FDJ United-SUEZ looked to be plotting something on Stage 5 of the Giro d’Italia Women, contributing to a 20-rider escape group with Amber Kraak and neo-pro Lauren Dickson. Dickson rode deep into the finale, surviving the first pass over the steep Costa climb (4.3km at 8.6%) to act as a launchpad when the favorites group emerged from the peloton.
Vollering bridged across to her teammate, using Dickson’s pacing on the flats before setting a relentless tempo on the final ascent. While Vollering later admitted she may have launched her uphill acceleration slightly too early to completely isolate her rivals, she still had plenty of depth left for the flat run-in.
A select four-woman group formed to contest the finish line. Vollering was the first to jump in the final 150 meters, opening a clean gap that none of her companions could close.
Race leader Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime) crossed the line in second place, easily matching the acceleration of Antonia Niedermaier (Canyon-SRAM zondacrypto) and Isabella Holmgren (Lidl-Trek) to defend her overall lead. Van der Breggen still holds a 1-minute cushion over Vollering in the General Classification as the race heads deeper into the high mountains.
Results
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