Giro Donne Stage 9 LIVE: Annemiek van Vleuten set to seal the maglia rosa in Olbia

FINAL GENERAL CLASSIFICATION

1. Annemiek van Vleuten (Movistar) 24'26'25"
2. Juliette Labous (dsm-firmenich) +3'56
3. Gaia Realini (Lidl-Trek) +4'23
4. Veronica Ewers (EF Education-Tibco-SVB) +5'34
5. Erica Magnaldi (UAE Team ADQ) "

So Ewers did manage to get that extra second she needed to finish level on time with Erica Magnaldi. Not sure how, or where, at this moment, but I shall investigate.

1. Chiara Consonni (UAE Team ADQ)
2. Marianne Vos (Jumbo Visma)
3. Ally Wollaston (AG Insurance - Soudal Quick-Step)

That's the second stage victory in the Giro Donne for Consonni, after her first last year, and the best result for Ally Wollaston in a WorldTour race. That's the first time Marianne Vos has participated in the Giro d'Italia and not achieved a first place result.

Rachele Barbieri led out and the Italian had to go so early, too early it seemed, but she held her speed as Marianne Vos moved off her wheel and weaved around other riders as they faded, but couldn't come past Consonni. There was about half a bike length between them on the line. Not the fairytale final victory for Bastianelli, but her team-mate taking it will surely be the next best thing.

Dygert needs to avoid getting boxed in, while holding her team-mate's wheel on this run-in to town.

The peloton is in full flight now, along both sides of this very wide stretch of highway. Jumbo-Visma, dsm-firmenich, Uno-X and Movistar looking the most determined. It'd be very unusual for Marianne Vos not to win a stage. Vigilia has been swallowed up at just the right time.

The German champion has been such a valuable team-mate to Van Vleuten this week. Not that AVV couldn't have done it without her, but she's had more team support this week than in any race I can remember.

Vigilia is still there, at about 20 seconds in front, but there can't be any doubt she'll be pulled back before the time to gather squads for the final sprint.

20KM TO GO: THE SPEED INCREASING IN THE PELOTON

Vigilia is getting on with it, and 25 seconds is not to be sniffed at, but she's also about to turn into a headwind, which won't help her.

The Top Girls Fassa Bortolo rider just eases away, to stretch her legs a bit. No threat to the peloton who don't mind giving her a dozen or so seconds, but I'd be surprised if it was more than that.

A bit too fast for some of the riders from Human Powered Health, who take an early corner a little wide but no disasters. Blanka Vas again right at the front, descending demonically and giving the TV moto a moment or two of alarm as she comes up on his wheel, simultaneously stretching out the peloton. I've enjoyed this rider a lot in the last few days. The Hungarian national champ's is one of the best jerseys in the World Tour as well.

1. Gaia Realini (Lidl-Trek) 21'11'15
2. Fem van Empel (Jumbo Visma) +6'21
3. Anna Shackley (SD Worx) +8'15
4. Petra Stiasny (Fenix-Deceuninck) 25'28
5. Shirin van Anrooij (Lidl-Trek) +28'50

There's really only been one rider in the young rider competition, and Realini has been very good for her place on the overall podium as well. We can expect big things from this 22 year old.

35KM TO GO: BLANKA VAS DRAGS LIPPERT BACK

And open up a small split, which Jayco-Alula are happy to exploit, in the process. It's not taking much to open up holes in the peloton today.

This is how you attack. All-in on this slope and she quickly opens up a good break, having been given the nod from team-mate Annemiek van Vleuten. Niamh Fisher-Black (SD Worx) tries and struggles to follow.

A reasonable dig from the FDJ - SUEZ rider, which inspires a few counters, and bringing about a few splits on these twisty ramps. Lots of riders know they won't have a hope if it finishes all together, and lots of teams with very little to show for the week.

Top 5 at Tempio Pausania:

1. Anouska Koster 8 points
2. Ane Santesteban 7
3. Annemiek van Vleuten 5
4. Gaia Realini
5. Mavi Garcia

That puts Realini level with Niamh Fisher-Black on 34 points, for second spot, but otherwise doesn't change much.

The British rider has been the consummate road captain this week, and she continues to play that role of responsibility, for her younger, less experienced Lidl-Trek team-mates. Gaia Realini, especially, in the white jersey seems to have benefitted from Deignan's guidance.

No repeat of Tokyo, as the peloton takes the climb just a few kph faster. EF and Lidl-Trek are the teams setting the pace, with Movistar looking after Van Vleuten fairly close to the front of the bunch. 4km to the top.

It's another fast flat finish, and her from-behind sprint yesterday was something else. As were the questions she was asked in the post-race interview...

I was fortunate enough to be covering the 2020 Olympic Road race in 2021, and it remains one of the most astonishing things I've ever witnessed in this sport. Yes, the Dutch got it wrong, but Kiesenhofer just rode her heart out.