Annemiek van Vleuten is back, takes 100th career win in Giro d'Italia Donne

Annemiek van Vleuten (Movistar) celebrates taking the first leader's jersey of the Giro d'Italia Donne 2023 after winning stage 2
Annemiek van Vleuten (Movistar) celebrates taking the first leader's jersey of the Giro d'Italia Donne 2023 after winning stage 2 (Image credit: Getty Images Sport)

Annemiek van Vleuten made a solo escape on the decisive final climb to take the win on stage 2 of the Giro Donne, claiming the first Maglia Rosa of the race after the cancelled stage 1 individual time trial.

The World Champion has won the Giro Donne on three previous occasions, including 2022 wherein she claimed all three 'Grand Tour' titles. However, the Dutch woman had not yet shown her usual dominance so far this season, with riders like Demi Vollering and Gaia Realini getting the better of her on multiple occasions.