‘The road to victory is not always immediate’ – Anna van der Breggen turns back the years in race against the clock at Giro d’Italia Women mountain time trial

At the Giro d’Italia Women, 36-year-old Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime) turned back the clock with her stage 4 victory on the mountain time trial from Belluno to Nevegal, beating her younger competitors by over a minute and putting the maglia rosa on her shoulders for the first time since winning the 2021 Giro overall.

Going back 11 years, in 2015, a hilly time trial between Pisano and Nebbiuno was Van der Breggen’s first Giro stage victory and a crucial part of her first Giro GC victory. Then the mountain time trial five years ago, between Fondovalle and Cascate del Toce, was her last Giro stage win until now. It saw Van der Breggen cement the GC lead on the way to her fourth Giro victory, beating her then-teammate Demi Vollering (now FDJ United-SUEZ) by 1:06 minutes.