Elisa Longo Borghini gained five seconds on her general classification rivals as UAE Team ADQ turned stage 7 of the Giro d’Italia Women into a useful day before the mountains.
The 159-kilometre stage from Sorbolo Mezzani to Salice Terme looked set for a more controlled finish. Instead, it became another day shaped by attacks, crashes and late moves.
An early break formed soon after the start, while several crashes disrupted the peloton. Race leader Anna van der Breggen was among those caught up and had to chase back before rejoining the main group.
The race changed again near the final climb, around 25 kilometres from the finish. After the summit, a smaller group formed on the descent. UAE Team ADQ’s Silvia Persico attacked with Célia Gery of FDJ-SUEZ, and the pair bridged across to riders from the day’s original break.
Lucinda Brand and Longo Borghini later joined the front group, giving UAE Team ADQ a chance to put pressure on the general classification.
Persico then worked for her teammate at the front. Her effort helped Longo Borghini open a gap of more than 40 seconds at one point, before cramp ended Persico’s turn on the front.
The peloton reduced the gap before the finish, but the move still paid off. Longo Borghini gained five seconds on her main GC rivals and moved to sixth overall, 2 minutes and 7 seconds behind Van der Breggen.
Gery won the stage, while Brand and Longo Borghini finished in the front group. UAE Team ADQ’s Lara Gillespie also finished strongly, winning the bunch sprint for seventh, eight seconds behind the stage winner.
Van der Breggen remains in the Maglia Rosa, with Demi Vollering second overall at one minute.
The race now heads towards its decisive weekend. The next mountain test includes the Colle delle Finestre and a summit finish in Sestriere, before the Giro ends in Saluzzo.
