WomensCycling.net - race coverage, Stage 4

Giorgia Bronzini (Diadora Pasta Zara) won the final stage of the Giro della Toscana in a bunch sprint ahead of Annemiek van Vlueten (RaboWomen) and Lisa Brennauer (GER).

The Giro della Toscana is sometimes referred to as a 'casino' due to the fun and relaxed nature of the race. The 2012 ended in a dramtic, but in terms of the actual race, anti-climatic manner, when the peloton were taken off course and restarted multiple times before the field elected to neutralise the stage. A very frustrated Bronzini asserted herself in the peloton and took control to sort out the final 10km of the race.

The officials had stopped the race, got everyone back on course and the race had been restarted. Again the course was disrupted and the race stopped again. The officials attempted to restart again, Bronzini however asserted some authority and based upon concern for the safety of the riders, the peloton agreed to neutralise the last 10 kms with the sprinters contesting the finish to put on a show for the fans.

The competition jersey wearers, national champions and Bronzini - the world champion, led the race through the final 10 kilometres of the stage. The procession through the increasingly narrow, cobbled and tourist and public-lined streets of the old city of Firenze was decided upon as the best course of action. Then, in the final 200 metres, up the straight road to the Piazza della Republica, the sprint was contested. Bronzini won easily, but given the circumstances, did not celebrate. Instead, the Italian was seen in deep conversation afterwards with senior members of the race organisation who had been waiting-out the drama at the finish line.

The race was aggressive for the first half with USA doing a few attacks on the mostly flat but very fast course. None of their attacks managed to create a break. By 50km the race was all together.

Race leader Malgorzata Jasinska and the rest of her Mcipollini Giambenini team, began to set a steady tempo on the front and took control of the race on the lead-in to Firenze. Depsite the fact that the race had been neutralised, starting the day with almost a minute over her nearest competitor, the winner was clearly decided by the point of the disruption. Jasinska finished at the front of the bunch with the other jersey wearers thus sealing her victory.

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Results - Top 10 - click here to see full result

Position	Name	Team	Time/Gap
1	Giorgia Bronzini	Diadora Pasta Zara	2:26:32
2	Annemiek Van Vleuten	Rabo Women	"
3	Lisa Brennauer	German National Team	"
4	Megan Guarnier	Tibco	"
5	Malgorzata Jasinska	Mcipollini Giambenini	"
6	Rossella Ratto	Verinlegno Fabiani	0:00:02
7	Lauren Hall	Tibco	"
8	Simona Frapporti	Bepink	"
9	Marta Tagliaferro	Mcipollini Giambenini	"
10	Giada Borgato	Diadora Pasta Zara	"

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General Classification Top 10 - click here to see full GC

Position	Name	Team	Time/Gap
1	Malgorzata Jasinska	Mcipollini Giambenini	9:08:03
2	Lauren Hall	Tibco	0:00:49
3	Romy Kasper	Rusvelo	0:01:32
4	Valentina Bastianelli	Vaiano Tepso	0:02:06
5	Megan Guarnier	Tibco	0:02:59
6	Annemiek Van Vleuten	Rabo Women	0:03:07
7	Rossella Ratto	Verinlegno Fabiani	0:03:17
8	Tiffany Cromwell	Orica AIS	0:03:23
9	Amanda Miller	Tibco	0:03:31
10	Fabiana Luperini	Faren Honda Team	0:03:32

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Photos Click on any image to enlarge >>

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2012_Toscana_Stage4_132	2012_Toscana_Stage4_138	2012_Toscana_Stage4_158	2012_Toscana_Stage4_189
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