The female one two

Late last night, Italian Valentina Rocca finished the 2019 Italy Divide as the first female with a time of 5 days, 10 hours and 55 minutes. Here’s her moment of arrival captured by the organisers:

Valentina was followed seven hours later by Briton Philippa Battye, coming in as second female with a time of 5 days, 17 hours and 37 minutes. Chapeau to both.

And in a moving statement echoing James’s comments, Sofiane had this to say of their joint finish:

Riders are now finishing thick and fast, with 20 competitors over the line – including long-time leader Jay Petervary, who still managed a top 10 placement despite his potentially race-ending mechanical trouble.