Breakaway day for Ilse

AG Insurance - Soudal Quick-Step’s Ilse Pluimers spent the day in the breakaway on stage 4 of the Giro Donne while Justine Ghekiere represented the team colors by finishing in the main bunch of GC contenders.

It was a tough stage 4 in Italy, taking in 134km consisting of three categorised climbs and ascending a total of 1902m. Ilse attacked with two other riders who were eventually unable to stay with her strong pace. It left the peloton chasing her until the very closing stages of the day. Elisa Longo Borghini would eventually take the stage victory, with the group of main contenders, containing Ghekiere, coming home 40” later.

Clearly delighted with her efforts, Belgian Ghekiere said: ‘I didn’t know how I would feel today, because I crashed yesterday. In the beginning it was not so good, but as the race went on, I started to feel better and better. Then on the final climb I was in the main group and I had a good feeling. I now have a good feeling for the race and I feel that my real Giro starts today’

Pluimers was also delighted when she said: ‘It was a long day in the race. I had two riders with me, but I soon realised I was the strongest, so I set my own place on the climbs and I noticed that they couldn't keep up anymore, and ended up alone. Then I just kept going until the peloton caught up with me. I feel good, it was nice to be in the early breakaway and show our jersey.’



Sports director Jolien D’hoore was pleased with the all around team effort when she added: ‘The plan today was to go in the breakaway. Ilse did that perfectly with two other riders. She was really strong and able to stay until the final. We then had three riders in the main group, and Justine has a really good day, which is promising after some bad luck for her. Everyone is really happy with today and the girls are looking strong, so we are looking forward to the next days.”

The Giro Donne continues on Tuesday with a punchy 105,6 kilometer long stage from Salassa to Ceres.