The first major GC test of the Giro d’Italia Women delivered some big time gaps on Tuesday, as Anna van der Breggen just crushed it to take the dub in the super-tough uphill time trial to Nevegal.
The 12.7-km race against the clock finished with a brutal 7.5-km climb averaging 8.4 per cent. Team SD Worx-Protime’s Anna van der Breggen was in a class of her own, putting more than a minute into world champion Marlen Reusser and moving into the race lead. Demi Vollering rounded out the stage podium.
The Canadians
Lidl-Trek’s Isabella Holmgren finally had a day to giv’er at the Giro. Through the first three stages, the multiple world champion had been laying low, finishing in the bunch and waiting for the hills. The Oro-Medonte, Ont., rider started off conservatively in the TT, then ramped it up when the ramps came up.
Third best time for Isabella at the finish – that climb was a sufferfest 🥵#GirodItaliaWomen pic.twitter.com/CeTDMAIdRO
— Lidl-Trek (@LidlTrek) June 2, 2026
Nadia Gontova also ripped it up the slopes, finishing 13th. Behind Van der Breggen, several contenders limited their losses, but the Dutch rider’s dominant performance reshaped the overall standings and underlined her status as one of the favourites for the maglia rosa.
One to watch: Isabella Holmgren 👀 The Canadian talent has already made her mark in the MTB World Cup and is now taking on the Nevegal TT. ⏱️🔥#WonderfulWomen #WOW #GirodItaliaWomen @LidlTrek pic.twitter.com/6FvoxL9lAM
— Giro d’Italia Women (@girowomen) June 2, 2026
Pink jersey Elisa Balsamo finished well off the pace, which was expected. Van der Breggen now leads the Giro by more than a minute. Holmgren sits 10th overall and Gontova 13th. Magdeleine Vallières-Mill of EF Education-Oatly had a solid ride (although for the first time this year we saw her without her rainbow jersey, since it was a TT), but dropped a few spots to 23rd overall.
The hills continue on Wednesday. Stage 5 from Longarone to Santo Stefano di Cadore (146 km) features four categorized climbs. Will the big teams let an early break go? On Monday, national champion Alison Jackson spent 120 km in the escape and also grabbed QOM points.
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