UAE Team ADQ came through a demanding and nervous opening day of the Giro d’Italia Women 2026 with an excellent result, as Irish sprinter Lara Gillespie secured third place in the 139-kilometre opening stage from Cesenatico to Ravenna. But at the end of the day, however, the jury disqualified the winner, Lorena Wiebes, for a breach of the bicycle weight limit. The victory and the Maglia Rosa were therefore awarded to Elisa Balsamo, with Lara Gillespie moving up to second place.
The team delivered an outstanding collective performance, spending the entire day at the front of the peloton. On a stage marked by several crashes and constant tension, UAE Team ADQ first helped control the breakaway of three riders before expertly navigating the most critical moments of the race, staying clear of trouble and maintaining strong positioning throughout.
In the final part of the stage, the team’s priority was to safely guide general classification leader Elisa Longo Borghini through the last five kilometres, where time gaps were neutralised for the GC contenders. Once that objective had been achieved, Longo Borghini and her teammates turned their attention to the sprint, setting a high pace at the front and delivering Gillespie into an ideal position for the final dash to the line.
After the finish, Lara Gillespie said: “Of course, I was hoping to win, but I’m still very happy with this podium because my teammates did an incredible job all day long. The final was very similar to a criterium, with constant positioning battles and a lot of intensity. The team did a fantastic job of keeping me near the front and out of trouble. Starting the Giro with a podium is a great result and gives us confidence for the days ahead.”
(ph. @facepeeters)
