Wiggle High5 Pro Cycling finished in a strong fourth place in the opening Team Time Trial stage of the 2017 Giro d’Italia Femminile, between Aquileia and the island town of Grado, which was just 24 seconds slower than the winning time of Boels-Dolmans. The seven black and orange riders completed the 11.5km course, across a spectacular causeway, in a time of 15 minutes, 11 seconds, which was enough for a provisional second place behind Orica-Scott at the time.

Unfortunately, the teams from Sunweb and Boels-Dolmans went faster to push Wiggle High5 Pro Cycling down to fourth place, but the time gap means that the black and orange riders are still well positioned in the general classification.

“As is obvious from the result, the time differences between three of four teams were really, really close,” said Wiggle High5 Pro Cycling Directeur Sportif Donna Rae-Szalinski. “We were very happy wth our performance, given the fact that it was our first ride together as a group. Technically we were quite good, and the girls fought on really, really well.

“I think the performance today was a testament to the bond that this team shares. They have each other’s backs, they trust each other and they commit fully to each other, and that’s what it looked like.”

Crossing the line ahead of teammate Giorgia Bronzini meant that Wiggle High5 Pro Cycling’s Italian Champion Elisa Longo Borghini takes the Blue Jersey as the best Italian rider in the race.

“Obviously we have a minimum of two riders that we hope will push the barrel of GC, and the commitment that the girls showed to protect those riders was a testament to the spirit in this team,” Rae-Szalinski said.

“So I couldn’t be prouder.

“Obviously we didn’t win, but this was one step towards trying to contend for GC in this Giro, and I think we moved in the right direction,” Rae-Szalinski concluded.

Photo Credit: Anton Vos