The strong Dutch athete of Bigla Pro Cycling Team - ANNEMIEK VAN VLEUTEN repeated what she did one year ago in Caserta, by winning the individual Time Trial Prologue stage and wearing the first Maglia Rosa of the 26th Giro Rosa.
This time, on the 2 kms on the streets of the City Centre of Ljubljana (Slovenia), Annemiek Van Vleuten stopped her racing time at 2'48'', beating 4 colleagues from the Netherlands: The Rabo-Liv trio composed by Lucinda Brand, Roxane Knetemann and Anna Van der Breggen, then the former ITT World Champion Ellen Van Dijk (Boels Dolmans Pro Cycling Team). Great performance by the athlete from Verona Valentina Scandolara, who closed the stage in 7th position and as best italian rider.
Great celebration as well on the route, with a big crowd along the roads of the City Centre of Ljubljana, applauding the athletes who are fighting for the Maglia Rosa, which will be assigned in ten days in San Domenico di Varzo. The warm welcoming of the Slovenian People will continue tomorrow with the first stage, 102.5 kms from Kamnik to Ljubljana (BTC City).
Top 10 Prologue and General Classification (Ljubljana - Ljubljana, 2 km):
1° Annemiek Van Vleuten (Bigla Pro Cycling Team) 2'48''
2° Lucinda Brand (Rabo - Liv) +1''
3° Roxane Knetemann (Rabo - Liv) +1''
4° Anna Van der Breggen (Rabo - Liv) +2''
5° Ellen Van Dijk (Boels Dolmans Pro Cycling Team) +3''
6° Ashleigh Moolman (Bigla Pro Cycling Team) +3''
7° Valentina Scandolara (Orica - AIS) +3''
8° Megan Guarnier (Boels Dolmans Pro Cycling Team) +4''
9° Tiffany Cromwell (Velocio - SRAM) +6''
10° Chantal Blaak (Boels Dolmans Pro Cycling Team) +6''
The jerseys after the Prologue:
Maglia Rosa (Classifica Generale): Annemiek Van Vleuten
Maglia Ciclamino (Classifica a punti): Lucinda Brand
Maglia Verde (Classifica GPM): Roxane Knetemann
Maglia Bianca (Classifica Giovani): Pauline Ferrand Prevot
Maglia Blu (Classifica migliori italiane): Valentina Scandolara