'I hope I'm an example that you need to keep fighting and in the end it will come again': Anna van der Breggen obliterates opposition in brutal Giro d’Italia time trial on stage 4, moves into pink

Anna van der Breggen delivered a commanding performance on stage four of the Giro d’Italia Women, winning the 12.7km individual time trial by a decisive margin and seizing the overall race lead. The former three-time Giro winner, riding for SD Worx Protime, completed the course in 31 minutes and 38 seconds, finishing over a minute ahead of world champion Marlen Reusser. Demi Vollering rounded out the podium, trailing Van der Breggen by 1 minute and 10 seconds, as the Dutch rider donned the coveted pink jersey, signalling her return to top form after coming out of retirement. The time trial itself was a challenging test, featuring a flat start before a demanding 7.4km climb with gradients reaching 14 per cent. Reusser had held the fastest time for much of the stage, briefly displacing Urška Žigart, but Van der Breggen’s pace at the intermediate checkpoint and her sustained effort on the climb proved unbeatable. Vollering also posted a strong intermediate time but could not match the Swiss rider’s finish, ultimately settling for third place. Italian rider Monica Trinca Colonel impressed with a solid ride, finishing just over a minute behind Van der Breggen. Van der Breggen reflected on her victory with a message of perseverance, emphasising the importance of continued effort to return to the highest level of competition. She acknowledged the hard work of the past two years and expressed pride in reclaiming the maglia rosa, while also recognising the challenges ahead in defending the jersey amid tough weather conditions forecast for the coming stages. The 36-year-old also paid tribute to absent teammates Mikayla Harvey, who had crashed earlier in the race, and Lorena Wiebes, noting that she would share the joy of wearing the pink jersey with them in spirit. With this stage win and overall lead, Van der Breggen has reasserted herself as a formidable contender in women’s stage racing. The race now moves forward with her as the rider to beat, but she remains mindful of the difficulties in maintaining the lead through the mountainous and rainy conditions expected. Her performance not only highlights her enduring talent but also sets the tone for a fiercely competitive remainder of the Giro d’Italia Women.