Stage 4 of the Giro d’Italia Women brought the General Classification into sharper focus, with UAE Team ADQ once again playing a key role. On a demanding 142 km route from Castello Tesino to Pianezze (Valdobbiadene), featuring a challenging 12 km uphill finish, the team delivered a strong and cohesive performance.
After an early breakaway was reeled in, Eleonora Gasparrini launched into the next key move of the day, joining Alessia Vigilia (FDJ-Suez), Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime), and Lieke Nooijen (Team Visma | Lease a Bike). Their advantage peaked at over 3 minutes and 30 seconds, allowing UAE Team ADQ to control the race dynamics from behind.
As the peloton approached the final climb, the breakaway was caught, and UAE Team ADQ worked perfectly to keep team leader Elisa Longo Borghini well positioned. Movistar Team set a fierce tempo on the climb, reducing the lead group. Silvia Persico bridged across and stayed up front with Longo Borghini. As the gradient steepened, the lead group was further whittled down to four riders.
With 1.6 km to go, Sara Gigante (AG Insurance – Soudal Team) launched the decisive attack and soloed to victory with a 25-second lead. Behind her, Elisa Longo Borghini sprinted to an impressive second place, just ahead of the new Maglia Rosa, Marlen Reusser (Movistar Team).
In the GC standings, Longo Borghini now sits in second place, 16 seconds behind Reusser. Tomorrow’s Stage 5 is expected to suit the sprinters, covering 120 km from Mirano to Monselice.
Elisa Longo Borghini commented: “It was an especially intense day. The girls did an amazing job – always focused and right where they needed to be. Gasparrini spent most of the day in the break, Alena Amialiusik and Brodie Chapman helped me stay at the front in all the key moments, and Silvia Persico and Erica Magnaldi were my right and left hands. I did my best to stay with Reusser and grabbed some bonus seconds by finishing second, so I’d say it was a really positive day for the whole team. A special thank you to all my teammates – we’re racing with unity and high motivation.”
