Giro Rosa 2018 Stage 9: Van Vleuten cements lead with Zoncolan victory

The Queen Stage of the Giro Rosa heads into the Carnic Alps. In the last kilometres of the Monte Zoncolan, a 10.1 kilometres climb at 11.9%, she leaves Ashleigh Moolman behind to solo to victory. Her GC victory in this year's edition is next to certain. Moolman climbs to second place, Amanda Spratt now sits in third. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 9th stage 2018 Giro Rosa

1. Annemiek van Vleuten (nld)
2. Ashleigh Moolman (rsa) + 0.40
3. Amanda Spratt (aus) + 2.54
4. Eider Merino (spa) + 2.59
5. Megan Guarnier (usa) + 4.00
6 Lucinda Brand (nld) + 4.06
7. Ane Santesteban (spa) + 4.39
8. Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (den) + 4.52
9. Margarita Victoria Garcia (spa) + 5.16
10. Katrine Aalerud (nor) + 5.28

GC after the 9th stage
1. Annemiek van Vleuten (nld)
2. Ashleigh Moolman (rsa) + 3.35
3. Amanda Spratt (aus) + 5.53
4. Lucinda Brand (nld) + 7.05
5. Megan Guarnier (usa) + 8.43
6. Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (den) + 10.01
7. Katarzyna Niewiadoma (pol) + 10.13
8. Eider Merino (spa) + 11.12
9. Elisa Longo Borghini (ita) + 12.14
10. Ane Santesteban (spa) + 12.35

Race report
A lot of action, but it takes more than 35 kms for a break to go clear. Then Olena Pavlukhina, Silvia Valsecchi and Sara Penton race to a lead of 3 minutes.

Approaching the Zoncolan - with 14 kms out - the break is reeled in. A group of 40 riders hits the climb.

With 5.5 kms to climb Ashleigh Moolman strikes, but Annemiek van Vleuten brings her back and together they push on. A group with Megan Guarnier, Eider Merino, Soraya Paladin, Garcia Canelas, Amanda Spratt and Lucinda Brand is chasing. Merino drops them all and chase alone, more than 1 minute behind the two leaders.

Some 2 kms before the finish Van Vleuten goes alone, while Spratt catches Merino on the lower slopes. The maglia rosa climbs to victory and cements her overall lead. Moolman finishes second and swaps places with Spratt, who drops to third place on GC.