With her victory in the inaugural stage in Offida, culminating in a solo attack, Chantelle Mc Carthy has decisively taken command of the Marche Women's Tour for elite, under-23, and junior categories.

The Australian rider from ST Kilda Cycling Club demonstrated she had an extra gear compared to her direct rivals, imposing herself on the challenging and selective race course despite adverse weather conditions. In second place was Friulian Chantal Pegolo (UC Conscio Pedale del Sile), the best junior participant, followed on the podium by French rider Julia Aubry (Team Buffaz Gestion de Patrimonie).

The local cycling association Sportivi Ciclo Amanti, led by President Gianni Spaccasassi, played a leading role in organization and hospitality, alongside the Offida municipal administration, represented by Mayor Luigi Massa and Sports Delegate Councilor Roberto Barbizzi. At the end of the race, they congratulated the winner and the leaders of the Tour, accompanied by Massimo Romanelli and Marco Marinuk, president and vice-president of the Marche Regional FCI Committee, and Maurizia Corradetti, a member of the national youth commission of the Italian Cycling Federation.

Over a distance of 92.8 kilometers, with 15 laps of the urban and extra-urban circuit and 139 athletes at the start, the first emotions of the day came from the intermediate sprints, placed in front of the public gardens, with two victories by Lara Crestanello (Born to Win-BTC City Ljubljana-Zhiraf) in the second and sixth laps, and one by Anita Baima (Horizons Cycling Team) at the end of the fourth lap.

Rain appeared during the last 7 laps, where the race faced its most challenging phase with mountain grand prizes at the top of the 15% climb on Via Cavour: the summit prizes were won by Gemma Sernissi from Born to Win-BTC City Ljubljana-Zhiraf (ninth lap), Sara Pepoli from Isolmant Premac Vittoria (eleventh lap), and Mc Carthy (thirteenth lap).

Mc Carthy and Pepoli attempted a breakaway in tandem with a 40-second advantage over the group starting from the fourth-to-last lap.

Shaking off Pepoli, the unleashed Mc Carthy increased her pace alone during the final lap, making the group's potential regrouping ineffective, paving her way to victory and managing the wet finale. Behind the Australian, a group sprint saw Pegolo, Aubry, Elena De Laurentiis (Team Di Federico), and Giulia Erja Bianchi (Biesse Carrera Premac) finishing in the top-5.

EPILOGUE IN CORRIDONIA

Sunday, May 11th in Corridonia, the second and final stage of the Marche Women's Tour, called 12th National Pink Day - GP City of Corridonia (Fisiomed Trophy-Supermercati SI con Te Cup), organized by Corridonia Club led by President Mario Cartechini. The start is scheduled for 9:30 AM for a total route of 90 kilometers including four 17-kilometer laps and then another route segment with intermediate sprints in Corridonia and Petriolo, with the final finish in the Macerata city. 190 athletes are registered representing 29 teams, including four foreign teams.

MARCHE WOMEN'S TOUR JERSEYS

Pink General (sponsored by Ambedo Tornitori): Chantelle McCarthy (Aus, ST Kilda Cycling Club).

Blue Mountain Grand Prix (Max Impianti): Gemma Sernissi (Born to Win-BTC City Ljubljana-Zhiraf).

Green Intermediate Sprints (Fanini): Lara Crestanello (Born to Win-BTC City Ljubljana-Zhiraf).

White Best Young Rider (Totaro): Chantal Pegolo (UC Conscio Pedale del Sile).

Yellow Best Foreign Rider (Peroni): Chantelle McCarthy (Aus, ST Kilda Cycling Club).

GENERAL CLASSIFICATION

1st Chantelle Mc Carthy (Aus, ST Kilda Cycling Club) 92.8 km in 2.31'17" average 36.805 km/h

2nd Chantal Pegolo (UC Conscio Pedale del Sile) at 28"

3rd Julia Aubry (Fra, Team Buffaz Gestion de Patrimonie)

4th Elena De Laurentiis (Team Di Federico)

5th Giulia Erja Bianchi (Biesse Carrera Premac)

6th Gaia Tormena (Isolmant Premac Vittoria)

7th Irene Laudi (Petrucci Gauss Cycling Team)

8th Maria Acuti (Biesse Carrera Premac)

9th Federica Damiana Piergiovanni (Isolmant Premac Vittoria)

10th Irma Siri (Top Girls Fassa Bortolo)

OPEN CLASSIFICATION (UNDER 23 - ELITE)

1st Chantelle McCarthy (Aus, ST Kilda Cycling Club)

2nd Julia Aubry (Fra, Team Buffaz Gestion de Patrimoine)

3rd Gaia Tormena (Isolmant - Premac - Vittoria)

4th Irene Laudi (Petrucci Gauss Cycling Team)

5th Federica Damiana Piergiovanni (Isolmant - Premac - Vittoria)

6th Irma Siri (Top Girls - Fassa Bortolo)

7th Michela De Grandis (Team Mendelspeck E-Work)

8th Alessia Zambelli (Top Girls - Fassa Bortolo)

9th Lucia Brillante Romeo (Aromitalia 3T Vaiano)

10th Giulia Miotto (Horizons Cycling Club)

JUNIOR CLASSIFICATION

1st Chantal Pegolo (UC Conscio Pedale del Sile)

2nd Elena De Laurentiis (Team Di Federico)

3rd Erja Giulia Bianchi (Biesse - Carrera - Premac)

4th Maria Acuti (Biesse - Carrera - Premac)

5th Misia Belotti (Canturino 1902)

6th Emma Bonissi (Petrucci Gauss Cycling Team)

7th Sofia Cabri (Team Di Federico)

8th Martina Montagner (UC Conscio Pedale del Sile)

9th Romina Evelin Di Sciuva (Canturino 1902 Asd)

10th Emma Gottoli (Team Wilier Breganze)

Photo credit Flaviano Ossola (Pedale Rosa)