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Young French rider Celia Gery surged to victory on stage seven of the women’s Giro d’Italia.<\/b><\/p>\n
Lucinda Brand led round the final corner but 20-year-old Gery came off her wheel and outsprinted the Dutch rider to claim her first stage win in the Giro.<\/p>\n
The two were part of a six-rider breakway that managed to hold off the peloton, which finished eight seconds back.<\/p>\n
“It was a bit strange to be there but I was, so I just kept a cool head and went for it,” said Gery.<\/p>\n
Italy’s Chantal Pegolo was third on the 159km stage from Sorbolo Mezzani to Salice Terme, while British riders Millie Couzens and Josie Nelson were ninth and 10th. <\/p>\n
Dutch rider Anna van der Breggen was involved in a crash with 55km to go but recovered to retain the overall lead of the race heading into the final two stages.<\/p>\n
Van der Breggen leads compatriot Demi Vollering by a minute, with Germany’s Antonia Niedermaier one minute and 24 seconds off the lead. <\/p>\n
The penultimate stage of the race on Saturday will be a 105km run from Rivoli to Sestriere.<\/p>\n
It features the highest point of the race, with the riders facing the 2,180m Colle delle Finestre – scene of Giro-winning attacks by both Chris Froome and Simon Yates – before a summit finish at Sestriere.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n