Longo Borghini Gains Valuable Time as UAE Team ADQ Animates Giro d’Italia Women Stage 7
Rome, The Gulf Observer: UAE Team ADQ delivered another aggressive performance at the Giro d’Italia Women on Friday, securing valuable gains for Elisa Longo Borghini during Stage 7 and reinforcing confidence in the Italian champion’s improving form ahead of the race’s decisive final stages.
The 159-kilometre stage from Sorbolo Mezzani to Salice Terme was expected to favour breakaway riders, and an early escape group formed soon after the start. The race was further animated by a series of crashes, including one involving overall leader Anna van der Breggen, who was forced to chase before rejoining the peloton.
As the race approached the final climb, approximately 25 kilometres from the finish, the breakaway’s advantage steadily diminished. Following the summit, a select group emerged on the descent, with Célia Gery of FDJ-SUEZ and UAE Team ADQ’s Silvia Persico launching a decisive attack.
The duo bridged across to Chantal Pegolo (Isolmant-Premac-Vittoria), Gaia Segato (Vini Fantini-BePink) and Alison Jackson (St Michel-Preference Home-Auber93), who had been part of the original breakaway. They were later joined by Lucinda Brand (Lidl-Trek) and Longo Borghini, creating a dangerous lead group.
Persico then produced a remarkable team effort, setting a relentless pace to help Longo Borghini maximize her advantage over key general classification rivals. The breakaway’s lead extended beyond 40 seconds before Persico’s impressive contribution ended due to cramp.
Although the peloton gradually reduced the gap in the closing kilometres, the front group remained clear long enough to deliver an important outcome. Longo Borghini gained five seconds on her principal rivals in the overall standings, while teammate Lara Gillespie sprinted to seventh place from the peloton, finishing just eight seconds behind the stage winner.
France’s Célia Gery claimed the stage victory, while Van der Breggen retained the prestigious Maglia Rosa as overall leader.
The performance provides a timely boost for Longo Borghini as the Giro heads into its most demanding stages. Saturday’s queen stage will feature the iconic Colle delle Finestre and a summit finish in Sestriere, before the race concludes on Sunday in Saluzzo.
In the general classification, Demi Vollering remains second overall at one minute behind Van der Breggen, while Longo Borghini has moved up to sixth place, 2 minutes and 7 seconds off the lead with two stages remaining.
