Arlenis Sierra with Movistar

Havana, July 6 (ACN)-- The best road cyclist in the Americas, Cuban Arlenis Sierra, achieved a remarkable sixth place in the fifth stage of the Giro d'Italia for women.

Among the five riders who preceded the star of Cuban cycling in the fraction were three world champions.

Sierra crossed the finish line in the mass finish of the advanced peloton, led by Italy's Elisa Balsamo, followed by the Dutch Charlotte Kool and the legendary Marianne Vos, all, including the Cuban, with a time of 3:05:02 hours, the International Cycling Union announced on Twitter.

On Tuesday, the fifth leg of one of the three most important races was presaged to be suitable for the speed and power of the 29-year-old Spaniard.

The Cuban, the second cyclist with the second highest number of victories in the Spanish Movistar Team, is a fundamental part of the elite formation of the blue team to maintain the hegemony achieved on Monday by the main figure of the team, the Dutch Olympic and world title holder Annemiek van Vleuten.

Van Vleuten, leader of the world rankings in recent years, preserved the pink jersey of leader of the Giro, finishing today's ride in 24th place but in the same first group entry.

The route, 126.8 kilometers (km) from Carpi to Reggio Emilia, in northern Italy, was flat until km 80 and, after a slightly undulating segment until km 113, it was flat again until the finish.

In the general classification the Cuban remained in 24th place, 11:30 minutes behind Van Vleuten, who accumulated 11:51:35 hours.

This Wednesday, in 115.2 km from Sarnico to Bergamo, Sierra will have another chance for a great individual result, in addition to her priority work in favor of Van Vleuten, in a race that will exceed 1,000 km in 10 stages.