Mariëlle Trouwborst delivered a commanding performance on Stage 3 of the 2026 Garden Route Giro, conquering the iconic Swartberg Pass to secure both the stage win and the overall race lead. The 89 km stage from Calitzdorp to Prince Albert proved decisive in the women’s competition, reshaping the general classification.

Early in the stage, Lisa Bone attempted to gain an advantage by joining a group of male riders, but the leading women—Trouwborst, Vera Looser, and Cherise Willeit—soon regrouped. Bone showed strong form by claiming maximum points at the intermediate sprint and initial Queen of the Mountain hotspots. However, Trouwborst asserted her dominance on the ascent of Swartberg Pass, steadily increasing the pace until Bone could no longer follow.

Despite suffering a puncture on the descent, Trouwborst maintained her advantage to win the stage in 3:26:11, finishing 2 minutes and 16 seconds ahead of Bone. Looser secured third place, while Catherine Kruger enjoyed her best performance of the race to finish fourth, with Willeit rounding out the top five.

Women’s Stage 3 Results

1. Mariëlle Trouwborst (KMC) – 3:26:11
2. Lisa Bone (Cycle Nation Enza Construction) – +2:16
3. Vera Looser (Efficient Infiniti Insure) – +10:01
4. Catherine Kruger (Hollard) – +11:01
5. Cherise Willeit (Toyota Specialized) – +11:01

General Classification After Stage 3

1. Mariëlle Trouwborst (KMC) – 9:50:00
2. Lisa Bone (Cycle Nation Enza Construction) – +2:13
3. Vera Looser (Efficient Infiniti Insure) – +18:28
4. Cherise Willeit (Toyota Specialized) – +29:11
5. Catherine Kruger (Hollard) – +38:31

Points Competitions

• Queen of the Mountains (KOM):
  1. Lisa Bone – 29 points
  2. Mariëlle Trouwborst – 25 points
  3. Vera Looser – 12 points
• Sprint Classification:
  1. Lisa Bone – 22 points
  2. Vera Looser – 14 points
  3. Mariëlle Trouwborst – 12 points

To follow the action, as it unfolds on Stage 4, like the Garden Route Giro Facebook page and follow @gardenroutegiro on Instagram. Cycling fans can also tune in for daily highlights on the Dryland Event Management YouTube channel and read the daily news releases on their favourite cycling platform.

For more information, visit www.gardenroutegiro.co.za.