Latest news with #Pianezze
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Australian Gigante geed after giant Giro stage win
Australian cyclist Sarah Gigante is back, claiming stage four of the Giro d'Italia and confirming she is an overall contender in the race. The biggest win of the 24-year-old's career comes after major surgery in December that forced Gigante off the bike for several months and delayed her start to the season. Advertisement The Tokyo Olympian is one of the sport's top young talents and her exploits on the uphill finish at Pianezze showed what Gigante is capable of when fit and healthy. Gigante broke clear with 1.5km left in the 142km-fourth stage from Castello Tesino and soloed to the finish. The AG Insurance-Soudal rider finished 25 seconds ahead of Italian star Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ) and Swiss ace Marlen Reusser (Movistar). With four stages left, Gigante lies third overall, only 34 seconds behind Reusser, with Longo Borghini second at 25 seconds. "I kept looking back because I couldn't believe what was happening. I'm really happy," Gigante said of her solo break at the finish. Advertisement "It's still too early to make any final predictions about the Maglia Rosa (leader's jersey). 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.'" Gigante underwent surgery late last year to fix Iliac artery endofibrosis, a significant problem that has afflicted several professional cyclists, including compatriot Amanda Spratt. Gigante said the difference before and after the surgery to her riding was "night and day". The iliac arteries run through the pelvis. The condition happens when high blood flow and repetitive hip flexion cause the artery to narrow. Advertisement Even in professional cycling, where a broken collarbone is seen as an occupational hazard, having the surgery is a major step. Gigante's recovery went better than expected and she returned to racing last month at the Tour de Suisse, finishing 12th overall. She aims to compete later this month at the Tour de France, where Gigante was seventh overall a year ago. The surgery was the latest in a series of injury and health setbacks for Gigante over the past few years. Gigante won last year's Tour Down Under in Adelaide and has snared three senior national road titles.
ABC News
10-07-2025
- Sport
- ABC News
Sarah Gigante claims Giro d'Italia Donne stage four win after six months out following surgery
Sarah Gigante has announced herself as an overall contender at the Giro d'Italia Donne with a stunning solo victory on stage four. Gigante (AG Insurance-Soudal) claimed victory by 25 seconds from Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team-ADQ) and Marlen Reusser (Movistar) up the punishing 10.9km, 7.4 per cent climb to Pianezze from Valdobbiadene and the first summit finish of this year's race. It is the biggest victory of the 24-year-old's career to date and comes after she spent six months out following surgery. The Australian burst away from the select group of leaders in the final 1,500m of the 142km-long stage from Castello Tesino to Pianezze. "I knew I was in good shape, but winning a stage goes beyond even my wildest dreams," Gigante said. "In the final stretch, I kept looking back — it felt too good to be true". Reusser reclaimed the Maglia Rosa (pink jersey) as the overall leader, with Longo Borghini 16 seconds down in second place on general classification. Gigante, who burst onto the scene by claiming the Australian road race title as an 18-year-old in 2019 following another fine solo break, is in third place at 34 seconds. The Aussie is also in the Maglia Azzurra (blue jersey) as leader of the Queen of the Mountains classification. Gigante, who won a stage and the overall title at the 2024 Tour Down Under and is a two-time national time trial champion, has only just returned to action following iliac artery surgery in the off season. The Victorian rider required the operation due to a thinning of the artery that transports blood down to her right leg, resulting in numbness and pain and is increasingly common in endurance athletes, particularly cyclists due to the constant flexing of the hip. Gigante had previously required treatment for myopericarditis, an enlarging of the lining of the heart, in 2021. "I had surgery on my iliac artery, then dislocated my shoulder and was out for six months," Gigante said. "I've been waiting for this moment for a long time. "I'm really grateful to [my team] — they believed in me even after I had surgery … 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." Thursday's sixth stage is a flat, 120km ride from Mirano to Monselice which will likely have little impact on the general classification. From there, the race hits the mountains until the finish at Imola on Saturday.
BBC News
09-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Gigante takes Giro stage win as Henderson falls away
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 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 now leads the overall standings by 16 seconds from Longo Borghini with four stages 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 Sarah Gigante (Aus/AG Insurance-Soudal Team) 3hrs 56mins 22secsElisa Longo Borghini (Ita/UAE Team ADQ) +25sMarlen Reusser (Swi/Movistar Team) same timeAntonia Niedermaier (Ger/Canyon/SRAM Zondacrypto) +34sPauliena Rooijakkers (Ned/Fenix-Deceuninck) +50sBarbara Malcotti (Ita/Human Powered Health) +56sIsabella Holmgren (Can/Lidl-Trek) +01:01Lore de Schepper (Bel/AG Insurance-Soudal Team) same timeYara Kastelijn (Ned/Fenix-Deceuninck) +01:03Urska Zigart (Slo/AG Insurance-Soudal Team) +01:12 General classification after stage four Marlen Reusser (Swi/Movistar Team) 9hrs 38mins 06secsElisa Longo Borghini (Ita/UAE Team ADQ) +16sSarah Gigante (Aus/AG Insurance-Soudal Team) +34sAntonia Niedermaier (Ger/Canyon/SRAM Zondacrypto) +01:03Pauliena Rooijakkers (Ned/Fenix-Deceuninck) +01:48Anna van der Breggen (Ned/Team SD Worx-Protime) +01:53Yara Kastelijn (Ned/Fenix-Deceuninck) +01:54Isabella Holmgren (Can/Lidl-Trek) +01:57Lore de Schepper (Bel/AG Insurance-Soudal Team) +02:03Katrine Aalerud (Nor/Uno-X Mobility) +02:07
