Three great race days...unfortunately, I had to leave after the third stage since I couldn’t get more time off work.

Team presentation in Muggia (Karin, me, Marta, Erika, Buba and Natalia)

The first stage was a little hilly and very short, very fast too in the final part.

It was kind of weird, because I seemed to me that we just started from the little town of Muggia (on the Slovenian border, first time I’ve ever been in Slovenia!), and in the next second we were in Trieste on the final circuit. As I already mentioned, the race got much faster in the last two laps, but I didn’t have any problems to hang on and pass the finish line in the bunch, however without being able to fight for a good position.

The first stage was a little hilly and very short, very fast too in the final part.

It was kind of weird, because I seemed to me that we just started from the little town of Muggia (on the Slovenian border, first time I’ve ever been in Slovenia!), and in the next second we were in Trieste on the final circuit. As I already mentioned, the race got much faster in the last two laps, but I didn’t have any problems to hang on and pass the finish line in the bunch, however without being able to fight for a good position.

Waiting for teampresentation in Sacile: Marta,Buba, Karin, Erika, and me.

The second stage went from Sacile to Riese Pio X. It was quite the opposite of the first stage: long (130km) and on top of that the weather was even warmer, which meant a lot of travels to the team-car in order to fetch water for both my teammates and myself.

After a false start, we were stopped to let the opening-car pass the bunch (not an easy job to do, with 120 nervous girls in a bunch, all trying to get a better position). After the start, the race began to get faster around kilometre 20 for the first sprint. Two short attacks went around that time, but none of those went through. Then the bunch calmed down a bit. Before the climb at half distance, the speed was raised again, but same as before, no breaks.

After a calmer moment, Grete Treier (Michela Fanini Record) buzzed off and stayed in the lead until the final lap in Riese Pio X. Then Cervelo and Highroad took the reins and sped up for the sprint. I always stayed in the first part of the bunch, however, a crash just before the end shuffled up the cards and I crossed the line in 50th position, which made me 71th overall.

Franco Pellizzotti and Alberto Rigamonti on the podium in Sacile

The third (and sadly last) stage for me was a time-trial. Time-trial is not my favourite discipline in cycling as I told the speaker on the start. Then again, I didn’t really have the time to get accustomed to my bike, which my husband builds up a few days before.

Mr speaker Alberto Rigamonti

Nevertheless, I had a good start, but the guy on the motorbike who should’ve preceded me killed his engine moments from the start, so I didn’t have any real protection and found myself with two cars and a bus in front of me, which made me lose precious time.

Franco and me ... same green kitt, or ???

Anyway, the result didn’t come out so bad: 107th place with less than 30’’ backlog.

I finished 100th place overall, before having to leave Italy to get back to work.

I wish all the best to my teammates and my friends in the Giro, I will follow the race on the internet during the next week.

My next important race will be the Thüringen Rundfahrt (20.07-25.07).

Cheers,

Suzie