Giro Rosa 2017: Van Vleuten wins three-up sprint, Van der Breggen in pink

At 122.5 kilometres, the 2nd stage of the Giro Rosa travels from Zoppola to Montereale Valcellina. Van Vleuten, Van der Breggen and Longo Borghini attack just before the top of a 5.2 kilometres climb at 8%, which is crested with 24.4 kilometres remaining. They widen the gap on the technical descent and Van Vleuten is fastest in the ensuing sprint. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 2nd stage 2017 Giro Rosa

1. Annemiek van Vleuten (nld)
2. Anna van der Breggen (nld) s.t.
3. Elisa Longo Borghini (ita) s.t.
4. Katarzyna Niewiadoma (pol) + 1.54
5. Megan Guarnier (usa) s.t.
6. Shara Gillow (aus) s.t.
7. Amanda Spratt (aus) s.t.
8. Yevgenia Vysotska (ukr) + 1.59
9. Lucinda Brand (nld) + 2.37
10. Arlenis Sierra (cub) s.t.

GC after 2nd stage
1. Anna van der Breggen (nld)
2. Annemiek van Vleuten (nld) + 0.18
3. Elisa Longo Borghini (ita) + 0.26
4. Megan Guarnier (usa) + 2.00
5. Amanda Spratt (aus) + 2.22
6. Katarzyna Niewiadoma (pol) + 2.37
7. Karol-Ann Canuel (can) + 2.43
8. Elizabeth Deignan-Armitstead (gbr) + 2.50
9. Lucinda Brand (nld) + 3.02
10. Floortje Mackaij (nld) s.t.

Race report
Following a fast opening Claudia Koster attacks at km 10, while Nicole Hanselmann chases her down. The duo races to a lead of more than 2 minutes. All three intermediate sprints are won by Koster, so the Dutch rider takes a total bonus of 9 seconds, while Hanselmann takes three times 2 seconds.

Before hitting the 5.2 kms climb at 8% the escapees are reeled in. On the climb itself a lot of riders are dropped until there are 30 riders left. With 1 km left to the top Anna van der Breggen, Annemiek van Vleuten ed Elisa Longo Borghini attack and they crest 18 seconds ahead of the chasers.

A group with Amanda Spratt, Megan Guarnier, Shara Gillow, Yevheniya Vysotska and Kasia Niewiadoma try to chase them down on the descent, but to no avail. On the contrary, the leading trio puts more time into the chasers.

In the ensuing sprint Van Vleuten bests her compatriot Van der Breggen on the line, while Longo Borghini finishes in third.