American Evelyn Stevens (Team Specialized - Lululemon) soloed to claim the Stage 3 victory in Castiglione dei Pepoli, and in doing so took over the General Classification lead from defending Giro Donne champion Marianne Vos (Stichting Rabo Women), who won the first two stages.
With three kilometers remaining in the 124 kilometer stage, Stevens attacked out of a select group of riders that included Emma Pooley (AA Drink Leontien.nl ), Fabiana Luperini (Faren Honda), Tatiana Guderzo (MCipollini Giambenini), Elisa Longo Borghini (Hitec Products Home Mistral), Marianne Vos (Stichting Rabobank), GreenEdge AIS teammates, Claudia Hausler and Judith Arndt, and Ashleigh Moolman (Lotto Ladies Belisol), to garner her second career Giro Donne win.
Fabiana Luperini (Faren Honda Team), and Emma Pooley (AA Drink Leontien.nl), who would finish 20 seconds in arrears of Stevens to take second and third, respectively.
New Zealander, Linda Villumsen (Orica-AIS), kicked off the day's festivities by going off the front solo at the 30 kilometer mark. She would build a lead of over four minutes, before being reigned in with 20 kilometers to go by a highly motivated Stichting Rabo Women's team intent on defending Vos' pink leader's jersey.
On the race's Cima Coppi, the Passo della Fluta, Pooley would attack the dwindling peloton to make the winning selection of nine women. Biding her time on the first mountain stage of the 2012 edition of the Giro Donne, Stevens made sure that none could follow.
Results - Stage 3 - Vernio - Castiglione dei Pepoli (124km)
1. Evelyn Stevens (Team Specialized Lululemon) - 03:34:25 (average 34.699 km/h)
2. Fabiana Luperini (Faren Honda Team) - 00:00:20
3. Emma Pooley (AA Drink Leontien.nl) - 00:00:20
With six stages yet to go, Stevens' victory was a major step toward becoming the second American, Mara Abbott claiming the maglia rosa in 2010, to win the prestigious Italian stage race.
General Classification After Stage 3
1. Evelyn Stevens (Team Specialized Lululemon) in 07:31:53
2. Marianne Vos (Stichting Rabobank) - 00:00:12
3. Emma Pooley (AA Drink Leontien.nl) - 00:00:31
4. Fabiana Luperini (Faren Honda Team) - 00:01:01
5. Judith Arndt (GreenEdge AIS) - 00:02:35
6. Claudia Hausler (GreenEdge AIS) - 00:02:39
7. Tatiana Guderzo (MCipollini Giambenini) - 00:02:41
8. Elisa Longo Borghini (Hitec Products Mistral Home) - 00:02:51
9. Ashleigh Moolman (Lotto Ladies Belisol) - 00:02:51
10. Annemiek Van Vleuten (Stichting Rabobank) - 00:05:30
Other Notables
11. Emma Johansson (Swe) Hitec Products - Mistral Home Cycling Team - 0:05:34
16. Noemi Cantele (Ita) Be Pink
17. Clara Hughes (Can) Team Specialized - lululemon - 0:06:05
31. Shelley Olds (USA) AA Drink - Leontien.nl Cycling Team - 0:10:55
49. Ina Yoko Teutenberg (Ger) Team Specialized - lululemon - 0:21:00
50. Chloe Hosking (Aus) Team Specialized - lululemon - 0:21:07
57. Elizabeth Armitstead (GBr) AA Drink - Leontien.nl Cycling Team - 0:27:58
66. Giorgia Bronzini (Ita) Diadora - Pasta Zara
92. Rochelle Gilmore (Aus) Faren Honda Team
94. Nicole Cooke (GBr) Faren Honda Team - 0:28:55
97. Ally Stacher (USA) Team Specialized - lululemon - 0:28:59
105. Liza Rachetto (USA) Forno d'Asolo Colavita - 0:29:16
106. Whitney Gaggioli (USA) Forno d'Asolo Colavita - 0:29:17
110. Amber Pierce (USA) Diadora - Pasta Zara - 0:29:36
Jersey Leaders After Stage 3
Pasta Zara Leader's Jersey (pink) - Evelyn Stevens (Team Specialized Lululemon)
Rock No War Onlus Points Jersey (yellow) - Marianne Vos (Stichting Rabobank)
Epiù Energia - Gruppo Iseni Queen of the Mountains Jersey (green) - Emma Pooley (AA Drink Leontien.nl)
Servetto Best Young Rider Jersey (white) - Elisa Longo Borghini (Hitec Products Mistral Home)
Santero Best Italian Rider Jersey (blue) - Fabiana Luperini (Faren Honda Team)
Next: Stage 4 - Montecatini Terme - Montecatini Alto (98km)
Photo: Leonard Basobas/LB Photos
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