Race report from Theo Maucher:

Today was the first of three demanding climbing stages with the famous Mortirolo. After 15km a group of 12 riders left the peloton including Garmin-Cervélo’s Carla Ryan. The group got a maximum advantage of 7 min, with 4:30min left at the begin of the Mortirolo climb.

Carla Ryan did a great job in the leading group and her leader Emma Pooley could save energy in the peloton.

After the lead of Mara Abbott and some attacks of Marianne Vos and Emma Pooley, a group of five riders with Pooley, Arndt, Vos, Tatiana Guderzo and Ruth Corset followed the remaining three of the early break: Ryan, Lucinda Brand and Ina Teutenberg.

With 300m to the mountains classification the leading group was caught and immediately Pooley and Vos attacked and reached the top with a small gap. In the downhill Vos attacked again, dropped Pooley, who was caught by the next group.

Vos reached the finish within 1:23min of Guderzo, Brand, Arndt and Pooley. Carla Ryan with her best result arrived on the 6th place with 3’51min.

In the overall Marianne Vos still the leader, Emma Pooley gained a position and is now 2nd with 2:36min behind the leader and around two minutes to the third and fourth places.