Elisa Balsamo's hat trick at the Giro Women

Elisa Balsamo makes it three wins at the Giro Women: the Lidl-Trek athlete also won the 156km third stage from Bibione to Buja.

The race heated up on the Montenars mountain pass, a short but challenging climb, with some of the big names expected in the Giro d'Italia making their moves.

Most of the sprinters thus dropped away, but Balsamo did very well to return to the flat and then regulate the small group of 40 women who remained. Behind her were Williams , Gerritse and Longo Borghini.

Tomorrow is the first challenge for the general classification with the Nevegal time trial.