Anna van der Breggen delivered the clearest statement yet of her return to the top level, winning stage 4 of the Giro d’Italia Women 2026 with a commanding ride on the uphill time trial to Nevegal. The SD Worx-Protime rider stopped the clock 1:04 faster than Marlen Reusser, taking both the stage victory and the maglia rosa after Elisa Balsamo lost more than 9 minutes on the climb.
Reusser had looked set for victory after putting 50 seconds into Urška Žigart, but Van der Breggen’s ride changed the race completely. Demi Vollering finished third, 6 seconds behind Reusser, with Antonia Niedermaier also producing a strong performance for Canyon SRAM to move into the top places on the stage.
The 12.7-kilometre course from Belluno to Nevegal was short but decisive. The first 5.3 kilometres to the intermediate time check were rolling and relatively gentle, averaging around 1.5 per cent, but the final 7.4 kilometres climbed at an average of 8 per cent. With early ramps around 12 per cent and the final kilometre easing to 3.8 per cent, it was a stage that rewarded riders who could combine aerodynamics, pacing and climbing strength.
Early riders set a demanding benchmark
Ilaria Marinetto was the first rider down the ramp, starting in reverse order of the general classification. The early starters were quickly faced with a course that gave little away. The opening section allowed riders to carry speed and use time trial positioning, but the main climb demanded a very different effort, especially for those choosing between a full TT bike, a road bike or hybrid set-ups with extensions.
Becky Storrie was the first rider to put down a serious marker. The Picnic-PostNL rider clocked 10:10 at the intermediate check, then finished in 35:57, more than 2 minutes quicker than the riders who had finished before her. That time stood for a while and underlined how much the stage rewarded riders who could pace the second half of the climb properly.
Valentina Venerucci then moved into the lead with 35:29, taking 28 seconds out of Storrie. The San Marino rider handled the steep second half well and briefly reset the standard. Justine Ghekiere also showed signs of improvement after a difficult opening few days, setting a competitive intermediate time and moving into the provisional top positions.
Muller and Reusser move the race forward
The next major benchmark came from Solène Muller. The St Michel-Preference Home-Auber93 rider set a new best intermediate time, then reached the finish in 34:37, cutting 52 seconds from Venerucci’s mark. Marion Bunel ran her close at the intermediate check, only 1 second behind Muller, but lost time on the main climbing section and finished 14 seconds slower than her compatriot.
As the stronger general classification riders began to start, the stage began to sharpen. Monica Trinca Colonel set the best intermediate time at 9:23, showing real strength on the first half of the course, while Isabella Holmgren produced an excellent ride to move into the provisional podium places. Lauren Dickson also impressed for FDJ United-SUEZ, continuing a strong first WorldTour season with another high-level performance.
Then Reusser arrived. Riding in the rainbow skinsuit of world time trial champion, the Movistar rider stopped the clock in 32:42, 50 seconds quicker than Žigart’s 33:32 and far ahead of the earlier benchmarks. Coming back from a vertebrae fracture, it was a striking performance and briefly looked like it might be enough for the stage win.
Vollering, Niedermaier and Longo Borghini shape the GC picture
Vollering started as one of the obvious favourites for the stage. The FDJ United-SUEZ rider reached the intermediate checkpoint with the fourth-best time, but the virtual standings suggested she was still close enough to challenge Reusser once the climbing section was taken into account.
She went deep in the final kilometre and crossed the line 6 seconds slower than Reusser. It was a strong ride, especially on a course that demanded both power and climbing strength, but it did not quite put her in control of the Giro.
Niedermaier also delivered one of the rides of the day. After having a mechanical scare on stage 3, the German champion put that behind her and finished 22 seconds down on Reusser’s time, moving into second place provisionally and confirming herself as a real general classification factor.
Elisa Longo Borghini finished 1:51 down on Van der Breggen, placing eighth on the stage. That was a respectable ride from the defending champion, but it still left her with work to do in the road stages to come. Célia Gery, wearing the white young rider’s jersey, lost significant time, while Balsamo was already well down by the intermediate check.
Photo Credit: RCSVan der Breggen produces the ride of her comeback
The stage belonged to Van der Breggen. Starting among the final riders, she immediately looked smooth and controlled, staying low in the time trial position even as the road steepened. At the intermediate check, she had taken 24 seconds out of Trinca Colonel’s previous best time, and from there the question became whether she could sustain the effort through the steepest kilometres.
She did more than that. While others began to rock on the steeper sections or shift position repeatedly, Van der Breggen kept her rhythm. Even in the final 2 kilometres, when she briefly looked to be labouring, she stayed composed, using her aero set-up and climbing strength to keep adding time.
By the finish, the margin was emphatic. Van der Breggen beat Reusser by 1:04 and Vollering by 1:10, winning the stage and taking the maglia rosa by more than 1 minute overall. It was comfortably her best ride since returning from three years of retirement, and it immediately changed the shape of the Giro.
There was also a notable sporting moment at the finish, with Reusser, still in the rainbow skinsuit, congratulating Van der Breggen after being displaced from the lead. It reflected the level of ride required to beat the world time trial champion by more than a minute on a course like this.
Balsamo loses pink but keeps the points jersey
Balsamo was always expected to lose the maglia rosa on a course like Nevegal, but the scale of the loss confirmed that the Giro had now moved fully into general classification territory. The Lidl-Trek rider crossed the line 9:14 slower than Van der Breggen, ending her spell in pink after a brilliant opening run of sprint results.
She did, however, retain control of the points classification. With only 15 points available on the stage and a large advantage built across the first three days, Balsamo remained in the red jersey picture even as the overall race shifted away from the sprinters.
The wider GC changed sharply. Van der Breggen now has the race lead and a clear tactical advantage for SD Worx-Protime. Reusser, Vollering, Niedermaier, Longo Borghini and the rest now have to decide whether to wait for the biggest mountain stages or begin applying pressure immediately.
Stage 4 was the first decisive GC day of the Giro d’Italia Women 2026, and Van der Breggen made it count. She did not just win the time trial. She took control of the race, removed Balsamo from pink, and set a standard that the rest will now have to chase.
Giro d’Italia Women 2026 stage 4 result
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Main photo credit: Getty
