Gigante takes Giro stage win as Henderson falls away

Sarah GiganteGetty Images

Sarah Gigante is now 34 seconds behind overall leader Marlen Reusser

Sarah Gigante won stage four of the Women's Giro d'Italia, as former leader Anna Henderson of Great Britain lost more than nine minutes on the leaders.

Australian rider Gigante launched an attack in the final two kilometres of the climb from Valdobbiadene to Pianezze and won by more than 25 seconds, with 2024 champion Elisa Longo Borghini crossing the line in second and Marlen Reusser third.

Reusser now leads the overall standings by 16 seconds from Longo Borghini with four stages remaining.

Henderson's bad day means she has fallen to 34th overall. Nicole Cooke, in 2004, is the only British woman to win the Giro.

"I knew I was in good shape, but winning a stage goes beyond even my wildest dreams," Gigante said.

"I had surgery on my iliac artery, then dislocated my shoulder and was out for six months.

"I've been waiting for this moment for a long time. In the final stretch, I kept looking back - it felt too good to be true."

Stage four results

  1. Sarah Gigante (Aus/AG Insurance-Soudal Team) 3hrs 56mins 22secs

  2. Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita/UAE Team ADQ) +25s

  3. Marlen Reusser (Swi/Movistar Team) same time

  4. Antonia Niedermaier (Ger/Canyon/SRAM Zondacrypto) +34s

  5. Pauliena Rooijakkers (Ned/Fenix-Deceuninck) +50s

  6. Barbara Malcotti (Ita/Human Powered Health) +56s

  7. Isabella Holmgren (Can/Lidl-Trek) +01:01

  8. Lore de Schepper (Bel/AG Insurance-Soudal Team) same time

  9. Yara Kastelijn (Ned/Fenix-Deceuninck) +01:03

  10. Urska Zigart (Slo/AG Insurance-Soudal Team) +01:12

General classification after stage four

  1. Marlen Reusser (Swi/Movistar Team) 9hrs 38mins 06secs

  2. Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita/UAE Team ADQ) +16s

  3. Sarah Gigante (Aus/AG Insurance-Soudal Team) +34s

  4. Antonia Niedermaier (Ger/Canyon/SRAM Zondacrypto) +01:03

  5. Pauliena Rooijakkers (Ned/Fenix-Deceuninck) +01:48

  6. Anna van der Breggen (Ned/Team SD Worx-Protime) +01:53

  7. Yara Kastelijn (Ned/Fenix-Deceuninck) +01:54

  8. Isabella Holmgren (Can/Lidl-Trek) +01:57

  9. Lore de Schepper (Bel/AG Insurance-Soudal Team) +02:03

  10. Katrine Aalerud (Nor/Uno-X Mobility) +02:07

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