FADING GLORY

This year’s Giro Rosa was all going so well for Annemiek van Vleuten. It was different from her two previous wins. There were none of the long Alpine climbs or individual time trials where she had made the difference before, but from the very start the Dutchwoman was in control, gliding serenely, it looked, to a third consecutive overall victory.

She started stage 7 between Nola and Maddaloni defending an overall lead which had increased to 1:52 since she comprehensively won stage 2. But then, around 500 metres from the end: disaster.

The stage had been dynamic. The breakaway’s last survivor was dispatched on the day’s final climb, and CCC-Liv’s Soraya Paladin led a group of around 25 women into the closing kilometre hoping team-mate Marianne Vos could win a fourth stage. But when the Italian swerved to avoid yet another pothole the ripple effect resulted in a crash, with Van Vleuten going down hard. She crossed the line on her bike, her left arm carried awkwardly by her side, climbing into an ambulance rather than onto the podium to celebrate another day in pink. A few hours later it was confirmed that she had fractured her wrist.

The mood was sombre among those waiting behind the podium. Only stage