Stage 1 was a wash-out, quite literally, so it's a relief to bring you news from a completed stage - though it wasn't without its mishaps, in terms of the weather conditions. A thunderstorm interrupted the broadcast making it difficult to keep up with the peloton as they went over one of the climbs, but we were back in business in time to see Annemiek van Vleuten take her 100th career victory and the race lead.

Check out the content we have for you today on the bulletin, below.

Today in review
Speedy stage preview
Lena's Giro Antipasti
Codetta

Today in review

Word of the day - by Peter Barnes

misterio (noun masculine) - mystery

When live pictures started today, there was a break of two riders up the road, with two more chasing. Leading were Susanne Andersen and Irene Menzel, however at the key section live pictures were lost in true Giro Donne tradition.

Attacks happened and were brought back, or were they? No-one really knows and the race became the Giro Donne sponsored by Schrödinger’s uncertainty principle.

When pictures came back, there was an attack from Annemiek van Vleuten making a charge for glory with 13km to go. Chasing her were the prodigious Gaia Realini and the wondrous Marta Cavalli. They were unable to sustain their effort and they were incepted into a bigger chasing group, all trying to bring back Annemiek.

Ultimately the group was unsuccessful and van Vleuten took a stage victory and consequently the overall lead of the race. Mysteries will remain such as: were others able to keep with her and chose not to initially? Will Annemiek hold this form for the whole race? And will TV pictures improve next year with a different company organising the race?

One mystery has been resolved; the borderline indomitable Annemiek of last year is back.

Footage of Annemiek van Vleuten, well... doing an Annemiek van Vleuten (source; GCN Twitter)

Speedy stage preview

Heading into the Emilia-Romagna region, stage 3 is a mostly flat stage, with a single categorised climb, the Villa Bianca-Marano (cat 3). While it looks like a nailed on bunch sprint, perhaps a determined breakaway might be able to stay away - it seems unlikely though.

Lena's Giro Antipasti

Stage 3

Historical fun fact: Formingine, the start of the stage, lies just 5 kilometres from the finish in Modena and was originally a defensive structure against the city Reggio Emilia during the age of the Italian city states.

Now the reason for this was a dispute over the river Secchia. It’s 172 kilometres long and originates in the Apennine mountains until it flows into the river Po.

Controlling it meant not only access to water but more importantly control of a trading route that passed right alongside Modena.

Today Modena’s economy is majorly influenced by luxury cars since Maserati calls it their home. The other Italian luxury car brands Ferrari and Lamborghini are built just a short bike ride away from the city.

Despite the consumeristic culture, Modena is also home to an alternative movement: the Spazio Sociale Libertario/Anarchico.

They support ecological projects, protested the building of a new autodromo and occupied houses.

Modena’s second economic stronghold is agriculture. Nearly everyone has heard of Parmeggiano and Lambrusco - these culinary highlights provide a surprising contrast with the city's other primary industry.

Codetta

Eri Yonamine's What3Words brings us daily updates from within the peloton. Here are Eri's thoughts on stage 2.

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