The new "super-team" in Women's Cycling, Trek - Segafredo, made the perfect start to life as their young Italian sprinter Letizia Paternoster eased to victory in Stage 1 of the Women's TDU.
With the strongest field in the Women's race's 4 year history, Stage 1 saw an exciting & undulating 112.9km-long route between Hahndorf and Birdwood. CCC - Liv controlled the bunch for most of the day, Alé-Cipollini’s sprinter, Chloe Hosking, took the opening intermediate sprint and subsequently took 2nd in the next (Mitchelton - Scott's Gracie Elvin pipping her). Alice Cobb (Team Tibco - SVB) won the opening QOM climb, with Nadia Quagliotto (Alé-Cipollini) winning both the second and third to take the polka-dot jersey into tomorrow's Stage.
Not much drama unfolded on the climbs, and the peleton stayed together preparing for a bunch sprint at the finish in Birdwood. The young Italian was too strong for her rivals in the final 100m, crossing the line more than a bike length ahead of some quite big names, with Sarah Roy (Mitchelton - Scott) coming in 2nd and Cuban Arlenis Sierra (Astana) 3rd.
Tomorrow's Stage sees a summit finish up Hengler Hill, so we will more than likely see the GC favourites making their mark and taking the leader's orange jersey off of Paternoster's shoulders.
Official Results obtained from procyclingstats
Stage 1 Results;
GC Standings;
Current Leaders (Jerey Holders);
GC - Letizia Paternoster
Points - Sarah Roy
QOM - Nadia Quagliotto
Youth - Rachele Barbieri (on behalf of Letizia Paternoster)
Team - New Zealand Cycling
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