Full gas drive to the line secures 18th on stage
GIRO D'ITALIA DONNE
Stage 1
Fossano – Cuneo
Fossano – Cuneo


Hot summer sun, strong enough to crack the flagstones. A little breeze.

Green Piemontese fields. Mountains in every direction on the horizon.

Straight and flat, but with technical sections through smaller rural villages.
THE STAGE
A frenetic team time trial, we were the tenth team scheduled off the ramp.[1] With the Italian sun beating down, our riders hunkered in the shade[2] as much as possible. Some riders devised innovative cooling techniques[3]. Then it was time for the action. A downhill and technical start was followed by a short climb. After negotiating the first half of the stage as a tight formation of six[4], the team lost one rider, followed by a second – but were able to finish the course strong with the required four.


It's like 'Alright, I got one job and this is what I need to do'. You take a deep breath, and hope your pull is hard enough and strong enough.”
– HOLLY, ON SUFFERING
DECISIVE MOMENTS






NOTABLE RESULTS
We cross the line with a time of 37'34"
It's good enough for 18th place, with a 3'53" time loss to the stage winners
LAY OF THE LAND
The race heads immediately into the mountains on stage two. You can watch live on GCN+ for the final 15km, which tomorrow should comprise most of the Prato Nevoso climb. It will be epic.