As the first shadows of night fell, news arrived that changed everything: Lorena Wiebes is disqualified from the Giro d'Italia for using a bicycle that does not comply with regulations, one that is too light.

News that arrives after the celebration, after the awards ceremony, while the athletes are traveling towards the Veneto region from where the Giro resumes tomorrow with the second stage. Here's what had happened in the first stage, before this bombshell, to put it in French terms.

THE RACE. Today, getting the prediction wrong was practically impossible, but it must be said that for her part Lorena Wiebes was perfect. The Dutch champion had set her sights on the stage from the beginning of the season without ever hiding her dream of wearing the pink jersey. In Ravenna, she completed the job by beating Elisa Balsamo once again.

The Giro d'Italia Women opened with a completely flat stage in the Romagna region. Starting from Cesenatico and finishing in Ravenna after 139 km, with 100 meters of total elevation gain and not even a hint of a categorized climb. In the finale, an important city circuit of 13.2 km to be repeated 3 times with a final turn 2.2 km from the finish.

Much of the race was characterized by the attack of 3 athletes who broke away from the group 5 km after the start. Valeria Curnis (Isolmant Premac Vittoria), Sharon Spimi (Top Girls Fassa Bortolo) and Sofia Arici (Vini Fantini Be Pink) managed to gain up to 3'20". The group always kept the situation under control and caught the breakaway riders approximately 50 km from the finish.

With the entry into the final circuit, the pace increased noticeably. The teams of the classification leaders, in particular Team Movistar and UAE ADQ, did tremendous work to keep their captains at the front and protect them on a course that wasn't always easy.

The SD Worx Pro Time team let the classification leaders' teams literally exhaust themselves and entered the action in the final 4 km. The Dutch formation wasn't perfect, but Barbara Guarischi and Anna Van Der Breggen were, managing to keep Lorena Wiebes at the front. The Dutch national champion was the first to launch the sprint and skillfully won the opening stage of the Giro Women, claiming the first pink jersey.

Tomorrow Lorena Wiebes will have the opportunity to show off the symbol of leadership over the 156 km from Roncade to Caorle. Another stage perfect for sprinters, but it won't be completely flat. After 65 km, the Muro di Ca' del Poggio will be tackled, which will determine the athlete who will wear the first blue jersey.

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FINISHING ORDER

1 Wiebes Lorena Team SD Worx-Protime 180 03:18:22

2 Balsamo Elisa Lidl-Trek + 00

3 Gillespie Lara UAE Team ADQ + 00

4 Consonni Chiara CANYON//SRAM + 00

5 Baker Georgia Liv AlUla Jayco 60 + 00

6 Kool Charlotte Fenix-Premier Tech 45 + 00

7 Zanetti Linda Uno-X Mobility 40 + 00

8 Verhulst-Wild Gladys AG Insurance-Soudal Team + 00

9 Gery Célia FDJ United-SUEZ + 00

10 Williams Lily Human Powered Health + 00