Giro d'Italia Women: Anna van der Breggen crushes opposition with stunning uphill time trial victory on stage 4, moves into pink jersey

Anna van der Breggen delivered a commanding performance in the stage 4 mountain time trial of the 2026 Giro d’Italia Women, covering the 12.7km course in an impressive 31 minutes and 38 seconds. The four-time winner of the race left her rivals trailing by a significant margin, finishing over a minute ahead of world time trial champion Marlen Reusser, who took second place. Demi Vollering completed the podium in third, while van der Breggen’s victory propelled her into the overall race lead, allowing her to don the coveted maglia rosa. The time trial route, which featured a challenging climb to Nevegal with gradients peaking at 10.4%, tested the riders’ climbing prowess and technical skills. Van der Breggen’s dominance was evident from the intermediate time checks, where she consistently outpaced her competitors, ultimately securing a lead that none could challenge. The stage reshaped the general classification, with van der Breggen moving from the maglia azzurra to the pink jersey and establishing a comfortable margin over her nearest rivals ahead of the demanding stage 5. Reflecting on her achievement, van der Breggen expressed surprise and satisfaction at reclaiming the maglia rosa, emphasising the hard work she has invested over the past two years to return to this position. She acknowledged the upcoming challenges, particularly the rain-affected descents and the mountainous terrain of the next stage through the Dolomites. Confident in her team’s support, she remains optimistic about defending her lead despite the difficult conditions anticipated. The stage also saw notable performances from younger riders, with Isabella Holmgren moving into the white jersey as the best young rider after a strong time trial. Meanwhile, previous leader Elisa Balsamo struggled on the climb, finishing well behind the main contenders and relinquishing the overall lead. Van der Breggen’s resurgence, eleven years after her first Giro d’Italia Women victory, signals a compelling narrative as the race progresses into its more mountainous phases, promising intense competition for the overall title.