Annemiek van Vleuten critical of Strade Bianche-style gravel stage at Giro Rosa

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'Gravel sections in stage races are unnecessary, crazy and dangerous' says world champion and overall race leader

ARCIDOSSO, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 12: Annemiek Van Vleuten of The Netherlands and Team Mitchelton - Scott / Mechanical Problem / Vittoria Wheels / during the 31st Giro d'Italia Internazionale Femminile 2020, Stage 2 a 124,8km stage from Civitella Paganico to Arcidosso / @GiroRosaIccrea / #GiroRosa / on September 12, 2020 in Arcidosso, Italy. (Photo by Luc Claessen/Getty Images)
Annemiek van Vleuten forced to run up Seggiano gravel climb in stage 2 at the Giro Rosa (Image credit: Getty Images)

Annemiek van Vleuten (Mitchelton-Scott) was critical of the Giro Rosa organiser's decision to include gravel sectors into stage 2 of this year's route. The world champion won the Strade Bianche-style stage but only after being forced to run up the Seggiano gravel climb before then taking a solo win Arcidosso. 

"Sometimes people ask me how your legs feel if you go all out," Van Vleuten wrote in post to Twitter Sunday morning before the start of stage 3, which includes a video of her running up the gravel climb.

Kirsten Frattini
Kirsten Frattini
Deputy Editor

Kirsten Frattini is the Deputy Editor of Cyclingnews, overseeing the global racing content plan.

Kirsten has a background in Kinesiology and Health Science. She has been involved in cycling from the community and grassroots level to professional cycling's biggest races, reporting on the WorldTour, Spring Classics, Tours de France, World Championships and Olympic Games.

She began her sports journalism career with Cyclingnews as a North American Correspondent in 2006. In 2018, Kirsten became Women's Editor – overseeing the content strategy, race coverage and growth of women's professional cycling – before becoming Deputy Editor in 2023.