Sarah Gigante tames the gradients en route to Giro stage win

Sarah Gigante tames the gradients en route to Giro stage win

The Australian takes the lead in the mountain classification after a stunning ride.

Sarah Gigante powered to a spectacular solo victory on the fourth stage of the Giro d’Italia, which travelled from Castello Tesino to Pianezze, a hard 11.2km first-category ascent in the province of Treviso.

AG Insurance – Soudal’s Aussie, who is competing in just her third race of the season, made her move around two kilometers from home, when she launched a fierce attack that dispatched all the other riders in the select front group and quickly put some considerable daylight between her and the chasers. Gigante pushed a big tempo and arrived alone, almost half a minute clear, celebrating the maiden success of her career in a Grand Tour, and one that catapulted her onto the overall podium of the race with four stages to go.

And what to say about the whole team, taking the 8th spot with Lore De Schepper and 10th for Urška Žigart in today's stage. Jumping both to a 9th and 11th spot in the general classification. These performances brings us on the first place in the team classification. A reward for the efforts of the whole team and staff.

“I already knew from the bottom of the climb that I was feeling good, and when I saw the others were struggling on those tough gradients, I attacked. I kept going and couldn’t believe what was about to happen in the final kilometer, when I looked behind and there was nobody there. It’s beyond my wildest dreams. The fact that I also took the QOM jersey is a beautiful bonus.”

“It’s amazing! It was an impressive ride, both for me and my AG Insurance – Soudal team. They were incredible, supporting me all day long. I’m really grateful to them – they believed in me even after I had iliac artery surgery, which kept me out of racing for six months. I was worried I wouldn’t be able to get back to my previous level, but they always lifted my spirits. This victory is for everyone who has always stood by me”, said a happy Sarah, the youngest rider to take a stage win at this year’s Giro d’Italia.