Steaming towards the Willunga township end line of stage 1 of the Santos Girls’s Tour Down Underneath on Saturday, with just some kilometres to go it was nonetheless contact and go whether or not Alessia Vigilia’s prolonged solo effort could be sufficient to clinch her first Girls’s WorldTour victory.
The hole was nonetheless sitting at round 30 seconds at 4km to go and behind the 26-year-old Italian a few crashes within the bunch additionally had the potential to barely gradual momentum. The brand new Uno-X Mobility rider stored her head down, absorbing the encouragement from her workforce on the radio and daring to maintain the hope of a break of practically 100 kilometres alive.
Nevertheless, the willpower of the groups of the sprinters and uphill run to the end did not do her any favours, not after she had spent a lot power alone, baking out entrance within the heat Australian summer season solar.
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“I used to be simply targeted on reaching the end line however yeah, I used to be actually over my restrict,” she informed reporters, together with Cyclingnews, after the stage. “I actually tried, however it was not sufficient for at the moment.”
Vigilia was swamped at round 200m to go because the group positioned for the dash, with Ally Wollaston (FDJ-United SUEZ) launching early to take the win The Uno-X Mobility rider slipped again via the sphere to cross the road in forty seventh place. It was a quantity on the outcomes sheet that did little to mirror the size of the hassle.
“I used to be tremendous excited for my first race with my new equipment and my new workforce so I actually needed to indicate that we labored onerous throughout all of the winter and I needed to already repay all the assumption they’ve had in me for the reason that begin of the season,” she mentioned, admitting that whereas racing aggressively was the plan, a 100km solo effort via sizzling climate on an undulating stage was not.
For Vigilia, this was not simply her first race with a brand new workforce, swapping over to Uno-X Mobility in 2026 after spending the final two seasons with FDJ-SUEZ. It was additionally her first time on the Australian season beginning occasion. The dream situation of snaring a win instantly might not have materialised, however the energy on show as she persevered relentlessly out entrance bodes nicely for what’s to return.
“It is very nice to really feel that we work nicely,” mentioned Vigilia. “And likewise I feel it is onerous to reach right here and adapt to jet lag and warmth so this was actually an excellent signal that we’re ready, and we are going to present it once more.”
After Saturday’s 137.4km effort the race continues with a 130.7km stage from Magill to Paracombe on Sunday. It then concludes with a difficult 126.5km to Campbelltown, which incorporates two ascents of the powerful Corkscrew Rd climb.
“I feel each levels are actually open and there are some playing cards the place the breakaway can go, or one thing can occur,” mentioned Vigilia.
“So we are going to preserve our eyes open, additionally as a workforce, and we are going to remember to experience aggressively and present our jersey.”
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