The hardest climb of this Giro Rosa has been dominated by Mara Abbott, the American champion, already a winner of two editions in her great career.
Mara Abbott has been phenomenal on the hard slopes of the Mortirolo, 12 kilometers at 10.8% with a maximal slope of 18%. Only the English grimpeur Emma Pooley tried to stay with the attacker but it hasn't been possible.
In the Maglia Rosa Group remained Van der Breggen, Lichtenberg, Stevens, Guarnier, Longo Borghini and Tuhai, with Vysostka and Schweizer catching this small peloton after the top of the climb.
On the downhill Mara Abbott crashed and Tatiana Guderzo is also back tìin the Maglia Rosa group. Emma Pooley has troubles in the downhill and couldn't stay with the main peloton, same as the Pink Jersey Evelyn Stevens. Mara Abbott is the new race leader, and Elisa Longo Borghini makes the double for Wiggle High5 Team winning the sprint of the chasers. Tatiana Guderzo is in third place.
Declarations of Mara Abbott: "It has been a crazy stage, as for its difficulty as for my troubles due to a crash in the downhill. But I'm happy to be the new Pink Jersey and this is important". Mara did the Mortirolo in 51'44''!
Declarations of Elisa Longo Borghini: "It's a big moment for our team, we are doing a great job in this Giro Rosa. Mara said "bye" to us in the climb of Mortirolo, then Lichtenberg took a tremendous rhythm in the downhill, but I am happy to have won the final sprint of the chasers. Go further!".
TOP 3 STAGE 5 GIRO ROSA (GROSIO - TIRANO 77.5 KM)
1. Mara Abbott (Wiggle High5) 2:40'23''
2. Elisa Longo Borghini (Wiggle High5) +37''
3. Tatiana Guderzo (Hitec Products) +37''
GENERAL CLASSIFICATION AFTER STAGE 5:
1. Mara Abbott (Wiggle High5) 13:02'52''
2. Megan Guarnier (Boels Dolmans) +10''
3. Elisa Longo Borghini (Wiggle High5) +15''
THE JERSEYS OF THE GIRO ROSA AFTER STAGE 5 :
Maglia Rosa COLNAGO - General Classification: Mara Abbott (Wiggle High5)
Maglia Ciclamino SELLE SMP - Points Classification: Megan Guarnier (Boels Dolmans)
Maglia Verde MORTIROLO - Mountain Classification: Elisa Longo Borghini (Wiggle High5)
Maglia Bianca COLNAGO - Young Classification: Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Rabo-Liv)
Maglia Blu GIESSEGI - Italians Classification: Elisa Longo Borghini (Wiggle High5)
Photocredit (c) Flaviano Ossola