Women’s Giro d’Italia: Demi Vollering wins stage five to move second in general classification

Demi Vollering won stage five of the women’s Giro d’Italia as Anna van der Breggen retained the overall leader’s pink jersey.

Dutch rider Vollering pipped her compatriot to the line in a four-way sprint at the end of the first mountain stage of this year’s race, with Germany’s Antonia Niedermaier in third on the same time and Canada’s Isabella Holmgren, two seconds back.

Elisa Longo Borghini, who has won the two previous editions of the race, was dropped on the final climb of the 146km route into Santo Stefano di Cadore.

However, the Italian made up ground on the descent to lose just 15 seconds on the day, as she crossed the line in fifth, with New Zealand’s Niamh Fisher-Black on her wheel.

“It was a very hard day, with the race splitting much earlier than expected,” said Vollering.