Anna van der Breggen missed out on the stage win in the final stage of the Giro d’Italia on Sunday. The Dutch rider lost in a two-person sprint to German Liane Lippert on the Imola circuit. Italian Elisa Longo Borghini’s overall victory was not threatened.
Van der Breggen broke away from a group of favorites as they entered the car circuit and was joined by Lippert. The Dutch rider was clearly lacking in the sprint.
In the final stage to Imola, Longo Borghini never had to fear for the overall victory. The Italian had taken over the pink leader’s jersey from Swiss rider Marlen Reusser in Saturday’s queen stage. She defended a margin of just 22 seconds in the final stage.
But Reusser made no attempt in the final stage, even though the riders climbed several steep hills. In the final phase, a twelve-person group of favorites remained, but Longo Borghini could easily follow Reusser’s wheel.
Silke Smulders took her chances in the last 20 kilometers, but the Dutch rider was caught 5 kilometers from the finish. Earlier, Lorena Wiebes was in the leading group. She also did not last.
The Dutch riders were unable to compete for the overall victory. Pauliena Rooijakkers was the best Dutch rider in fourth place. She was 1 minute and 44 seconds short of a podium place. Four-time winner Van der Breggen finished in sixth place, after being pushed from third place on Saturday.