Jumbo-Visma’s Marianne Vos claimed her 30th career victory at the Giro d’Italia Donne on stage 7 on Thursday, to extend her record of the most number of stage wins in the race.
The Dutchwoman is the most successful sprinter in women’s cycling, having won in both classics and stage races across her 20-year career, and with 18 more stage wins than anyone at the Tour of Italy.
Sprinter counter-part Mark Cavendish said on social media that Vos has been his inspiration, adding she is the “goat” (greatest of all time).
“Until we finally have the privilege of the Tour de France Femmes next year, the Giro d’Italia Donne is the greatest stage race for our female colleagues. And Marianne Vos has just won her 30th stage of the race. This NEEDS to be big news. 30 is such a milestone,” he said.
“She’s been my inspiration on so many levels, for so many years. The absolute GOAT.”
Vos has won the tour of Italy, previously known as the Giro Rosa, outright three times, putting her two behind Italy’s Fabiana Luperini who claimed the titles in the 1990s and 2008.
Vos, 34, said: “It is an incredible number, but it is not really something I was thinking of. You know, every day is a new day in the Giro, and every day you have to be ready to focus, to fight and to get there. My team is also inspirational, getting me in the right position and focussed to win again. It’s number two this Giro, the total is incredible.”
Cavendish, who’s career spans a similar length to Vos, on Tuesday won his 33rd Tour de France stage to go one behind Eddy Merckx’ record for most number of stage wins in the prestigious grand tour.
The Tour de France Femmes begins on July 24, 2022 on the Champs Elysees in Paris for eight stages.
The Giro d’Italia Donne has 11 stages and fellow Dutchwoman Anna van der Breggen leads the general classification after stage 7.