Wiggle Down Under’s Giorgia Bronzini cruised to victory in the third stage of the Santos Women’s Tour, the Jarvis Subaru Road Race between Tanunda and Athelstone, at the head of a small, highly select group. The hilliest day of the four-stage race saw just eleven riders arrive at the finish line together, with the former two-time Road World Champion taking the sprint victory by some considerable margin ahead of the Orica-AIS duo of stage two winner Melissa Hoskins and race leader Valentina Scandolara.
“After in the KOM [on Checker Hill after 42km] I managed to stay in front with ten girls,” Bronzini explained. “And four of them were GreenEdge!”
Despite her numerical disadvantage on the rolling terrain, Bronzini was able to comfortably remain in the eleven-rider group over the closing kilometres of the 71km stage and still had the power to take a comfortable sprint victory on her preferred type of finishing straight.
“I managed the race and I was able to do my favourite kind of sprint; one that is a little bit uphill,” Bronzini explained. “I was able to do my sprint without any problem, and I could take the victory.
“Thanks to all of my teammates and the staff, who trusted in me today,” she added. “The team deserves this victory!”
Action early in the stage saw Wiggle Down Under’s Adelaide local Nettie Edmondson take first place at the intermediate sprint, at the Mount Crawford Information Centre, just outside Williamstown, after 27km. Five points on the line took the Olympic Medallist’s overall total to 17, giving her a five-point lead in the Green Jersey Classification.
“In the beginning the stage was a little bit rolling and we worked for the intermediate sprint for Nettie and she won!” Bronzini smiled. “I hope that she can keep this jersey tomorrow in the final stage.”
Tomorrow’s fourth and final stage of the Santos Women’s Tour will be the Jayco Criterium around Victoria Park in the centre of the city of Adelaide. Set to be almost twice as long as the Jarvis Subaru Criterium on stage two, Wiggle Down Under will be aiming to both protect Edmondson’s Sprints Jersey, as well as repeat today’s team victory; either for Bronzini once again, or even for hometown girl Edmondson.
Result
1. Giorgia Bronzini (Wiggle Down Under)
2. Melissa Hoskins (Orica-AIS)
3. Valentina Scandolara (Orica-AIS)
