‘I know a time trial is always different than a road race', Van der Breggen takes pink in dominant Nevegal TT but braces for rain and brutal Giro climbs

‘I know a time trial is always different than a road race', Van der Breggen takes pink in dominant Nevegal TT but braces for rain and brutal Giro climbs

Anna van der Breggen won the 12.7km uphill time trial by more than a minute to seize the Maglia Rosa, but with a depleted SD Worx-Protime team and wet mountain stages ahead, defending it may be harder than winning it.

By Tim Bonville-Ginn · · 5 min read

Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime) won the stage 4 uphill time trial from Belluno to Nevegal at the Giro d'Italia Women and moved into the Maglia Rosa with a lead of more than a minute over every GC rival. It is her first time in pink since 2021, and it came on an uphill time trial, just like in 2021.

Marlen Reusser (Movistar Team) finished second at 1:04. Demi Vollering (FDJ United-SUEZ) was third, six seconds further back. Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ) lost 1:51. Nearly two minutes now separate first from tenth on GC.

Van der Breggen, who came into the Giro with her team publicly targeting a top five rather than overall victory, was direct about what the result meant and what it did not settle. "Getting it is one, and then always wearing it is another difficult task, especially a lot of stages are still coming up," she said in her post-race TV interview. "Goal 1 is finished and that deserves a great celebration. And then to keep the jersey is the next one."

She said the win carried personal weight after two difficult years working back to this level. "I really did not expect this. I hope I'm an example that you need to keep fighting and then in the end it will come again," she said. "It really feels like I worked really hard the last two years to get to this point actually again."

World ITT champion Reusser was quick to congratulate Van der Breggen on her ride, giving the Dutch star a big hug while she was still in a heap on the road after her effort. Speaking to Eurosport after the stage, the Swiss rider said she felt she made mistakes on the day. "I missed the moment to really go really deep today. Just felt too good," she said

She also added that maybe, in hindsight, using the time trial bike like Van der Breggen, Vollering and others could have worked more in her favour than the road bike she selected. "I think maybe it was smarter to TT bike, but I wouldn't say if I had a TT bike I win," she said. She was full of praise for her former teammate and sport director: "A minute, that Anna is faster, is a lot. Really chapeau, really good performance."

Reusser says she had something more to give but didn't take the opportunity to use it. With the stages still to come, the Movistar leader will certainly look to use every chance she gets to take time. This can come at any point when it comes to Reusser as the Swiss star is a pure opportunist with excellent ability on the climbs but also on the flat as well.

Results

Belluno - Nevegal • Jun 2 • 12.7km

Velora
PosRiderTeamTime
🥇
Anna van der Breggen
TEAM SD WORX - PROTIME0:31:38
🥈
Marlen Reusser
MOVISTAR TEAM+1:03
🥉
Demi Vollering
FDJ UNITED - SUEZ+1:09
4
Antonia Niedermaier
CANYON//SRAM ZONDACRYPTO+1:25
5
Monica Trinca Colonel
LIV-ALULA-JAYCO+1:30
6
Lauren Dickson
FDJ UNITED - SUEZ+1:37
7
Femke de Vries
TEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE+1:38
8
Elisa Longo Borghini
UAE TEAM ADQ+1:50
9
Urška Žigart
AG INSURANCE - SOUDAL TEAM+1:53
10
Isabella Holmgren
LIDL - TREK+1:54
11
Niamh Mary Fisher-Black
LIDL - TREK+2:11
12
Lore de Schepper
AG INSURANCE - SOUDAL TEAM+2:29
13
Nadia Gontova
LIV-ALULA-JAYCO+2:43
14
Valentina Cavallar
TEAM SD WORX - PROTIME+2:52
15
Cecilie Ludwig
CANYON//SRAM ZONDACRYPTO+2:53
16
Mie Bjørndal Ottestad
UNO-X MOBILITY+2:56
17
Solène Muller
ST MICHEL - PREFERENCE HOME - AUBER93+2:58
18
Sigrid Ytterhus Haugset
UNO-X MOBILITY+3:04
19
Marion Bunel
TEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE+3:12
20
Mireia Benito Pellicer
AG INSURANCE - SOUDAL TEAM+3:22
21
Nina Buijsman
HUMAN POWERED HEALTH+3:30
22
Valentina Venerucci
AROMITALIA VAIANO+3:51
23
Margarita Victoria Garcia Cañellas
UAE TEAM ADQ+3:52
24
Maya Kingma
AROMITALIA VAIANO+3:54
25
Viktória Chladoňová
TEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE+3:54
26
Rosita Reijnhout
TEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE+4:07
27
Justine Ghekiere
AG INSURANCE - SOUDAL TEAM+4:12
28
Becky Storrie
TEAM PICNIC POSTNL+4:18
29
Kristen Faulkner
EF EDUCATION - OATLY+4:22
30
Yuliia Biriukova
LABORAL KUTXA - FUNDACION EUSKADI+4:24
31
Magdeleine Vallieres Mill
EF EDUCATION - OATLY+4:25
32
Tiril Jørgensen
LABORAL KUTXA - FUNDACION EUSKADI+4:25
33
Célia Gery
FDJ UNITED - SUEZ+4:27
34
Lucinda Brand
LIDL - TREK+4:32
35
Silvia Persico
UAE TEAM ADQ+4:37
36
Marit Raaijmakers
HUMAN POWERED HEALTH+4:38
37
Gaia Segato
VINI FANTINI - BEPINK+4:39
38
Emilie Morier
ST MICHEL - PREFERENCE HOME - AUBER93+4:48
39
Carlotta Cipressi
HUMAN POWERED HEALTH+4:51
40
Barbara Malcotti
HUMAN POWERED HEALTH+4:52
41
Justyna Czapla
CANYON//SRAM ZONDACRYPTO+4:57
42
Thalita de Jong
HUMAN POWERED HEALTH+5:02
43
Stina Kagevi
EF EDUCATION - OATLY+5:07
44
Silke Smulders
LIV-ALULA-JAYCO+5:11
45
Ana Vitoria Gouvea Vieira Almeida Magalhaes
MOVISTAR TEAM+5:15
46
Margaux Vigie
TEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE+5:15
47
Debora Silvestri
LABORAL KUTXA - FUNDACION EUSKADI+5:19
48
Alessia Vigilia
UNO-X MOBILITY+5:24
49
Erica Magnaldi
UAE TEAM ADQ+5:24
50
Matilde Vitillo
LIV-ALULA-JAYCO+5:26
51
Quinty Ton
LIV-ALULA-JAYCO+5:27
52
Amber Kraak
FDJ UNITED - SUEZ+5:32
53
Caroline Andersson
LIV-ALULA-JAYCO+5:32
54
Caroline Wreszin
ST MICHEL - PREFERENCE HOME - AUBER93+5:34
55
Vittoria Guazzini
FDJ UNITED - SUEZ+5:34
56
Ally Marée Wollaston
FDJ UNITED - SUEZ+5:35
57
Millie Couzens
FENIX-PREMIER TECH+5:37
58
Julie van de Velde
AG INSURANCE - SOUDAL TEAM+5:47
59
Fariba Hashimi
VINI FANTINI - BEPINK+5:51
60
Eleonora Camilla Gasparrini
UAE TEAM ADQ+5:57
61
Chiara Reghini
TOP GIRLS FASSA BORTOLO+5:58
62
Eva van Agt
FDJ UNITED - SUEZ+5:58
63
Arlenis Sierra Canadilla
MOVISTAR TEAM+6:03
64
Gaia Masetti
TEAM PICNIC POSTNL+6:04
65
Mirre Knaven
EF EDUCATION - OATLY+6:09
66
Daniek Hengeveld
TEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE+6:10
67
Giulia Bisso
ISOLMANT - PREMAC - VITTORIA+6:10
68
Francesca Barale
MOVISTAR TEAM+6:12
69
Sofia Arici
VINI FANTINI - BEPINK+6:22
70
Gladys Verhulst Wild
AG INSURANCE - SOUDAL TEAM+6:25
71
Aude Biannic
MOVISTAR TEAM+6:28
72
Ilse Pluimers
AG INSURANCE - SOUDAL TEAM+6:35
73
Lara Gillespie
UAE TEAM ADQ+6:36
74
Soraya Paladin
CANYON//SRAM ZONDACRYPTO+6:37
75
Mareille Meijer
MOVISTAR TEAM+6:37
76
Teuntje Beekhuis
UNO-X MOBILITY+6:47
77
Christina Schweinberger
FENIX-PREMIER TECH+6:47
78
Sharon Spimi
TOP GIRLS FASSA BORTOLO+6:50
79
Irene Cagnazzo
VINI FANTINI - BEPINK+6:50
80
Marthe Truyen
FENIX-PREMIER TECH+6:53
81
Femke Gerritse
TEAM SD WORX - PROTIME+6:58
82
Nina Berton
EF EDUCATION - OATLY+7:07
83
Lily Williams
HUMAN POWERED HEALTH+7:08
84
Irene Affolati
AROMITALIA VAIANO+7:11
85
Nienke Veenhoven
TEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE+7:15
86
Naia Amondarain Gaztañaga
LABORAL KUTXA - FUNDACION EUSKADI+7:15
87
Giulia Giuliani
TEAM MENDELSPECK E-WORK+7:17
88
Clara Emond
ST MICHEL - PREFERENCE HOME - AUBER93+7:18
89
Pfeiffer Zara Georgi
TEAM PICNIC POSTNL+7:25
90
Flora Perkins
FENIX-PREMIER TECH+7:31
91
Chiara Consonni
CANYON//SRAM ZONDACRYPTO+7:36
92
Josie Nelson
TEAM PICNIC POSTNL+7:38
93
Linda Zanetti
UNO-X MOBILITY+7:38
94
Anastasiya Kolesava
CANYON//SRAM ZONDACRYPTO+7:44
95
Alena Amialiusik
UAE TEAM ADQ+7:45
96
Elena Cecchini
TEAM SD WORX - PROTIME+7:49
97
Eleonora la Bella
AROMITALIA VAIANO+7:49
98
Martina Silvestri
ISOLMANT - PREMAC - VITTORIA+7:52
99
Robyn Clay
TEAM PICNIC POSTNL+7:54
100
Marte Berg Edseth
UNO-X MOBILITY+7:55
101
Rachele Barbieri
TEAM PICNIC POSTNL+7:57
102
Andrea Casagranda
VINI FANTINI - BEPINK+8:00
103
Maggie Coles-Lyster
HUMAN POWERED HEALTH+8:02
104
Chantal Pegolo
ISOLMANT - PREMAC - VITTORIA+8:05
105
Fleur Moors
LIDL - TREK+8:09
106
Katelyn Nicholson
TEAM MENDELSPECK E-WORK+8:16
107
Petra Zsankó
AROMITALIA VAIANO+8:17
108
Alicia Gonzalez Blanco
ST MICHEL - PREFERENCE HOME - AUBER93+8:26
109
Fanny Bonini
AROMITALIA VAIANO+8:33
110
Alexandra Volstad
EF EDUCATION - OATLY+8:33
111
Sara Luccon
TOP GIRLS FASSA BORTOLO+8:39
112
Evy Kuijpers
FENIX-PREMIER TECH+8:39
113
Lara Crestanello
ISOLMANT - PREMAC - VITTORIA+8:41
114
Giorgia Serena
TEAM MENDELSPECK E-WORK+8:43
115
Alessia Zambelli
TOP GIRLS FASSA BORTOLO+8:49
116
Valeria Curnis
ISOLMANT - PREMAC - VITTORIA+8:51
117
Charlotte Kool
FENIX-PREMIER TECH+8:54
118
Alexis Magner
EF EDUCATION - OATLY+8:55
119
Amanda Spratt
LIDL - TREK+8:57
120
Marina Garau Roca
VINI FANTINI - BEPINK+9:05
121
Marta Pavesi
TOP GIRLS FASSA BORTOLO+9:10
122
Maike van der Duin
CANYON//SRAM ZONDACRYPTO+9:12
123
Elisa Balsamo
LIDL - TREK+9:13
124
Sara Fiorin
LABORAL KUTXA - FUNDACION EUSKADI+9:16
125
Cristina Tonetti
LABORAL KUTXA - FUNDACION EUSKADI+9:22
126
Barbara Guarischi
TEAM SD WORX - PROTIME+9:22
127
Alison Jackson
ST MICHEL - PREFERENCE HOME - AUBER93+9:39
128
Anita Baima
ISOLMANT - PREMAC - VITTORIA+9:42
129
Mylene de Zoete
FENIX-PREMIER TECH+10:12
130
Georgia Baker
LIV-ALULA-JAYCO+10:12
131
Elisa de Vallier
TOP GIRLS FASSA BORTOLO+10:12
132
Camilla Bezzone
TEAM MENDELSPECK E-WORK+11:00
133
Eleonora Deotto
TEAM MENDELSPECK E-WORK+11:07
134
Maria Apolonia van 't Geloof
LABORAL KUTXA - FUNDACION EUSKADI+11:11
135
Susanne Andersen
UNO-X MOBILITY+11:18
136
Irma Siri
TOP GIRLS FASSA BORTOLO+11:23
137
Argyro Milaki
AROMITALIA VAIANO+11:42
138
Nora Jenčušová
VINI FANTINI - BEPINK+12:09
139
Ilaria Marinetto
TEAM MENDELSPECK E-WORK+12:20
140
Valentina Zanzi
ISOLMANT - PREMAC - VITTORIA+12:21

Rain, descents and a thinner team

The buffer that Van der Breggen now has is a good one and she will be thankful for it as they go into very testing terrain. Stage 5 from Longarone to Santo Stefano di Cadore is the first full mountain road stage, with 3,200m of climbing, the biggest vertical gain of the race. Rain had already started falling at Nevegal for the last few riders finishing, and Van der Breggen expects more.

"Tomorrow will be a really, really difficult stage, also technical downhills. When it's raining like this, even more," she said. The wet roads and technical descents will provide extra stress for her now very depleted SD Worx-Protime squad and that is where the team's losses start to matter. Mikayla Harvey, one of Van der Breggen's key mountain domestiques, crashed on stage 3 and withdrew overnight. Lorena Wiebes, the team's sprinter, was disqualified after stage 1 when her bike weighed 6.78kg, 20 grams below the UCI minimum. Two riders gone before the race reached the high mountains.

Van der Breggen knows that this will make it harder for her and her team. "Miki (Harvey) crashed yesterday, one of my teammates, and she's out of the race, which is really difficult for her," she said. "Stage racing is something that you do together, staff and riders."

Her big name rivals have cards to play, as well. This makes the lack of numbers even more critical for Van der Breggen. The world's most dominant team at the moment, FDJ United-Suez, have Vollering in third but also have rising British star Lauren Dickson who has been showing superb form in the recent Itzulia Basque Country and Durango-Durango. She sits in 6th overall at 1:38, meaning she gives an excellent option for the French squad to go on the offensive early.

UAE Team ADQ don't have the GC position they would want but they have brough a very strong team to back Longo Borghini to be aggressive. Lidl-Trek have two riders in 10th and 11th in GC with Isabella Holmgren and Niamh Fisher-Black at 1:55 and 2:12 respectively. That gives them a good hand of cards, just as Liv-AlUla-Jayco have with Monica Trinca Colonel in 5th at 1:31 and Nadia Gontova in 13th at 2:44 – giving them plenty of options in the fight for the best GC placings possible.

Teams will be mindful of Van der Breggen's inconsistencies in recent races, as well. She won stage 6 of La Vuelta Femenina in dominant style, like stage 4 of the Giro, but a day later she lost the race to Paula Blasi (UAE Team ADQ) losing almost a minute.

Van der Breggen was clear-eyed about the shift ahead. "I know a time trial is always different than a road race," she said. "It's good that I can defend and see what's happening." Stage 5 will be the first test of whether a minute is enough when the race moves from individual effort to team tactics on soaked Dolomite roads.

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Tim Bonville-Ginn headshot

Tim Bonville-Ginn

Pro cycling contributor

Tim Bonville-Ginn is a freelance writer who has worked in cycling for well over a decade with his articles being featured across publications such as Cyclingnews, Cycling Weekly, Cyclist, Rouleur, Eurosport, Road cc, Domestique, and more.

As well as writing, Tim has worked as a social media and press manager for professional teams Human Powered Health, Global 6, and Saint Piran across Europe as well as commentating on races such as the African Continental Championships, Tour de Feminin and multiple rounds of the British road and circuit series for Golazo and Monument Cycling.

Expertise:Racing