Giro Donne, Italy: Cavalli second, Longo Borghini dreams of a comeback

They fought with their weapons, rising in intelligence with their pace to get on the podium of the day and surrender, if we can say so, only to an absolute champion. Marta Cavalli and Elisa Longo Borghini launch Italian cycling into orbit in the eighth stage of the Giro Donne, in which only the Martian Annemiek Van Vleuten manages to beat the two blue. The Dutchman flies away on the ascent of Lago di Cei and digs an unbridgeable gap, even after a downhill slide. The Movistar athlete gets up and continues to grind speed, up to close with one minute above all. Behind her the best of her are Italians: Marta Cavalli soon takes off the Spanish Mavi Garcia in crisis and pushes with all her strength to get back to the pink jersey, staying within range for most of the climb. Then, slowly, she sees that pink spot move away. Not bad: at 24, in her first women’s Giro, she is now certain of second place in the overall standings. There will be no shortage of time to try the big shot.

dream podium

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A different competition takes place further back. When Van Vleuten sprints 8 km from the summit, about twenty from the finish, only Cavalli and Garcia answer, the only ones close to her in the general. The Spaniard, however, asks too much of her body and slips back, slowly but surely. On the other hand, those who know her body perfectly, Elisa Longo Borghini, go up on her pace and gain ground, up to catch up on Faulkner (on the run from several kilometers) and close the third of the day. After losing more than 5 ‘in the scorching heat of Cesena, the Piedmontese is back in the running for the podium, which is 3’20 “away. Too many? Tomorrow’s stage will say it, which has the ground for great comebacks and leaps forward in classification.

queen stage

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Tomorrow the ninth stage will be run, 112.8 km from San Michele all’Adige to San Lorenzo Dorsino. It will be the decisive day to draw the general classification, with three climbs scheduled: the Fai della Paganella, the Duran (both second category) and above all the Passo Daone (6.2 km with an average gradient of 10.2% and a at 18%). But be careful not to run out of petrol: from the brow to the finish line, you will have to tackle 25 km, including a long slight slope. The right terrain to look for reversals and mend heavy gaps: Van Vleuten defends 2’13 “on Cavalli, but has shown once more that he has some difficulties downhill. Garcia is now chasing at 3’42”. Perhaps he will have to watch his back from Longo Borghini, who will attempt the coup to write history. With her and Cavalli on the final podium in Padua, on Sunday after a flat stage, Italy would return to having two athletes among the top three of the Giro Donne after 1996, when she made a hat-trick with Luperini-Cappellotto-Chiappa. It is time to return to the greats, with a duo capable of making people dream.

sorry mom

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Up front it seems difficult (but not impossible) to attack Annemiek Van Vleuten, who slipped on the final descent towards Aldeno after having attacked several times. The Dutchman, who has already won the Women’s Giro in 2018 and 2019, joked in the post stage: “On the downhill I made a really stupid mistake. It is perhaps the stain on today’s day, such a silly and unnecessary mistake in a It’s an easy time. Sorry Mom… But I’m fine, I managed to leave early. Tomorrow will be a good stage, I can’t wait to race it. I’m ready, my legs are fine and I’ve shown it. I’m happy “. Mrs. Van Vleuten, don’t be too harsh.

the ranking

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1. Annemiek Van Vleuten (Movistar, Down) in 3h3’16” 2. Marta Cavalli (FDJ New Aquitaine Futuroscope, ITA) +59″ 3. Elisa Longo Borghini (Trek-Segafredo, ITA) +1 Kristen Faulkner (Team BikeExhcange-Jayco, USA) +1’45” 5. Niamh Fisher-Black (Team SD Worx, Aus) +3’01” 6. Mavi Garcia (UAE Team ADQ, Esp) st 7. Juliette Labous ( Team DSM, From) st 8. Cecile Uttrup Ludwig (FDJ New Aquitaine Futuroscope, The) st 9. Neve Bradbury (Canyon/Sram Racing, Aus) +3’10” 10. Silvia Persico (Valcar-Travel&Service, ITA) + 30’59”

the general classification

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1. Annemiek Van Vleuten (Movistar, Ned) in 21h17’18” 2. Marta Cavalli (FDJ New Aquitaine Futuroscope, ITA) +2’13” 3. Mavi Garcia (UAE Team ADQ, Esp) +3 . Elisa Longo Borghini (Trek-Segafredo, ITA) +7’03” 5. Niamh Fisher-Black (Team SD Worx, Aus) +9’05” 6. Cecile Uttrup Ludwig (FDJ New Aquitaine Futuroscope, The) +9 ’33” 7. Silvia Persico (Valcar-Travel&Service, ITA) + 10’41” 8. Erica Magnaldi (UAE Team ADQ, ITA) +12’35” 9. Juliette Labous (Team DSM, From) +1 10. Elise Chabbey (Canyon/Sram Racing, Sui) +13’29”