The start of the 2023 Giro Donne got off to a wet start and ultimately a bit of a damp squib. The pre-race favourites had all congregated early on the start list in order to avoid the forecasted thunderstorm for later on in the day, however, rain started just before the first rider began. That made the early riding tough and slippy and several riders slid out. The likes of Chloe Dygert, Chiara Consonni, Karlijn Swinkels and Mavi Garcia all fell as fast speeds, time trial bikes and strong driving rain all mixed.
Some favourites were able to tip-toe around the course, setting fast times without falling to the ground. Annemiek van Vleuten, Marianne Vos, Megan Jastrab, Georgia Baker and Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig were all around 1 second away from each other with Letizia Paternoster setting the quickest time by a tiny fraction of a second. The thunder in the area was recorded as being deafening and the timing screens lost power as well.
Photo Credit: Bastien Gason
It was set up for a strong finish with the likes of Elisa Longo Borghini still to come but the rain had other ideas. One temporary suspension halted proceedings for around 20 minutes and we were in the middle of a second halt when the decision to suspend the stage and start thinking about tomorrow was confirmed. The end of the stage will see the first climbing test of the 2023 Giro Donne. 16km at 4.5% on the Passo Della Colla which will then see a descent to the finish in Marradi.
Because of the suspension, none of the times already set will count and tomorrow’s Stage 2 will effectively be a clean slate.
Photo Credit: Getty Sport / Movistar Team
2023 Giro Donne Stage 1 result
Race suspended
