Photos: GettySport
Ruth Edwards captured second place on stage 6 of Giro d’Italia Women. Edwards evaded the peloton as part of an impressive breakaway, before a two-up sprint where she was just pipped to the line by stage winner Lianne Lippert (Movistar Team).
“I ended up being second, which is really good,” she said. “We came here to get a big result on a stage. I was pretty happy with my TT finishing eighth, we’ve had Silvia and Giada finish seventh and sixth and now second today so it feels really good.”
At 159 km from San Benedetto del Tronto to Chieti, stage 6 was the longest of the Giro and like much of the week, was raced in searing Mediterranean heat. With 30 km to race, Edwards went with a strong move that included Lippert, Erica Magnaldi (UAE Team ADQ), Ane Santesteban (Laboral Kutxa – Fundación Euskadi) and Elise Chabbey (Canyon//SRAM Racing).
“I could see Elise Chabbey was ready to attack and I was expecting it and so it felt like an opportune moment over the top of the climb,” the 31-year-old explained of the move. “Unfortunately Chabbey crashed out after that but we just kept it rolling and the peloton seemed happy enough to let the gap grow.”
The remaining four rode smoothly together before Santestaben was dropped on the steep finishing climb to Chieti, leaving Edwards primed to duke it out for the win.
“I suffered up the last climb but hung on to do my best at the finish,” she explains. “But it feels really good to get the podium. I feel a lot of support from the team as always and I’m glad when I get to deliver a result for everybody.”
This result also marks the program’s first podium at any of the three Grand Tours and continues a string of success in Italy with top-8 finishes in four of the six stages.
“Initially it’s disappointing not to win but that’s because I like to win bike races,” she says. “I knew Liane would be quick so a big congratulations to her. I’m hoping we can build on this with everybody.”
Climber Barbara Malcotti also had a strong ride. Finishing in the favorites group, the 24-year-old moved up two places into twentieth ahead of tomorrow’s Queen stage that includes 3,836 meters of elevation gain and a mountain top finish at Blockhaus.
Giro d’Italia stage 6 results
1 LIPPERT Liane – Movistar Team 4:16:21
2 EDWARDS Ruth – Human Powered Health ”
3 MAGNALDI Erica – UAE Team ADQ 0:01
4 LONGO BORGHINI Elisa – Lidl – Trek 0:21
5 BRADBURY Neve – Canyon//SRAM Racing ”
6 LABOUS Juliette – Team dsm-firmenich PostNL ”
7 KOPECKY Lotte – Team SD Worx – Protime ”
8 NIEDERMAIER Antonia – Canyon//SRAM Racing ”
9 LUDWIG Cecilie Uttrup – FDJ – SUEZ ”
10 GARCÍA Mavi – Liv AlUla Jayco ”
