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Australian Professional Cyclist

Gilmore claims 6th place in hectic bunch finish.

Rochelle Gilmore claimed 6th in stage one of the Giro d’Italia feminine after battling against many fresh legs and the sprinter’s strong lead-out trains during a chaotic final ten kilometers.

A largely uneventful day on the road was animated by an extremely fast paced neutral section through the cobbled streets of Napoli. The nervous peloton soon settled into a calm comfortable pace for the majority of the race before charging into a furiously fast and chaotic sprint to the line in Terracina.

An untimely shoe mechanical in the neutral section of the race saw Australian rider Myfanwy Galloway pulling her foot from her shoe as she tried to stay with the bunch. Thankfully, the bunch eased as a few riders were let move off the front and she was able to head back to the team car where the mechanic strapped her foot into her shoe with electrical tape.

As the gap to the leading four riders reached a maximum if eight minutes, the teams latest recruit Gracie Elvin (AUS) represented Faren Honda in a strong chase at the head of the peloton for 40km.

The breakaway riders were reeled in just shy of the only categorized climb of the day at 113km, and it was team Faren Honda’s famous Fabiana Luperini who crested the climb at the head of the bunch.

Gilmore said, “Today’s result did not signify my feeling during the stage. The continuous fight for position amongst the many fresh legs duringfinal 10kms was dangerous and exhausting, I used all my power with some explosive moves well before the final 200m. I hope the team’s form will be represented with better results during the next days.”

Whilst the 7.6km individual time trial in Rome tomorrow is not a priority for team Faren Honda, they are feeling fresh, confident and in high spirits as they look towards the next few days of racing.

Above: Gracie Elvin – Australian

Above: Jennifer Hohl – Swiss Champ

Above: Giuseppina Grassi – Mexican

Above: Giusy & Fabi signing on before today’s stage.

Above: Stage one – Sprint finish.

Stage One Top 10:

1) Vos Marianne (Stichting Rabobank)
2) Olds Shelley (AA Drink Leontien.nl)
3) Bronzini Giorgia (Diadora Pasta Zara)
4) Teutenberg Ina Yoko (Team Specialized Lululemon)
5) ArndtJudith (GreenEDGE AIS)
6) Gilmore Rochelle (Faren Honda Team)
7) Baccaille Monia (MCipollini Giambenini)
8) Armitstead Elizabeth (AA Drink Leontien.nl)
9) Tagliaferro Marta (MCipollini Giambenini)
10) Guarischi Barbara (Fassa Bortolo Servetto)

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