Tiff Cromwell The australian sprinter, who will have her 28th birthday tomorrow, has won the fourth stage of the Giro Rosa 2016 in a very fast sprint (62.447 km/h the average speed!) beating Maria Giulia Confalonieri (Lensworld - Zannata) and the French Aude Biannic (Poitou-Charentes Futuroscope 86).
It has been a fast stage: after the stage start in Costa Volpino, the race turned to the climb of Pianico (3. Category KOM), won by the Hungarian National Champion Monika Kiraly (S.C. Michela Fanini), with Elisa Longo Borghini in second place. The following route was slower, with shy attacks. The peloton guided by Boels Dolmans controlled with particular attention. After Sarnico, the speed improved much, especially from the Intermediate Sprint in Sale Marasino won by Megan Guarnier, and the teams of the main sprinters started to work. Canyon-SRAM had a top-level train comprehending the Italians Elena Cecchini and Barbara Guarischi, with Tiffany Cromwell winning the final sprint in Lovere, arriving at over 60 km/h of average speed in the final kilometer. This has been the second victory in a row for Australia in this Giro, after Chloe Hosking yesterday in Lendinara.
"It was amazing - declared Cromwell at the end of the stage - I thought I started my sprint too early but the team has put me in the best place at the best time. I have made the best birthday present to myself for tomorrow".
Satisfaction for Maria Giulia Confalonieri, who, with her second place of today, has catched her best placement in her career at the Giro Rosa: "I'm very happy, the final phase was really fast, maybe I've waited too much and I had to ride slower. The Canyon train was very, but I am happy".
Nothing changes in the General Classification, leads for the third day in a row by Evelyn Stevens. Second remains Katarzyna Niewiadoma, third is Megan Guarnier. From tomorrow there are the highest mountains: the stage Grosio - Tirano, 77.5 km, has the mythical Passo del Mortirolo, from the classic side of Mazzo di Valtellina.
RAI has totalized an audience of 8.86% with a top of 1 million viewers on tv for the stage of yesterday Montagnana - Lendinara.
PODIO 4° TAPPA GIRO ROSA 2016: COSTA VOLPINO - LOVERE 89.8 KM
1. Tiffany Cromwell (Canyon-SRAM) 2:02'24''
2. Maria Giulia Confalonieri (Lensworld-Zannata) st
3. Aude Biannic (Poitou-Charentes Futuroscope 86) st
TOP 3 CLASSIFICA GENERALE DOPO LA 4° TAPPA:
1. Evelyn Stevens (Boels Dolmans) 10:21'49''
2. Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Rabo-Liv) +3''
3. Megan Guarnier (Boels Dolmans) +13''
LE MAGLIE DEL GIRO ROSA 2016 DOPO LA 4° TAPPA:
Maglia Rosa COLNAGO - Classifica generale: Evelyn Stevens (Boels Dolmans)
Maglia Ciclamino SELLE SMP - Classifica a punti: Megan Guarnier (Boels Dolmans)
Maglia Verde MORTIROLO - Classifica GPM: Elisa Longo Borghini (Wiggle High5)
Maglia Bianca COLNAGO - Classifica Giovani: Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Rabo-Liv)
Maglia Blu GIESSEGI - Classifica Italiane: Elisa Longo Borghini (Wiggle High5)