Kim Le Court-Pienaar takes sensational win on San Luca.

Kim Le Court-Pienaar takes sensational win on San Luca.

A perfect and unforgettable day in Emilia-Romagna for our team.

Kim Le Court-Pienaar’s dream season continued Saturday afternoon, in Italy. Winner of Liège-Bastogne-Liège, a Tour de France stage and the first African rider to wear the Grande Boucle’s iconic yellow jersey, the Mauritian Champion now added her name to the roll of honour at the Giro dell’Emilia Donne.

The 29-year-old, who came here after a solid top ten at the World Championships held in Rwanda, was part of a select group of riders that emerged clear on the penultimate ascent of the day and arrived together at the bottom of the iconic climb (2.1km, 9.4%) with a comfortable margin over the chasers. A steep hill, where timing is always crucial, San Luca reduced the front group to just a handful of riders, and Kim patiently waited for the last part to pounce.

As soon as she got out of the saddle and accelerated, AG Insurance – Soudal’s leader opened what proved to be a decisive gap. Le Court-Pienaar kept the high tempo all the way to the finish line, where she celebrated her sixth victory of the year and her first in an Italian semi-classic, showing again not just how strong, but also how versatile she is.

“I’m really proud of this victory and of the way the entire team worked today. This one feels special, because I’ve always dreamed of winning solo, and today I made that dream a reality. My teammates were fantastic today, incredibly committed from start to finish. Their belief in me is what gives me the strength to do what I do and I’m grateful for every single one of them. It’s a beautiful and unforgettable day for the entire squad”, said Kim, who was joined in the top ten by AG Insurance – Soudal teammate Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio.