Edita Pucinskaite (Gauss RDZ Ormu - Colnago), race winner in 2006 and 2007, won the opening road stage and took the pink jersey of the GiroDonne today by outsprinting Italy's Fabiana Luperini (Selle Italia Ghezzi) and Germany's Judith Arndt (Team Columbia HTC Women) on the uphill finish in Pratolino di Vaglia.
"It's a wonderful feeling, unbelievable," said Pucinskaite. "I have suffered much in recent months, not having much success. I dedicate this victory to my team and to Ernesto Colnago, who have both made me feel important and assisted in putting me at ease. The Giro is long, but I am ready to go forward with my head held high. For me this is the greatest of victories and I will be ready to join the fight in each stage going forward." She dedicated her victory to fellow Lithuanian Zinaida Stahurskaia who was killed by an automobile last month while training.
Pucinskaite now leads in GC by one second over Arndt and nine seconds over Italians Cantele and Luperini.
American Megan Guarnier, from the US National Team, attempted a solo escape which lasted from Km 16 to 52.
Top 10 GC:
1 Edita Pucinskaite (Ltu) Gauss RDZ Ormu - Colnago 2:49:28
2 Judith Arndt (Ger) Team Columbia HTC Women 0:00:01
3 Noemi Cantele (Ita) Bigla Cycling Team 0:00:09
4 Fabiana Luperini (Ita) Selle Italia Ghezzi 0:00:09
5 Amber Neben (USA) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung 0:00:11
6 Emma Pooley (GBr) Cervelo TestTeam 0:00:12
7 Diana Ziliute (Ltu) Safi - Pasta Zara Titanedi 0:00:13
8 Nicole Brandli (Swi) Bigla Cycling Team 0:00:14
9 Svetlana Bubnenkova (Rus) Fenixs Edilsavino 0:00:18
10 Kristin Armstrong (USA) Cervelo TestTeam 0:00:19
1 Edita Pucinskaite (Ltu) Gauss RDZ Ormu - Colnago 2:49:28
2 Judith Arndt (Ger) Team Columbia HTC Women 0:00:01
3 Noemi Cantele (Ita) Bigla Cycling Team 0:00:09
4 Fabiana Luperini (Ita) Selle Italia Ghezzi 0:00:09
5 Amber Neben (USA) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung 0:00:11
6 Emma Pooley (GBr) Cervelo TestTeam 0:00:12
7 Diana Ziliute (Ltu) Safi - Pasta Zara Titanedi 0:00:13
8 Nicole Brandli (Swi) Bigla Cycling Team 0:00:14
9 Svetlana Bubnenkova (Rus) Fenixs Edilsavino 0:00:18
10 Kristin Armstrong (USA) Cervelo TestTeam 0:00:19
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