American Kristen Faulkner won the first stage of the women’s Giro d’Italia, a 4.7-kilometer individual time trial in Cagliari, on Thursday to take the first pink jersey in the ten-stage race. On a flat course along the Sardinian coast, the 29-year-old American from Team BikeExchange/Jayco posted the fastest time ahead of her Australian teammate Georgia Baker in 2nd, 3 seconds 68/100.
Italy’s Elisa Balsamo, reigning road (online) world champion but also a track speed specialist, won for the third time, 5s 50/100. After this appetizer, the women’s Giro continues on Friday with the first stage, still in Sardinia, which should logically be settled in a sprint. After three days in Sardinia and a rest on Sunday, the peloton will head to northern Italy for the final finish in Padua, Veneto, on July 10.
Source: Le Figaro
