MADRID, 9 Jul. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Dutch cyclist Annemiek van Vleuten (Movistar Team) won her fourth Giro d’Italia Donne at the age of 40 at the end of the ninth and final stage, held this Sunday over 126.85 kilometers between Sassari and Olbia, while her team won the classification by squads and took the podiums in his sixth consecutive ‘big’.
Thus, ‘Miek’ van Vleuten dominated the ‘Corsa Rosa’ thanks to three stage victories and his overall leadership. A few months after the Dutch retire competitively, the ‘telephone’ group once again enjoyed their success in this 34th edition of the women’s Giro, which had started with a bumpy start on June 30.
Due to a rain and hail storm, the time trial over 4.4 kilometers in Chianciano Terme that served as the opening stage had to be cancelled. The starting signal was then given the following day, with Van Vleuten winning the second stage which was held over 102.1 kilometers from Bagno a Ripoli to Marradi.
He also won the rising finals of Canelli (stage 6) and Alassio (stage 7), powerfully wearing the ‘pink jersey’ of leader in the general classification. Thanks to this fourth success in the Giro, the Dutchwoman is only one away from the record held by the Italian Fabiana Luperini.
“Winning the general classification of a grand tour is always something super special, because it is not only worth individual effort, but you also need a strong team around you,” said Van Vleuten herself in statements to her team’s official media.
“I have been able to win this race with different teams, this is the second with the Movistar Team, and I am very proud of how the group has developed and the way in which we have controlled the situation at all times. There is always stress in a race like this; but With such a united team, things become easier”, commented the champion.
In a press release, the Movistar Team highlighted having taken the regularity, mountain jerseys and also the squad victory. “They are the splendid booty of the group led by Sebastián Unzué, Jorge Sanz and Jürgen Roelandts, who easily solved the last trip to Olbia, in Sardinia,” the text specified.
“The splendid work of Liane Lippert –several times on the verge of final success–, Paula Patiño –like the German, in the final ‘top 20’–, Sara Martín –phenomenal progression in the last two months– , Aude Biannic, Sheyla Gutiérrez -always so solid at key moments- and Floortje Mackaij -attacking this Saturday on the way to Sassari- made it possible for the Blues to celebrate their second consecutive Giro”, he added.
“Thus, the Abarca Sports structure rises to 19 ‘great’ laps, four already -considering stage rounds of seven or more days- with a women’s team that has chained up to now six of the equivalent races or organized by Tour, Giro y Vuelta (from the Ceratizit Challenge 2021 to this ‘Corsa Rosa’). A milestone that no one else in cycling can improve on for now,” the press release concluded.