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Giro d'Italia Femminile - 2.1 Italy, July 01-10, 2005

Main Page Results Overall standings Previous Stage Next Stage Stage 3 - July 04: Bergantino - Chioggia, 129.4km Bronzini goes one better

By Kristy Scrymgeour

Giorgia Bronzini (Chirio-Forno d'Asolo/Rider) went one better today, taking the win in the bunch sprint after having to settle for second yesterday.

Another warm day in the Veneto region and another flat stage. Today riders faced a slight headwind as they traveled northeast from Bergantino to Chioggia. Again the stage was active but the pace was fast and nothing got away until 25km to go when Alessandra D'ettorre (Saccarelli-Emu-Marsciano) escaped with a rider from Chirio-Forno d'Asolo. The pair gained 1'30"on the field but were caught ten kilometres later. A counter attacked saw five riders go up the road including third place in the general classification Zinaida Stahurskaia (Bianchi-Aliverti/Fiamme Az). The quickly got a gap of over 35" and with one kilometre to go they were still away. The chase was fast from behind however and with 300m to go the break was caught allowing the sprinters to fight it out yet again.

Bronzini took the win from current World Cup leader Oenone Wood (Nurnberger) and Eleonora Soldo (Fanini/Velosport/Gauss), with the GC riders finishing safely in the bunch. Five-time winner of the Giro Fabiana Luperini had some bike troubles late in the stage an