and Tuhai is 3'40" down.

On the flat section at the top Abbott increases her lead to over 4 minutes, while Pooley keeps chasing at around 2 minutes.

After the drop Pooley is chased down by the maglia rosa group. The pace is so high Stevens gets dropped in the last kilometres, yet Abbott's magnificent victory is a certainty. As a bonus, she takes the pink jersey with a 10 seconds gain over Megan Guarnier.

More to follow.