On Monday, national champ Alison Jackson did what she does–animate the bike race. During Stage 3 of the Giro d’Italia Women, the Vermillion, Alta. native spent 118 km in the breakaway. Ultimately the move would come back by the finish in Buja, but Jackson put on a helluva show.
The St Michel-Preference Home-Auber93 pro joined an early six-rider move. It also included Nienke Veenhoven, Barbara Guarischi, Cristina Tonetti, Marta Pavesi and Eleonora Deotto. The group built a lead of around three minutes as the peloton settled into the 156-km stage from Bibione.
Monday’s route featured two late climbs. That definitely complicated the break’s chances of staying clear to the finish. Jackson helped animate the race on the Moruzzo climb, increasing the pace and helping split the front group. By the summit, only Jackson, Pavesi and Tonetti remained out front. Jackson also crested the climb first to collect maximum mountain classification points. She now sits third in the Maglia Azzurra competition.
At the Moruzzo KOM, Alison Jackson is first over the top, taking maximum points on offer. ⛰️🚴♀️
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Sul GPM di Moruzzo è Alison Jackson a transitare per prima e a conquistare il massimo dei punti in palio. ⛰️📺 Follow the #GiroditaliaWomen on TV, and on socials, wherever you are… pic.twitter.com/J0VDnSQ0cI
— Giro d’Italia Women (@girowomen) June 1, 2026
The breakaway was caught before the final climb, setting the stage for attacks among the GC contenders.
Demi Vollering’s FDJ-SUEZ shattered the bunch on the steep slopes, with their Dutch ace launching moves near the front. For a moment, race leader Elisa Balsamo appeared in danger of losing contact and missing out on the stage win.
But the Italian fought her way back into contention as the race regrouped inside the final 20 km. After several late attacks failed to stick, the stage came down to a reduced sprint.
Lily Williams launched a long-range effort in the closing metres, but Balsamo reacted quickly. The Lidl-Trek rider powered past her rival on the uphill finish to secure a third consecutive stage victory and strengthen her hold on the pink jersey. Well…sort of third consecutive. She finished second on Stage 1, but Lorena Wiebes was DQed for having a bike that was light by a few grams.
Three Canadians finished in the reduced bunch of 40–all of whom are GC contenders. World champ Magdeleine Vallières Mill was top Canuck in 21st, Lidl-Trek’s Holmgren 34th, and Nadia…
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