Annemiek van Grooten won the race's first maglia rosa after soloing on the final climb of stage 2 of the Giro Donne and taking the race's first maglia rosa after the individual time trial of stage 1 was cancelled.

The world champion has won the Giro Donne three times in the past and has three Grand Tour titles in 2022. However, the Dutchwoman had yet to show her usual strength this season, as she was repeatedly led by Demi Vollering and Gaia Lealini.

The 102.1-km stage from Bagno a Ripoli to Maradi had only one climb, the 16.1-km Passo della Colla. With an average gradient of 4.5%, it was not the most difficult climb of the Giro, but it was one of the few opportunities for GC contenders.

Van Vleuten seized the opportunity to improve her time and attacked, gaining 45 seconds, her first time in the 2023 race, and confirming her pre-race declaration that "I am back." The win in Maradi was also the 100th career win for the 40-year-old, who is retiring at the end of this season.

"First of all, it's my 100th UCI win, which is really special. The Giro is my favorite race. It's unbelievable." Van Vleuten said after the stage.

The Movistar rider appreciated his recent block of high-altitude training in Livigno.

"I didn't know what was going on with my legs because I went to high altitude, and usually magic happens in Livigno. I think Livigno worked again."

The live video was interrupted by weather during the time Van Vleuten moved, but she explained how she took advantage of the steep gradient.

"There were two sections where we could attack, because it was a 9km climb and one km was 7% and two sections that were a bit steeper. But the other team was running a solid tempo, so I waited a bit and didn't use my first chance," she explained.

"But when we got to the second 7% part, I was a little surprised because I was immediately alone. Especially because there are some strong riders here."

Asked if this pink jersey meant more to her than before, Van Vleuten replied: "It's my last season and my last Giro d'Italia, so to be able to wear the pink jersey again at the last Giro d'Italia I'm very happy to wear the pink jersey again in my last Giro d'Italia.

Van Vleuten is 49 seconds ahead of FDJ-SUEZ's Cecilie Uttrup-Ludwig, with Team DSM-Filmenig's Juliette Labusse in third at 51 seconds.