If there is a stage more suited to the sprinters, even the criterium racers, in any Grand Tour this year, it would be a miracle. Stage 3 of the Giro d’Italia Internazionale Femminile is pan-flat and will be lightning-fast. Those in the mix yesterday will be licking their lips at a chance to get involved in the action again.

The route

Eight laps of a ten-mile circuit, clockwise through and around the town of Corbetta for a total of 132 kilometers. There are bonus sprints on the third, fifth and seventh laps.

The final three kilometers have a number of tight corners, including a vicious left-hander with about 800 meters to go. Even although the riders will have been through and seen the finish several times before, the battle for position could cause problems here, and on a right-hander through a roundabout with about 300 meters to go.

The last time the race was here in 2013, Marianne Vos took the win. Vos’ skillset is still so impressive that she should be right up there again today, along with the likes of yesterday’s winner Kirsten Wild (Wiggle-High5), Marta Bastianelli and Chloe Hosking (Alé Cipollini) and Lotta Lepistö (Cervélo-Bigla). Jolien D’Hoore (Michelton-Scott) didn’t contest the stage sprint yesterday but could well be in the mix if she’s feeling good.

The overall contenders will simply try to stay safe, upright and loose no time today. It sounds simple …