As it happened: It's as you were as the sprinters take a tense finish at stage 3 of the Giro d'Italia Women

Elisa Balsamo of Lidl-Trek secured a commanding third consecutive stage victory at the Giro d’Italia Women, triumphing in stage 3 with a powerful uphill sprint finish in Buja, Italy. Wearing the coveted maglia rosa, Balsamo demonstrated her dominance in the race, fending off a strong field to maintain her lead in the general classification. The 156km stage, which began on the coast at Bibione and featured a challenging route through the Julian Prealps, culminated in a tense sprint among the sprinters, with Balsamo once again proving her sprinting prowess. The race unfolded with an early breakaway consisting of six riders, including Barbara Guarischi of SD Worx-Protime, who stepped up following the team’s loss of sprinter Lorena Wiebes. The breakaway managed to establish a lead of up to nearly three minutes at times, but the peloton, led by Balsamo’s Lidl-Trek team, steadily controlled the gap. The stage included a fourth-category climb and the more significant ascent of Montenars, which peaked with just over 21 kilometres remaining, before a predominantly downhill run-in to the finish line. SD Worx-Protime’s sprinting situation has been under pressure this week after Wiebes’ early exit, with Guarischi reluctantly assuming sprint duties despite feeling the role no longer suited her. Meanwhile, World Champion Magdeleine Vallieres of EF Education-Oatly was among the contenders to watch, though the day ultimately favoured the established sprinters. The weather played a minor role, with cooler temperatures and a slight chance of rain, but wind conditions remained calm, allowing for a relatively straightforward race dynamic. Balsamo’s victory not only extends her winning streak but also solidifies her position as the race leader, maintaining momentum as the Giro d’Italia Women progresses. Her performance underscores Lidl-Trek’s strength and tactical acumen, particularly in managing the peloton and controlling breakaways. With several stages still to come, Balsamo’s form marks her as a key favourite for overall success, while teams like SD Worx-Protime will be looking to regroup and find new strategies in the absence of their primary sprinter.