The 7th stage of the Giro Women was mostly flat, although it featured a 9km climb at 3.6% with 27 km to go. An early break of five riders formed with Jackson, Pegolo, Segato, van 't Geloof and Luccon. Their advantage grew to almost 9 minutes. A massive crash shook the peloton with 53 km remaining, involving van der Breggen, Reusser, Niedermaier, Cavallar and Trinca Colonel. Fortunately, all of them were able to remount and rejoin the bunch.
On the climb, van 't Geloof and Luccon were dropped from the break. Segato took the QOM, but the peloton set a strong pace and crested the summit just 35" behind. While pacing on the descent, Célia Gery gained a small advantage. Silvia Persico sensed the opportunity and bridged across to the U23 world champion. Shortly afterwards, Lucinda Brand and Elisa Longo Borghini also attacked from the peloton and joined the leaders. Strong work from Persico over the final 15km helped the front group maintain a useful gap over the peloton, led by the sprinters' teams.
Persico finished her turn with 3 km to go and Longo Borghini took over. Under the flamme rouge the leaders still held a 10" advantage and, with Longo Borghini driving hard at the front, it proved enough to fight for the stage. Brand opened the sprint with 200m to go but was overtaken by Gery. The young French rider claimed her first WorldTour victory, winning a sprint between cyclocross stars. Brand finished second, while another rising talent, Chantal Pegolo, vice junior world champion last year, completed the podium. Longo Borghini crossed the line 3" later, while the peloton, led by Gillespie ahead of Consonni, arrived 8" behind the winner. Tomorrow comes the queen stage, featuring the monstrous Colle delle Finestre (18.6 km at 9.1%)!