Kristen Faulkner won the opening stage of the Giro d’Italia Donne, the American claimed the pink jersey after taking the honors at the 2.9 mile individual time-trial in Cagliari. The Team BikeExchange-Jayco rider, was fastest in the flat stage around the Sardinia coast, crossing the line in five minutes and 45 seconds, three seconds faster than her Australian teammate Georgia Baker. Reigning road race world champion Elisa Balsamo was 5 seconds back in third in the first of 10 stages.

On Friday, the peloton takes on a 73 mile run between Villasimius and Tortoli which should favor the sprinters. The race, which has two more Sardinian stage before a rest day on Sunday, finishes on July 10th in Padova in north-eastern Italy.

GIRO D’ITALIA DONNE PROLOGUE RESULTS

1	FAULKNER Kristen	Team BikeExchange – Jayco	5:46
2	BAKER Georgia	Team BikeExchange – Jayco	0:04
3	BALSAMO Elisa	Trek – Segafredo	0:06
4	KOPECKY Lotte	Team SD Worx	0:06
5	LONGO BORGHINI Elisa	Trek – Segafredo	0:09
6	VAN VLEUTEN Annemiek	Movistar Team	0:09
7	BRAND Lucinda	Trek – Segafredo	0:10
8	MARKUS Riejanne	Team Jumbo-Visma	0:11
9	THOMAS Leah	Trek – Segafredo	0:11
10	KOSTER Anouska	Team Jumbo-Visma	0:11

 

 

RBA/AFP Photos: Sprint Cycling Agency