Giro Rosa 2018 Stage 3: Jolien DHoore powers to sprint win, Leah Kirchmann new leader

Giro Rosa 2018 Stage 3: Jolien D’Hoore powers to sprint win, Leah Kirchmann new leader

The Giro Rosa's 3rd stage is as flat as a skate rink. At the end of the circuit race in Corbetta Jolien D'Hoore outsprints Kirsten Wild and Alexis Ryan. Leah Kirchmann finishes in fourth and is the new overall leader. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 3rd stage 2018 Giro Rosa

1. Jolien D’Hoore (bel)
2. Kirsten Wild (nld) s.t.
3. Alexis Ryan (usa) s.t.
4. Leah Kirchmann (ger) s.t.
5. Giorgia Bronzini (ita) s.t.
6. Marianne Vos (nld) s.t.
7. Barbara Guarischi (ita) s.t.
8. Amy Pieters (nld) s.t.
9. Maria Giulia Confalonieri (ita) s.t.
10. Lotta Lepistö (fin) s.t.

GC after the 3rd stage
1. Leah Kirchmann (can)
2. Lucinda Brand (nld) + 0.05
3. Ellen van Dijk (nld) + 0.09
4. Ruth Winder (usa) s.t.
5. Amanda Spratt (aus) + 0.10
6. Annemiek van Vleuten (nld) s.t.
7. Gracie Elvin (aus) s.t.
8. Amy Pieters (nld) + 0.17
9. Chantal Blaak (nld) + 0.21
10. Kirsten Wild (nld) + 0.25

19. Katarzyna Niewiadoma (pol) + 0.35
22. Marianne Vos (nld) + 0.36
23. Elisa Longo Borghini (ita) + 0.48
28. Megan Guarnier (usa) + 1.17
35. Sabrina Stultiens (nld) + 1.38
69. Karol-Ann Canuel (can) + 2.52
71. Shara Gillow (aus) + 2.58

Race report
Under the blazing sun the peloton remains bunched for quite a while. The second passage on the line is the first intermediate sprint. Kirsten Wild wins ahead of Leah Kirchmann and Lucinda Brand. So Brand cements her overall lead.

Then Olga Shekel gives it a go. Ann-Sophie Duyck, Sara Penton, Chiara Perini and Carmela Cipriani join the front, but Duyck and Sherel can’t follow the pace. The three leaders race to an advantage of 2 minutes.

In the last 4 kilometres the break is caught. Because of a crash the main group is reduced to 45 riders, while the second group is 50 seconds in arrears. In the ensuing sprint Jolien D’Hoore bests Kirsten Wild and Alexis Ryan.

Leah Kirchmann, who finishes in fourth place, is the new overall leader. Lucinda Brand finishes 4 seconds down on her and drops to second place.