Stage 4 of the 2022 Giro Donne was an absolute belter. On paper, it looked like there might be a late attack with a launch pad climb just 10km from the finish. In reality, what we got was an absolutely gamechanger for the general classification.
Stage 4 Giro Donne GC Battle
After a quiet opening salvo which saw Franziska Brausser try and pick up a few more points in the QoM jersey, the 2nd climb of the day blew the race apart. Over its summit, Annemiek van Vleuten, Marta Cavalli and Mavi Garcia were the only 3 riders at the front of the race. Behind them was a group of other GC contenders, including a couple more like Elisa Longo Borghini trying to catch up and bridge back over.
After initially keeping the gap stable, the front trio broke the back of the chase and were left with no doubt that they were going to contest the stage victory.
On the final climb, Van Vleuten attacked, followed by Garcia and the pair managed to distance Cavalli. The pair worked well together once they stopped attacking each other. Cavalli was almost able to join back up, able to see the pair at one point but it wasn’t to be. Cavalli shipped time to the lead two riders all the way to the finish.
Van Vleuten took the pink jersey, the green mountains jersey went to Mavi Garcia and almost every other GC contender is now at least 5 minutes behind.
(Photo Credit: Sprint Cycling Agency)
Giro Donne 2022 GC ranking
Rank | Rider | Team | Time gap |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Annemiek van Vleuten | Movistar | Leader |
2 | Mavi Garcia | UAE Team ADQ | +25″ |
3 | Marta Cavalli | FDJ-Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope | +57″ |
4 | Elisa Longo Borghini | Trek Segafredo | +5’00” |
5 | Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig | FDJ-Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope | +5’13” |
6 | Amanda Spratt | BikeExchange-Jayco | +5’14” |
7 | Elise Chabbey | Canyon SRAM | +5’21” |
8 | Niamh Fisher-Black | SD Worx | +5’28” |
9 | Evita Muzic | FDJ-Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope | +5’29” |
10 | Silvia Persico | Valcar-Travel & Service | +5’29” |
11 | Erica Magnaldi | UAE Team ADQ | +6’10” |
12 | Anouska Koster | Jumbo Visma | +7’31” |
13 | Soraya Paladin | Canyon SRAM | +7’38” |
14 | Alena Amialiusik | Canyon SRAM | +7:46″ |
15 | Neve Bradbury | Canyon SRAM | +8:29″ |
16 | Clara Koppenburg | Cofidis | +8:46″ |
17 | Jelena Eric | Movistar | +8:59″ |
18 | Hanna Nilsson | Ceratizit WNT | +10’36” |
19 | Elisa Balsamo | Trek Segafredo | +11’02” |
20 | Marianne Vos | Jumbo Visma | +11’05” |
No longer unofficial, the actual top 20 after today’s stage have all earned their position after today’s test. Some notable GC riders who aren’t in the top-20 now include the likes of Juliette Labous in 23rd (+11’29”), Krista Doebel-Hickok in 33rd (+11:57″), Mikayla Harvey in 37th (+12’19”), Gaia Realini in 41st (+12’53”) and the former maglia rosa Kristen Faulkner in 42nd (+12’55”)
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