Mariëlle Trouwborst secured victory on Stage 1 of the inaugural Garden Route Giro women’s race, taking the first yellow jersey after a tactical and aggressive performance.
The 73 km opening stage, featuring approximately 950 metres of climbing, saw an early selection as Trouwborst established herself in the lead group. Lisa Bone initiated a decisive move, joined by Vera Looser, and the pair bridged across to Trouwborst, forming a strong trio at the front of the race.
Working effectively together, the three riders gradually increased their advantage over the chasing group, which included Cherise Willeit, Yolande de Villiers, Bianca Haw, and Danielle du Toit. Looser claimed the Sprint points, while Bone secured the Queen of the Mountain classification.
On the final climb within the last 10 kilometres, Bone attacked, with only Trouwborst able to respond. The pair collaborated to the finish, distancing Looser before contesting the stage win in a sprint. Trouwborst led into the final corner and held off Bone to take the victory and the overall race lead, while Looser finished third but remains a strong contender for the stages ahead.
Women’s Stage 1 Results:
- Mariëlle Trouwborst: KMC (2:14:39)
- Lisa Bone: Cycle Nation Enza Construction (2:14:39 | ST)
- Vera Looser: Efficient Infiniti Insure (2:15:50 | +1:11)
- Cherise Willeit: Toyota Specialized (2:18:26 | 3:47)
- Bianca Haw: sani2c (2:19:17 | +4:38)