Kirchmann celebrates Canada Day with time trial win at Giro Rosa

Rio Olympian rips 2-km prologue to wear first pink

Rob Sturney July 1, 2016

Leah Kirchmann, 2013’s Canadian national time trial champion, shook the champagne on Friday’s prologue of the Giro d’Italia Internazionale Femminile, or Giro Rosa, marking Canada Day by wearing the pink jersey.

#GiroRosa On the podium! What a superb performance from @L_Kirch. #TeamLivPlantur #KeepChallenging pic.twitter.com/g3qbeKCgNN

— Team Sunweb (@TeamSunweb) July 1, 2016

Liv-Plantur’s Kirchmann ripped the flat 2-km Gaiarine prologue in 2:23:28, a second quicker than Thalita De Jong (The Netherlands/Rabobank-Liv) and De Jong’s teammate and compatriot, reigning champ Anna Van Der Breggen.

It was Kirchmann’s second victory of the year after March’s Drentse Acht van Westerveld. It’s the Canadian Olympians’ first time at the Giro Rosa.

Coming a day after her 26th birthday, Kirchmann was jubilant with the win.

What a feeling! Never thought I would be in pink at my first #GiroRosa!! Couldn't think of… https://t.co/4w1eBYd7xS

— Leah Kirchmann (@L_Kirch) July 1, 2016

The ten-stage race continues Saturday with a sprinter’s route to San Fior.