It was also the first win for the Canyon-SRAM rider since here eight month absence following a bad ankle break sustained in August 2015 at the USA Pro Challenge.

Despite repeated early attacks during the opening hour of the 102 kilometre stage, the peloton stayed together until the day’s only intermediate sprint.

Barnes’s final effort took her clear of Finland's Lotta Lepisto and Dutch rider Kirsten Wild.

The dominant Boels-Dolmans team picked up maximum points and seconds through Britain's Nikki Brammeier and Chantal Blaak of The Netherlands.

Boels-Dolmans’ Anna van der Breggen finished safely in the bunch to keep the maglia rosa leader’s jersey and

The Dutchwoman has a 18sec advantage over second stage winner and compatriot Annemiek van Vleuten in second place.

Tomorrow’s 118km stage, the fourth of 10, will run in a loop around Occhiobello.