La Vuelta Femenina
15:55 Valencia – 17:15 Valencia
Lidl-Trek lived up to its role of favorite on the opening day of the Vuelta Femenina, but it took blood, sweat and tears. The team of favorites Gaia Realini and Elisa Longo Borghini was only a few hundredths faster than Visma-Lease a Bike. Realini is also the first leader. Despite the victory, the top team was in two minds: motorcycle Ellen van Dijk crashed heavily in the last corner.
Just like in previous years, the Vuelta Femenina kicked off today with a team time trial. The setting of the day for the flat tour of 16 kilometers was Valencia.
The Lotto – Dstny Ladies were allowed to leave as the fifth team and briefly set the fastest time, but they were soon dethroned by EF Education – Cannondale.
The time of the pink brigade initially seemed like a target time, but many teams still cut their teeth on the time of 19’29”. Only 4 teams would go past it.
One of them was Lidl – Trek. At the halfway point they knocked everyone off the tables. The battle seemed to have already been settled, but in the last kilometer Ellen van Dijk turned it into a nail-biter.
The Dutchwoman drove into the gates and her team lost a lot of time. At the finish, Elisa Longo Borghini and co. ultimately 9 hundredths over the top time of Visma-Lease a Bike.
SD Worx-Protime and Movistar Team Women were the last starters to take the win, but neither team succeeded. SD Worx-Protime finished at 3, Movistar came eighth.
This is how the red jersey ends up on Gaia Realini’s shoulders after day 1. The Italian may defend that morning in a stage of 118 kilometers without major obstacles.
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