The climb to Pianezze was a good eleven kilometres long and decided the outcome of the stage and rearranged the overall standings. Right from the first kilometres, Movistar set a rapid pace with Reusser, which hardly anyone was able to follow at first. Not even Anna Henderson (Lidl - Trek), who realised early on that she would not be able to defend her overall lead.

However, Reusser was unable to maintain the enormous pace, so that the majority of the riders fighting for the overall classification came back in the middle of the climb. This included Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx - Protime), who took the lead and then rode from the front for large parts of the climb. Just under three kilometres before the summit, the group had shrunk back to a good ten women and Reusser took over again. Only three riders were able to follow quickly: In addition to the day's winner Gigante and Niedermaier, Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ), who ultimately finished second.

Gigante: "Victory is beyond my dreams"

Gigante then attacked 1700 metres before the finish. Reusser and Longo Borghini had to watch motionlessly as the 24-year-old rode to her greatest success of her career. Niedermaier, on the other hand, had to fight to keep the wheel of the chasing riders. Although the German was shaken off, she fought her way back. When Reusser and Longo Borghini then set off for the final sprint, Niedermaier had to accept a further nine-second deficit. The Italian, who won the duel for second place, was 25 seconds behind Gigante, as was Reusser. Van der Breggen finished almost two minutes behind the winner.

"I'm almost a bit shocked," said Gigante in the finish interview. "I knew I was riding pretty strong and I knew I had a great team. But to take the stage win after the team has worked so well together all week is really beyond my dreams. This is by far my biggest win, especially in Europe," she said jubilantly.

In the overall standings, Reusser now leads Longo Borghini by 16 seconds and Gigante by 34. Niedermaier, who is still wearing the white jersey of the best young rider, is now in fourth place, 1:03 minutes behind Rosa.

Meanwhile, Henderson defended the points leader's jersey for another day. Gigante, on the other hand, will be riding in the blue mountain jersey from tomorrow.

The results of the 4th stage of the Giro d'Italia Women 2025

>> All stages of the Giro d'Italia Women 2025 at a glance
>> The most important information about stage 4 of the Giro d'Italia Women 2025

How the 4th stage of the Giro d'Italia Women 2025 went

After around 20 of the 142 kilometres to be ridden from Castello Tesino to Pianezze, stage 4 slowly picked up speed on a very undulating course - albeit without Pfeiffer Georgi and Marta Cavalli (both Team Picnic PostNL), who were unable to start after crashing in yesterday's finale.

Célia Gery (FDJ - Suez) was one of the first attackers and also made a second attempt with other women, but this was also thwarted a good 100 kilometres before the finish. The next attack was successful. It was launched by the previous day's winner Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx - Protime). She was joined by Eleonora Gasparrini (UAE Team ADQ), Alessia Vigilia (FDJ - Suez) and Lieke Nooijen (Team Visma | Lease a Bike). The quartet built up a maximum lead of three and a half minutes.

Muro di Ca' Del Poggio opens Finale

Nooijen secured the first mountain classification of the day in Cugnan (3rd category) and collected seven points for his efforts, while Wiebes did not get in the way at the intermediate sprint. Wiebes was also at the Muro di Ca' Del Poggio (4th category) 40 kilometres before the finish. The breakaway's lead had halved at the top.

The peloton had split into several groups, but the favourites for the overall standings all stayed together. And as they didn't pull through, a few riders rolled up from behind. The gap to the front also grew again. With 15 kilometres to go, the mountain classification in Santo Stefano (4th category) was also completed. The leaders no longer had a minute's lead there, as the pace was increased at the back.

Shortly afterwards, the eleven kilometre long final climb to Pianezze (1st category) began. Only Vigilia tackled it ahead of the peloton. At the ten-kilometre mark, however, the pace dictated by Liana Lippert (Movistar Team) put an end to her. Henderson also dropped back at this point. The German reduced the group to seven women.

Reusser ups the tempo, Gigante goes one better

Only Niedermaier, Longo Borghini, Gigante and Pauliena Rooijakkers (Fenix-Deceuninck) were able to follow when Reusser took over at an insane pace. However, there was no one to continue Reusser's attack when she left the front. Several riders came back. Seven kilometres before the finish, 20 riders were together again. Of the contenders for the overall classification, only Juliette Labous (FDJ - Suez) was missing.

When van der Breggen took over the pace, the leading group shrank back to twelve women. Reusser took over from the Dutchwoman again with 2700 metres to go, who was then unable to follow. Reusser again pushed up the pace, and again only Niedermaier, Longo Borghini and Gigante were able to follow.

The latter then attacked 1700 metres before the finish. Whilst Reusser and Longo Borghini were in tandem, Niedermaier had to let go near the Devil's Lap, but managed to return to the chasing duo. However, when the two sprinted in the final metres, the German had to drop back again and accept a few seconds.