Alessia Vigilia was steaming towards the Willunga township end line of stage 1 of the Santos Girls’s Tour Down Beneath on Saturday and with only a few kilometres to go it was contact and go whether or not this practically 100km solo effort can be sufficient for the brand new UNO-X Mobility rider to clinch her first Girls’s WorldTour victory.
The hole was nonetheless sitting at round 30 seconds at 4km to go and behind the 26 yr outdated Italian a few crashes within the bunch additionally had the potential to barely gradual momentum. Vigilia saved her head down, absorbing the encouragement from her staff on the radio and daring to maintain the hope alive.
Although, the willpower of the groups of the sprinters and uphill run to the end did not do her any favours, not after she had spent a lot power alone, baking out entrance, within the heat Australian summer season solar.
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“I used to be simply centered on reaching the end line however, yeah, I used to be actually over my restrict,” she advised reporters, together with Cyclingnews, after the stage. “I actually tried nevertheless it was not sufficient for right now.”
Vigilia was swamped at round 200m to go because the group positioned for the dash, with Ally Wollaston (FDJ-United SUEZ) launching early to take the win whereas the UNO-X Mobility rider slipped again by the sector to cross the road in forty seventh place. It was a quantity on the outcomes sheet that does little to mirror the size of the hassle.
“I used to be tremendous excited for my first race with my new equipment and my new staff so I actually needed to indicate that we labored exhausting throughout all of the winter and I needed to already repay all the idea they’ve had in me because the begin of the season,” she mentioned, admitting that whereas racing aggressively was the plan, a 100km solo effort on the undulating stage beginning and ending within the Willunga township was not.
For Vigilia this was not simply her first race with a brand new staff, swapping over to UNO-X Mobility in 2026 after spending the final two seasons with FDJ-SUEZ, but additionally her first time on the Australian season beginning occasion. The dream state of affairs of snaring a win instantly might not have materialised however the energy on show as she persevered relentlessly out entrance bodes nicely for what’s to come back.
“It is very nice to really feel that we work nicely,” mentioned Vigilia. “And in addition I believe it is exhausting to reach right here and adapt to jet lag and warmth so this was actually signal that we’re ready, and we’ll present it once more.”
After Saturday’s 137.4km effort the race continues with a 130.7km stage from Magill to Paracombe on Sunday after which concludes with a difficult 126.5km to Campbelltown which incorporates two ascents of the powerful Corkscrew Rd climb.
“I believe each the phases are actually open and there are some playing cards the place the break free can go, or one thing can occur,” mentioned Vigilia. “So we’ll hold our eyes open, additionally as a staff, and we’ll remember to trip aggressively and present our jersey.”
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