Vollering Wins Shortened Queen Stage as van der Breggen Retains Giro Lead

Demi Vollering won the shortened queen stage of the women's Giro d'Italia on Saturday after organizers removed the planned summit finish at Sestriere. The route was cut by 28 kilometres because an unstable slab of ice threatened to fall onto the road in the Italian Alps. Ice had already been cleared from an avalanche shortly before the riders passed through the area.

The finish line was moved to one kilometre below the Colle delle Finestre. Vollering, riding for FDJ United–Suez, prevailed in a four-way sprint to claim her second stage win of the race. She edged out Isabella Holmgren, Antonia Niedermaier and Anna van der Breggen.

"It was strange because the Finestre was suddenly the final climb," the 29-year-old Vollering said. " Van der Breggen of SD Worx–Protime kept the pink jersey. She leads the general classification after stage eight in 26 hours, 8 minutes and 24 seconds.

Vollering sits 49 seconds behind. Stage eight results showed Vollering finishing in 2 hours, 27 minutes and 47 seconds. Holmgren crossed the line one second later. Niedermaier and Van der Breggen recorded the same time as Holmgren.

Femke de Vries finished 53 seconds behind the winner, followed by Marlen Reusser at 56 seconds and Lauren Dickson at one minute and nine seconds. Elisa Longo Borghini placed eighth, 1 minute 38 seconds back. Niamh Fisher-Black finished ninth at 1 minute 46 seconds, and Valentina Cavaller tenth at 2 minutes 17 seconds.

The general classification after stage eight lists Antonia Niedermaier third at 1 minute 20 seconds behind Van der Breggen. Holmgren sits fourth at 1 minute 55 seconds. Reusser is fifth at 2 minutes 58 seconds, and de Vries sixth at 3 minutes 30 seconds.