Luiza De Souza was among the riders to watch, and she delivered. The 23-year-old Brazilian won the opening women’s stage, overcoming both her rivals and a late crash that could have cost her dearly.
As in the men’s race, the stage was decided on the long central climb, where the lead group shrank to four: De Souza, Lola Bakker, Greete Steinburg and Mara Parisi. On the final ascent the Brazilian launched the decisive attack; Bakker held on for a few hairpins before cracking.
A crash by the leader on the final descent threatened to reopen the race, but De Souza remounted and crossed the line in 3:10:46. Bakker came home at 1:33, still firmly in contention for the overall. Steinburg took third at 3:10, Parisi fourth at 6:49.
The sour note was Syd Schulz, fifth at more than 21 minutes. The American, the 2025 runner-up, was well below her best: she may have been affected by jet lag, having landed in Italy only the day before, or not yet adjusted to the heat.
After the finish, De Souza was taken to Porretta Terme Hospital as a precaution for checks, following a blow to the head sustained in the crash.
“I felt good for most of the race, but in the finale I couldn’t hold Luiza’s pace,” Bakker admitted. “I didn’t see the crash, but I really hope she can start again tomorrow morning.”
