Abbott wins fifth stage, holds overall lead at Giro Rosa
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Print ITALY (July 4, 2013) -- Mara Abbott (Boulder, Colo./Exergy TWENTY16), racing for the USA Cycling National Development Program (NDP), won Thursday's 73.3-kilometer fifth stage of 2013 Giro Rosa in Italy and took over the general classification lead in the race.
"The only tragedy of racing the Giro is that you're not home on July 4. What better way to celebrate than to win it?" Abbott said after the stage.
Abbott, who won the Queen of the Mountains at the 2013 Volkswagen USA Cycling Professional Road & Time Trial National Championships in Chattanooga, Tenn., on Memorial Day, used the late climb to attack and cruise to victory.
The USA Cycling contingent safely brought Abbott to the bottom of the climb and the winner of the 2010 edition of the race took over. Abbott attacked at the bottom of the climb with Evelyn Stevens (Dennis, Mass./Specialized-lululemon), who is riding for her trade team. Stevens stayed with Abbott for the first two kilometers, but Abbott attacked Stevens and rode alone through the finish line.
"I really can't say enough about my teammates," Abbott said saluting the efforts of Andrea Dvorak (Crozet, Va./Exergy TWENTY16), Lauren Tamayo (Asheville, N.C./Exergy TWENTY16), Lauren Hall (Dolores, Colo./Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies), Brianna Walle (Beaverton, Ore./Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies), Ruth Winder (Lafayette, Calif./Vanderkitten), Kristin McGrath (Boise, Idaho/Exergy TWENTY16) and Janel Holcomb (San Diego, Calif./Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies).
Abbott completed the stage in 2:25:25, 1:44 faster than Francesco Cauz (ITA/Top Girls Fassa Bortolo), who was five seconds faster than Fabiana Luperini (ITA/Faren Kuota). As a result of Thursday’s finish, Abbott now leads the general classification, previously led by Marianne Vos (NED), who looked strong in the early stages of the race. Abbott leads by 1:27 over Tatiana Guderzo (ITA/Mcipollini Giordana).
“I'm going to try to protect this lead with the help of my teammates,” Abbott said. “They have been great so far. They've done everything that's been asked of them. I have confidence that they will continue to give everything until the end."
The eight-stage race continues with stages on Friday and Saturday before concluding with the time trial on Sunday.
Giro Rosa 2013
June 30-July 7, 2013
Stage 5
1. Mara Abbott (Boulder, Colo./Exergy TWENTY16) 2:25:25
2. Francesca Cauz (ITA/Top Girls Fassa Bortolo) +1:44
3. Fabiana Luperini (ITA/Faren Kuota) +1:49
53. Andrea Dvorak (Crozet, Va./Exergy TWENTY16) +16:33
88. Lauren Tamayo (Asheville, N.C./Exergy TWENTY16) +25:26
89. Lauren Hall (Dolores, Colo./Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies) +25:26
90. Brianna Walle (Beaverton, Ore./Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies) +25:26
111. Ruth Winder (Lafayette, Calif./Vanderkitten) +28:53
112. Kristin McGrath (Boise, Idaho/Exergy TWENTY16) +28:53
113. Janel Holcomb (San Diego, Calif./Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies) +28:53
General Classification (after five stages)
1. Mara Abbott (Boulder, Colo./Exergy TWENTY16) 13:58:43
2.Tatiana Guderzo (ITA/Mcipollini Giordana) +1:27
3. Fabiana Luperini (ITA/Faren Kuota)
40. Andrea Dvorak (Crozet, Va./Exergy TWENTY16) +25:16
64. Lauren Hall (Dolores, Colo./Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies) +39:32
70. Brianna Walle (Beaverton, Ore./Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies) +40:14
76. Kristin McGrath (Boise, Idaho/Exergy TWENTY16) +41:46
87. Ruth Winder (Lafayette, Calif./Vanderkitten) +44:58
89. Lauren Tamayo (Asheville, N.C./Exergy TWENTY16) +45:23
99. Janel Holcomb (San Diego, Calif./Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies) +52:49
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This Article Updated July 4, 2013 @ 09:16 PM For more information contact:
