20-year-old Aussie nabs unexpected result in women’s Giro d’Italia

In her second year as a professional cyclist, Australia’s Neve Bradbury has finished 10th overall in the Giro Donne, the women’s equivalent of the Giro d’Italia.

The 20-year-old Victorian climbed consistently across the 10-stage tour to secure the best result of her young career behind Dutch winner Annemiek Van Vleuten.

The top-10 finish was unexpected for a rider whose goal had been just to complete her debut Giro Donne with her Canyon//SRAM Racing team.

“The Giro went really well for me,” Bradbury said. “My performance exceeded my initial goals which were to get through the tour and help my teammates as much as possible.

“I didn’t aim for any specific result and was focused on recovery so I could do my best to be a reliable teammate.

“I ended up with 10th on GC which I am really happy and surprised about.”

Bradbury also placed second in the youth classification for under-23 riders.

Her best stage result was ninth on a mountainous stage 8, before consolidating her general classification position on the queen stage, which packed 3,100 vertical metres into 112 kilometres of racing.

Neve Bradbury (left) finished 10th in her debut at the Italian stage race. (Photo: Giro Donne).

It’s an impressive outcome in what was also the longest race of Bradbury’s career.

The Melburnian turned professional last year after winning Zwift Academy in 2020. Before that, Bradbury rode for Roxsolt Attaquer (now Roxsolt Liv SRAM) in the National Road Series.

Former Australian national champion Sarah Roy was full of praise for her Aussie teammate.

“Our MVP (most valuable player) was our little mountain goat, Neve, who at just 20 years of age earned 10th in GC in her first ever Giro. I think that’s worth celebrating,” Roy said.

It’s the latest in a wave of strong performances by Australian road riders overseas, following the likes of Alexandra Manly and Georgia Baker and Jai Hindley in the men’s Giro d’Italia.

Results – 2022 Giro Donne

1. Annemiek VAN VLEUTEN (Movistar Team) 27:07:26
2. Marta CAVALLI (FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope) +1:52
3. Mavi GARCÍA (UAE Team ADQ) +5:56
4. Elisa LONGO BORGHINI (Trek – Segafredo) +6:45
5. Niamh FISHER-BLACK (Team SD Worx) +11:12
6. Cecilie Uttrup LUDWIG (FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope) +12:14
7. Silvia PERSICO (Valcar - Travel & Service) +13:08
8. Erica MAGNALDI (UAE Team ADQ) +15:13
9. Juliette LABOUS (Team DSM) +15:49
10. Neve BRADBURY (Canyon//SRAM Racing) +17:29

Feature photo: Giro Donne