Vancouver’s Sidney Swierenga is going home from Italy with a big one.

The 19-year-old Canadian finished sixth in the third and final stage of the Giro della Toscana on Sunday. She finished in the lead group and easily held onto the overall lead and claim the general classification victory. With the road worlds just weeks away, it’s a great sign for the talented climber. She’s been up there in lots of stage races this year, and has won the white jersey for best young rider, but this is her first overall title as an elite.

Sunday’s finale

Swierenga entered the final stage in yellow after winning Stage 2 on Saturday, and Team Liv AlUla Jayco’s Continental squad spent much of Sunday keeping the race under control.

The decisive moves came on the penultimate climb to Montecatini Terme, where Swierenga found herself in a seven-rider group that pulled about a minute clear of the peloton.
She stayed with the group through the final kilometres as the race came down to a sprint in Montecatini Terme. Victoire Berteau won the stage, with Nadia Quagliotto second and Swierenga sixth, all on the same time.

That was more than enough for the Canuck to take the overall title, finishing 15 seconds ahead of Malou Eisen.

A great finish to 3 days of racing

“We’ve just finished off the third and final stage of the Giro Della Toscana with an amazing team that was able to secure the GC win,” Swierenga said. “I couldn’t be more grateful for all the help from the girls because they all did so amazingly.”

The victory capped a strong three days for Swierenga and her teammates, who she said have come a long way since the beginning of the season. Swierenga’s debut season has been fantastic, with a slew of big results–especially when the roads go uphill.
“I’m very proud of all of us because we’ve come a really long way since the start of the season,” she said. “I can’t wait for the next races.”

That’s why the road worlds in Montreal definitely suit her and teammate Isabella Holmgren in the under-23 race. Team Canada definitely has a few cards to play.