10.07.2024 World-Tour, News, Race news

SORAYA SECOND ON STAGE FOUR OF THE GIRO D'ITALIA

Soraya Paladin took an impressive second place on today’s fourth stage of the Giro d’Italia Women in Urbino. The CANYON//SRAM Racing rider was in a large breakaway with teammate Elise Chabbey, who took a strong fourth place. For the second day in a row, the team won the Best Team stage classification, and for the fourth day in a row, Antonia Niedermaier wears the Maglia Bianca for Best Young Rider.

The stage began in Imola with a neutral lap of the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in sweltering conditions. Though the 113km-long stage had only 1200m of elevation, almost all came in the final 50km. An early five-rider breakaway formed after the first hour of racing, with Clara Emond (EFC) breaking away solo with more than 45km to go. Soraya and Elise managed to join a group of around fifteen riders with 40km to go. The chasers reduced the gap to the leader over the next 20km before Elise launched a powerful attack over the final QOM. Her move created a two-rider chase, but it was caught with five kilometres to go by a group, including Soraya. Elise launched another attack with 800m remaining but was quickly reeled in. In a Strade-Bianche-style steep uphill finish, Soraya attacked the small group and powered to the line in the centre of Urbino to take second place.

The peloton was a further 1:08 minutes back, including Antonia Niedermaier and Neve Bradbury. Antonia is now sixth in the general classification at +1:06. Neve holds her twelfth place at +2:02.

RIDER REACTIONS

Soraya Paladin: “Chapeau to the winner because she was strong today. We tried to manage the situation with some GC riders in our group because of Antonia’s fourth place. Elise’s attack over the QOM was good, but that didn’t work out even though she chased hard. When my group came back to Elise’s, we waited for the final 1km to attack. I’m disappointed to get second. We’re strong and looking forward to the next stages.”

Antonia Niedermaier: “Everyone felt the heat today. The big breakaway at the end, with Soraya and Elise, was a good position for us. Soraya getting second place shows how strong she is and how well our team is racing. Neve and I have a good time on GC, and we’re still both first and second in the white jersey, so it’s been a good day for us.”