Nina Buijsman finished in 21st on a shortened stage 8 of the Giro d’Italia Women, climbing five places to 20th on the general classification after the 76.8 km race from Rivoli to Colle delle Finestre.
The stage was originally planned to be 160 km in length from Rivoli to Sestriere, via the Colle delle Finestre mountain, but safety concerns at the top of that climb meant that the stage was adapted to finish one kilometer from its peak.
A post-race communication from the Giro d’Italia Women reads as such:
Due to the break of an ice block located 150 m high over the route, and the ensuing high risk of an ice slide that would endanger the riders’ safety, the Race Management, in agreement with the Commissaires Panel and the Public Safety Authorities, decided to establish the finish line 1 km before the Colle delle Finestre QOM summit, where all timings were recorded, and QOM points, bonus seconds and points for the points classification were awarded.
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- The stage-shortening culprit.
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- Barbara thunders across the gravel.
Regardless of the chaos happening around them, Buijsman and her teammates remained resolute. Lily Williams and climber Barbara Malcotti had been in the early breakaway on the valley road towards the Finestre. Buijsman then held firm in a lead group of favourites for as long as possible, before being distanced and entering her own private race up to the new finish line.
“I was in the favourites group, and that was actually quite good,” the 28-year-old said afterwards. “But I knew that the day was still long. I was dropped, so I did my own pace. But then I heard that there were only seven kilometres to go until the finish line. In that moment, I tried to give everything. It was a bit strange, the switch, but I think it was good to do my own pace and not blow myself up.”
Buijsman now sits 20th on GC, her highest placing in a Grand Tour going into the final stage.
“In this moment, there’s a big switch for me, but it’s nice to be now in the top twenty,” she explains. “Now I’m gaining time and places and climbing in the GC, so hopefully tomorrow, I can take some extra steps in that.”
Although shortened, the toughness of the legendary Finestre remained.
“It was a really, really hard one,” says Buijsnam. “ I asked Magnus a few times how long it is to the finish line, but it was really cool, also with the gravel, something different.”
In tomorrow’s finale, Saluzzo provides the backdrop, with the category one Montoso climb in the first third of the stage acting as a final chance for GC contenders to improve on their position. Two more categorized climbs, then encourage aggressive racing and could well suit a strong breakaway effort before a flatter back third.
“We have such a good vibe in the team, and it’s all so good, so I think tomorrow, we will need it for the last day,” says Buijsman. “Everyone in the race is tired, but with this good spirit, I think we can earn a lot at the finish line.”
Stage Gallery
Photos: GettySport and HPHCycling
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