09.07.2025 World-Tour, News, Race news

ANTONIA CLIMBS TO FOURTH IN GIRO’S FIRST HILLTOP TEST, EXTENDS LEAD IN WHITE

The opening three stages of the Giro d’Italia Women – a 14 kilometre time trial, a dragging uphill finish, and a chaotic sprint – drew only a faint outline of the general classification. But after today’s 142km fourth stage featuring the first true summit finish, the GC picture is finally beginning to become clearer.

An 11km climb averaging 7.4% to a summit finish in Pianezze provided the battleground, and Antonia Niedermaier rose to the occasion. She finished fourth on the stage, just +34 secsonds behind an impressive solo winner, Sarah Gigante (AGS), and 9 seconds behind two of the world’s best – Marlen Reusser (MOV) and Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE).

With this result, Antonia extended her lead in the youth classification to 54 seconds over Holmgreen (LTK) and one minute over De Schepper (AGS). She has now worn the Maglia Bianca for three days this Giro, having first claimed it after finishing 14th in the opening time trial.

Although Antonia had her sights set on the podium on stage four, she was content with the ride, on a day when ambitions would either be fuelled or flattened.

“For sure, a podium would have been nicer, but I know that my shape is there. It was a nice climb, and I’m quite happy with my performance. I could have been a little bit better but I think all in all, the team did well, and it was a good race for us.”

Antonia described the stage as “crazy” and the lumpy run-in from Castello Tesino to the base of the climb in Valdobbiadene as “super fast and super hard”, with a relentless rhythm of corners, climbs and descents.

She praised the team for keeping both her and Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig in a safe, stress-free position heading into the final 20km – crucial teamwork that allowed them to unleash their best efforts against a stacked field of climbers as the road began to rise.

“A shout-out especially to Soraya! She was super good and knew the course really well. I’m really proud of her – she was always keeping us safe.”

Movistar set a blistering tempo at the base of the Pianezze climb (250 metres above sea level), but it wasn’t to go their way by the time the race reached the summit at 1083m. Reusser launched an attack with 9.5km to go, which only Gigante, Longo Borghini, Rooijakkers (FDC) and Antonia were able to follow. Although the Swiss rider pushed the pace briefly, she didn’t waste unnecessary energy trying to drop the others, and with 8.5km remaining, the tempo eased. A large regrouping followed, swelling the leading group to around 20 riders – Cecilie included.

van der Breggen (SDW) then took up the pace-making from 7km to 4km, with Antonia consistently in the front three wheels, looking composed and ready. Reusser tried again under the 3km mark, attacking through one of the many hairpins. This time, the same four riders responded – minus Rooijakkers. With 2km to go, the elastic began to stretch between Antonia and the other three. She fought to hold on as Reusser increased the pace, but when Gigante launched her winning move at 1.5km, the gap behind started to grow for good.

Antonia was able to rejoin Reusser and Longo Borghini in brief stints, but the effort had taken its toll. Although the gradients remained steady throughout the climb, it was the subtle increase in pace, rather than steeper terrain, that forced the telling gaps to open between Antonia and her GC rivals.

Antonia later reflected that the unexpected pacing in the middle of the climb may have actually played to her advantage.

“Actually, it was quite good for me that the pace was consistent and that van der Breggen paced the climb quite steady. I mean, I could also go with the attacks but in the end, I was quite done. Then, I couldn’t go with the two girls anymore.”

“It was strange because there was the attack from Marlen near the bottom and then we were just four, I think. Then, it regrouped. It was really quite strange because half of the climb didn’t feel super hard, like I was having to kill myself, but then the other half of the climb was very hard. At the very end, it was definitely all out.”

Tomorrow’s stage five from Mirano to Monselice is a flat one – offering some welcome ‘recovery’ for the GC contenders and a second shot at sprint glory for riders like Chiara Consonni. A crash-marred stage three dashed the hopes of many, hers included. The two caveats are the potential for crosswinds, and two laps of a technical, likely hectic finishing circuit that make up the final 30km.

Stage six opens the door to a wider range of possibilities. While it’s a long and hilly day with more than 2400m of climbing spread over 145km, it may well be a stage where strong, savvy opportunists like Soraya are given their chance to shine. With the GC contenders likely to conserve energy ahead of Saturday’s Queen stage, this could be a day for anyone bold enough to reach out and take it.

Stage seven, however, is where the overall standings are expected to be really rattled once more. At 150km, it’s the longest stage of the race and features a gruelling 3600m of climbing, culminating in a summit finish on Monte Nerone (14.8km at 6.6%). It’s a day that promises to be decisive, and Antonia already has it firmly in her sights.

“It’s a lot harder than today – more climbs, and probably a good chance to try something. Maybe to attack at some point. It’s always easier to attack than to be attacked.”

Four stages down, four to go, and the Giro is only just starting to reach boiling point.

HOW TO FOLLOW

Live coverage available from 12:50 CET each day via Eurosport, Discovery Plus, TNT Sports, FloBikes and RAI. Stay updated on X with #GirodItaliaWomen and #UCIWWT, and follow CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto’s social channels for the latest team updates.

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