Team Faren Honda on track as Tour heads to the Mountains
In the scorching temperatures of 38-40 degrees, Team Faren Honda agreed that it was crucial to conserve energy in Rome during the 7.2km Individual Time Trial today, which passed right by the Coliseum. Whilst the team does not boast any specific time-trial specialist, the fact that the Giro d’Italia Femminile greets its first mountain stage tomorrow in Montecatini was weighing heavily in their minds.
Kicking off at 10am, the ITT saw the riders racing against the clock through Rome’s town centre. An undulating and technical course took them on a scenic tour of the Coliseum however there was no time to enjoy the view as the pressure for performances in the coming stages deterred any distractions or a lapses of concentration.
As the roads turn skywards, the team will look to support specialist climber Fabiana Luperini as her recentperformances have indicated that she will be a serious threat to the overall general classification. Fabiana won a mountain stage in Trentino solo, just two weeks ago!
Tomorrow’s Stage 3 consists of a 124km circuit punctuated by two categorised climbs making it an ideal playground for Luperini to stamp her authority on this year’s Giro d’Italia.
2. Clara Hughes (Can) Specialized-lululemon, + 00:05
3. Judith Arndt (Ger) Orica-AIS, + 00:12
4. Shelley Olds (USA) AA Drink-Leontien.nl, + 00:15
5. Evelyn Stevens (USA) Specialized-lululemon, + 00:17
6. Linda Villumsen (NZl) Orica-AIS, + 00:18
7. Olga Zabelinskaya (Rus) RusVelo + 00:19
8. Annemiek van Vleuten (Ned) Rabobank, + 00:20
9. Emma Pooley (GBr) AA Drink-Leontien.nl, + 00:22
10. Emma Johnsson (Swe) Hitec Products-Mistral Homes, + 00:24
General Classification after Stage 2
1. Marianne Vos (Ned) Rabobank, 3:57:11
2. Clara Hughes (Can) Specialized-lululemon, + 00:15
3. Shelley Olds (USA) AA Drink-Leontien.nl, + 00:19
4. Judith Arndt (Ger) Orica-AIS, + 00:22
5. Evelyn Stevens (USA) Specialized-lululemon, + 00:27
6. Linda Villumsen (NZl) Orica-AIS, + 00:28
7. Olga Zabelinskaya (Rus) RusVelo + 00:29
8. Annemiek van Vleuten (Ned) Rabobank, + 00:30
9. Emma Pooley (GBr) AA Drink-Leontien.nl, + 00:32
10. Emma Johnsson (Swe) Hitec Products-Mistral Homes, + 00:34