Veenhoven and De Vries on the attack in third Giro d’Italia Women stage
# Veenhoven and De Vries Sparkle in Thrilling Third Stage of Giro d’Italia Women
In the third stage of the Giro d’Italia, riders traveled from Bibione to Buja, encountering two challenging climbs in the latter half of the race. The day began with an exciting early breakaway involving six riders, prominently featuring Nienke Veenhoven. This group injected much-needed energy into the race, captivating fans and setting a competitive tone early on.
“I enjoyed my time out front,” Veenhoven reflected post-race. “This was the only way to try and survive the climbs in the finale. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out, but I’m happy that I gave it a shot. In any case, my legs felt better than they did over the past few days. I’m looking forward to the rest of this Giro.”
With just over 20 kilometers remaining, Veenhoven’s breakaway was caught, concluding an impressive effort. As the riders approached Montenars, the final climb, pace intensified, with FDJ-SUEZ pushing hard at the front. An elite group of six, including Femke De Vries, managed to cling to a fierce attack initiated by Demi Vollering. However, a lack of cooperation among the leaders allowed others to catch up.
As the race barreled towards a potential bunch sprint, Sigrid Haugset attempted a late attack that was ultimately neutralized in the dying meters of the stage. The sprint was dominated by Elisa Balsamo, who showcased her speed once again, sealing another victory while wearing the coveted pink jersey. The riders from Team Visma | Lease a Bike Women finished strong, but could not contend for the stage win.
De Vries expressed satisfaction with her performance, stating, “The pace on the Moruzzo wasn’t particularly high, so that climb went smoothly. On the Montenars, the pace was extremely hard. At first, I rode at my own pace, but I felt strong and was able to follow the favorites. After that, the pace dropped considerably. There was a lot of hesitation and riders were watching each other, which allowed the chasers to come back quickly. This stage has given me a lot of confidence. I was able to match the general classification favorites. I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s time trial.”
### Results Rundown
– **Winner**: Elisa Balsamo (Lidl – Trek) – 03:43:43
– **2nd Place**: Lily Williams (Human Powered Health)
– **3rd Place**: Femke Gerritse (Team SD Worx – Protime)
Team Visma | Lease a Bike Women saw their riders notably finish just outside podium placements, with **Femke de Vries** at 15th and **Nienke Veenhoven** completing the stage at 107th.
As the podum is set for the next stage of the Giro, anticipation grows for the time trial, where competition will sharpen even further. Stay tuned as the excitement of the Giro d’Italia Women unfolds!
