Arlenis Sierra wins again in Toscana and reaffirms as leader

Havana, August 28 (RHC) - The star of Cuban cycling, Arlenis Sierra, shines again in the Giro a la Toscana (Italy). After her victory in the prologue, she dominated this Saturday in the first stage and reaffirmed herself with the leader's pink jersey.
 
"A perfect double: after yesterday's (Friday) success in the opening stage of the time trial, Arlenis Sierra also put her stamp on the second stage of the International Women's Tour of Tuscany," said the specialized site tuttobiciweb.it, highlighting the new success of the manzanillera.
 
It added that the captain and leader of the professional club A.R. Monex, "obviously consolidates her leadership in the general classification of the race that will end tomorrow" (Sunday).
 
With her victory in the Segromigno in Piano, in the province of Lucca, the 28-year-old Cuban consolidated her lead in the overall individual classification, with a 23-second advantage over the second, Lithuanian Leleivyte.
 
The stage was completed by 133 of the 145 riders who started the race.
 
For Monex, Russia's Maria Novolodskaia was also included in the top 10, in seventh place.
 
Arlenis is the exponent monarch of the giro, as she won the previous edition (2019) riding for the now defunct Astana club.
 
The giro will end on Sunday with the second fraction, to be contested over 128 km between Lucca and Montecatini.
 
The race pays tribute to Italian Michela Fanini, winner of the famed Giro d'Italia in 1994 who died that same year in a car accident at the age of just 21.
 
Top ten in the first stage (116.8 km)
 
1 SIERRA CANADILLA Arlenis (CUB) A.R.MONEX 2:53:40
2 LELEIVYTE Rasa (LTU) AROMITALIA BASSO BIKES VAIANO 2:53:41
3 SILVESTRI Debora (ITA) GIRLS FASSA BORTOLO 2:54:10
4 NERLO Aurela (POL) POLISH NATIONAL SELECTION 2:54:10
5 REALINI Gaia (ITA) ISOLMANT - PREMAC - VICTORY 2:54:11
6 SHAPIRA Omer (ISR) ISRAEL NATIONAL TEAM 2:54:13
7 NOVOLODSKAIA Mariia (RUS) A.R.MONEX 2:54:25
8 BORGHESI Letizia (ITA) AROMITALIA BASSO BIKES VAIANO 2:54:43
9 BARIANI Giorgia (ITA) TOP GIRLS FASSA BORTOLO 2:54:43
10 CESULIENE Inga (LTU) AROMITALIA BASSO BIKES VAIANO 2:54:43
 
Top five overall
1 SIERRA CANADILLA Arlenis (CUB) A.R. MONEX WOMEN'S PRO CYCLING TEAM 2:56:29
2 LELEIVYTE Rasa (LTU) AROMITALIA BASSO BIKES VAIANO 2:56:52
3 SILVESTRI Debora (ITA) TOP GIRLS FASSA BORTOLO 2:57:17
4 NERLO Aurela (POL) POLAND NATIONAL TEAM 2:57:28
5 NOVOLODSKAIA Maria (RUS) A.R. MONEX WOMEN'S PRO CYCLING TEAM 2:57:32