Ina Teutenberg (HTC-Columbia) won the first stage of this year’s Giro d’Italia Femminile between Muggia and Trieste. The German über-sprinter beat Italian Giorgia Bronzini (Gauss-RDZ-Ormu) and Dutchwoman Kirsten Wild (Cervélo TestTeam) at the end of the short 59km stage.
"It's always great to start with a victory," said HTC-Columbia’s Sports Director Ronny Lauke. "It was a short first stage, and the team is very motivated for success. We were seeking a fast pace and Ina was on top of it. She won by a bike length. Everyone is very positive and confident that we will have a successful Tour."
As the stage was over such a short distance, with no significant climbs to tackle, the speed was kept very high by the teams of the sprinters preventing any meaningful breakaways from happening. Despite strong work from Wild’s Cervélo TestTeam and Bronzini’s Gauss-RDZ-Ormu team, Teutenberg took a straightforward victory.
Time bonuses on the line mean that Teutenberg also takes the first maglia rosa of the race. The next stage will also likely end in a sprint as it features three flat finishing circuits of the town of Riese Pio X, where Monia Baccaille (Team Valdarno) just over a week ago.
Result stage 1
1. Ina Teutenberg (Ger) HTC-Columbia
2. Giorgia Bronzini (Ita) Gauss-RDZ-Ormu
3. Kirsten Wild (Ned) Cervélo TestTeam
4. Marianne Vos (Ned) Netherlands National Team
5. Barbara Guarischi (Ita) Michela Fanini-Record-Rox
6. Rasa Leleivyte (Ltu) Safi-Pasta Zara
7. Shelley Evans (USA) United States National Team
8. Monia Baccaille (Ita) Team Valdarno
9. Alessandra D’Ettorre (Ita) Top Girls-Fassa Bortolo-Ghezzi
10. Rochelle Gilmore (Aus) Lotto Ladies Team
Standings after stage 1
1. Ina Teutenberg (Ger) HTC-Columbia
2. Giorgia Bronzini (Ita) Gauss-RDZ-Ormu @ 4s
3. Kirsten Wild (Ned) Cervélo TestTeam @ 6s
4. Marianne Vos (Ned) Nederland Bloeit @ 10s
5. Barbara Guarischi (Ita) Michela Fanini-Record-Rox