Lorena Wiebes has won the third stage of the Giro d’Italia on Tuesday. The Dutch sprinter from SD Worx-Protime was the best of a small group after a massive crash in the finale.
It had rained heavily in the finish town of Trento, so crashes were lurking. At a roundabout 2.5 kilometers from the finish line, things went wrong. At least ten riders could not stay on their bikes.
A small group then competed for the stage win. Wiebes got a good lead-out from her teammate Lotte Kopecky and won the sprint. The British Josie Nelson and world champion Kopecky completed the podium.
“Lotte and I were very lucky that we were not involved in the crash,” said Wiebes after the stage. “After that, our teammate Barbara Guarischi did a great job bringing us back to the front of the race. Winning in the Giro is always special. This victory confirms how well things are going this season.”
For Wiebes, it is her fourth victory ever in the Giro. In 2021, the Dutch and European champion won two stages. In 2023, her third stage victory followed.
The British Anna Henderson of Lidl-Trek retained the pink leader’s jersey. The Giro continues on Wednesday with a hilly ride to Pianezze. The finish is on a mountain of the first category.