'I’m back!': Sarah Gigante solos to Giro d’Italia Women stage victory

Sarah Gigante has made a remarkable comeback delivering one the best performances of her career to win stage four of the Giro d’Italia Women.

Gigante soloed to victory on the 142km stage from Castello Tesino to Pianezze just two months after returning to racing following a long injury lay-off that included surgery to correct iliac artery endofibrosis.

The 2019 national road champion and Brunswick Cycling Club product remained patient in the lead group on the final 11km climb up to Pianezze, before launching an attack 1.5km from the mountain-top finish.

Gigante (AG Insurance-Soudal) continued to power to victory, crossing with a 25-second margin over Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ) and Marlen Reusser (Movistar) to clinch her career first stage of the Giro d’Italia Women.

“It was a very emotional day. I felt good and was looking for a strong result, so I decided to take some risks. During the final kilometre, when I was alone in the lead, I kept looking back because I couldn’t believe what was happening. I’m really happy,” she said.

Gigante’s performance sees her move into third on the general classification - 34 seconds behind the Maglia Rosa Reusser, and 18 seconds behind last year’s winner Borghini. 

“It’s still too early to make any final predictions about the Maglia Rosa,” she said. “This Giro is wide open and still to be written. I’ve gone through some very tough times, but now I can finally say it: I’m back!

“I'm really grateful to [my team] - 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.”

The Giro d’Italia Women continues tonight with stage five being one for the sprinters.

Main image: LaPresse/Giro d'Italia Women