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Wiggle High5 Pro Cycling’s Giorgia Bronzini took her second podium finish of the 2017 Giro d’Italia Femminile - Giro Rosa - with third place in the ninth stage, between Centola and Polla in a bunch sprint at the head of a reduced-peloton. The former two-time road World Champion was just beaten to the line by fellow Italian former Rainbow Jersey Marta Bastianelli (Alé–Cipollini), with Finnish Champion Lotta Lepistö (Cervélo-Bigla) in third. 
“I want to thank the girls for believing in me today,” Bronzini said afterwards. “They were making sure that I didn't miss anything and they protected me really well for all of the stage. “I said to them that I will arrange myself for the sprint, and I managed to find a good wheel. Unfortunately the last 100 metres was downhill so it didn’t suit me so much.” The 122km stage saw several breakaways escape the peloton, with the first big group featuring Wiggle High5 Pro Cycling’s Audrey Cordon-Ragot. A three-rider group then got away in the second half of the stage, on the 3rd category climb to Sala Consilina, and was a minute clear as they rode through Polla to start a 21km finishing loop. Although several riders had been dropped from the peloton, there were still several sprinters present, and their teams worked together to pull back the escapees inside the final kilometre. 
Wiggle High5 Pro Cycling’s Elisa Longo Borghini finished safely inside the peloton behind the sprinters. The Italian Champion maintains her second place in the general classification, and has a secure hold on the Blue Jersey for Best Italian Rider. German climber Claudia Lichtenberg finished alongside Longo Borghini and remains ninth overall. “I’m happy again to be in podium at the Giro,” Bronzini smiled. “Tomorrow is the last stage and we will do everything we can for Elisa in the GC.” 
Photo Credit: Anton Vos Result
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