Giro d'Italia Women 2026 Stage 7 - Celia Gery claims huge breakaway victory as Elisa Balsamo misses out, Anna van der Breggen in maglia rosa

Giro d'Italia Women

Stage 7 | Semi mountain | Women | 05.06.2026

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07:27 PM

HIGHLIGHTS: GERY SEALS MAIDEN GRAND TOUR WIN ON DRAMATIC DAY AT GIRO

Highlights: Gery takes maiden Grand Tour win on dramatic stage

Video credit: TNT Sports

16:56

GERY CLAIMS HUGE VICTORY AS BREAKAWAY SURVIVES AND BALSAMO DENIED

Celia Gery (FDJ United-SUEZ) picked up the biggest win in her career as Elisa Balsamo (Lidl-Trek) was denied a fifth sprint victory in the Giro d’Italia Women 2026.

On the last potential day for the sprinters to claim victory before a gruelling weekend in the mountains, it was the breakaway who would finally survive and reign victorious, thanks to the help of Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ).

The original breakaway of the day featuring Alison Jackson (St Michel-Preference Home-Auber93), Chantal Pegolo (Isolmant-Premac-Vittoria), Marjolein Van't Geloof (Laboral Kutxa-Fundacion Euskadi), Sara Luccon (Top Girls Fassa Bortolo) and Gaia Segato (Vini Fantini-BePink) were allowed to grow their advantage to more than eight minutes at parts.

As the only climb of the day neared, the jostle for positions saw a major crash in the peloton with 53km to go, resulting in a pile-up which saw maglia rosa Anna van der Breggen, along with GC rivals Monica Trinca Colonel (Liv AlUla Jayco) and Marlen Reusser (Movistar), and sprinter Chiara Consonni (Canyon-SRAM zondacrypto) brought down.

Van der Breggen crash causes huge Stage 7 pile-up

Video credit: TNT Sports

With the help of her team, the current GC leader was able to reach the back of the convoy and work their way back up to the back of the peloton, while there was additional concern for Marlen Reusser (Movistar), who was also caught up in a further crash and helped back into the bunch.

As the gap to the breakaway shrunk, there were signs that the gradual increase in gradients took a hit as Charlotte Kool (Fenix-Premier Tech) and Maggie Coles-Lyster (Human Powered Health) were both distanced from the group.

Sara Luccon took her breakaway companions by surprise by launching first to claim maximum points and time in the intermediate sprinting, resulting in Marjolein Van ‘t Geloof being dropped, before Luccon herself was distanced with 29.6km to go.

Targeting a historic fifth sprint victory, Balsamo continued to be the rider to beat as she topped the summit in fourth and on the wheel of Demi Vollering (FDJ United-SUEZ).

The descent of the final climb saw Silvia Persico and Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ) joined by Celia Gery and Lucinda Brand (Lidl-Trek) having pushed the pace downhill to join the remaining breakaway trio.

With the defending champion, Longo Borghini, looking to take back time, it was a determined effort from the Italian at the front of the group to ensure the move stuck, with the advantage growing to 35”.

Image credit: Getty Images

Unfazed by the prospect of Longo Borghini in the breakaway, European champion Demi Vollering (FDJ United-SUEZ) made the decision to call off the chase to allow Gery a chance in the final, forcing Human Powered Health and Canyon-SRAM zondacrypto to take up the chase.

As kilometres ticked down and the advantage dipped under 15 seconds, it was a nervy finale for the breakaway as Lucinda Brand launched her attack with 300m to go, having had the luxury to sit on the back.

However, it was 20-year-old Gery, who would repay her team’s faith as she came from behind with 100m to go to overtake Brand and claim the biggest victory of her career so far in front of Brand, Pegolo and the chasing peloton, who finished eight seconds behind, led by Lara Gillespie (UAE Team ADQ).

The race heads to the mountains as Van der Breggen defends the maglia rosa with a minute advantage over Vollering heading into Stage 8.

'Rise of the young superstar continues' - Gery outsprints Brand for Stage 7 win

Video credit: TNT Sports

16:45

TOMORROW'S STAGE:

Are you sitting tight?

What a stage we have on our hands tomorrow.

The Colle delle Finestre averages at a constant gradient of 9.2% from bottom to summit and peaks at 14%. Whilst the riders will also have to contend with unpaved gravel roads and 29 hairpins in less than 4km, ahead of the descent.

It's followed by the ascent of SS23 with a gentle uphill of 5% until the finish.

You will not want to miss this!

Profile for Stage 8 of the Giro d'Italia Women 2026

Image credit: From Official Website

16:29

A WORD FROM OUR MAGLIA ROSA, ANNA VAN DER BREGGEN (SD WORX-PROTIME):

I think I’m quite okay. I’ve got some wounds after the crash but I could go on to the finish so it was good.

The final was quite exciting but for the general classification, not so much, except for Elisa [Longo Borghini] who had a really good downhill, but it went how we expected.

I think everyone needs to go tomorrow if you’re going for pink then tomorrow is the most important day so the climb is really long. For me, now try to recover this evening. I’ll probably be stiff tomorrow but if the legs are good, you feel the legs more than whatever so hopefully I’ll have good day again.

16:15

A CHAT WITH OUR BREAKAWAY PROTAGONIST, ALISON JACKSON (ST MICHEL-PREFERENCE HOME-AUBER93):

You go in the breakaway and maybe there’s a chance.

It was pretty hard on the climb but when the group came and UAE wanted to pull for Longo Borghini, I took my turns because for me, that’s my best chance for a result in the front.

But you risk it putting in the energy and I didn’t have it in the sprint, but I think we can be really happy with the great performance today and top result for the team. I think we’re moving in a good way.

Image credit: Getty Images

16:13

GENERAL CLASSIFICATION AFTER STAGE 7

Elisa Longo Borghini takes a couple of seconds, but the GC is perfectly set up for the weekend ahead.

1. Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime) 23:40:36

2. Demi Vollering (FDJ United-SUEZ) +1'00"

3. Antonia Niedermaier (CANYON-SRAM zondacrypto) +1'24"

4. Isabella Holmgren (Lidl-Trek) +2'01"

5. Marlen Reusser (Movistar) +2'03"

6. Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ) +2'07"

7. Niamh Fisher-Black (Lidl-Trek) +2'33"

8. Femke de Vries (Visma-Lease a Bike) +2'38"

9. Monica Trinca Colonel (Liv AlUla Jayco) +3'21"

10. Urska Zigart (AG Insurance-Soudal) +3'26"

16:08

A WORD FROM OUR STAGE WINNER, CELIA GERY (FDJ UNITED-SUEZ)

I'm very happy. I didn't think of it before the start, so I'm very happy.

At the top of the climb, I accelerated to position Demi for the descent but I was going very fast on the descent, we got lost and I found Silvia Persico. I thought maybe I made a mistake but in the end, the group came back and I didn't know what to do and what to think about the situation - it was a bit weird with the girls behind.

I was able to play tactically with [Lucinda] Brand, who was also here for the victory, so I had to stay fresh in the head and keep my nerves.

16:00

TOP 10 RESULTS:

1. Celia Gery (FDJ United-SUEZ) 3:51:13

2. Lucinda Brand (Lidl-Trek) ST

3. Chantal Pegolo (Isolmant-Premac-Vittoria) ST

4. Alison Jackson (St Michel-Preference Home-Auber93) ST

5. Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ) +3"

6. Gaia Segato (Vini Fantini-BePink) ST

7. Lara Gillespie (UAE Team ADQ) +8"

8. Chiara Consonni (Canyon-SRAM zondacrypto) ST

9. Millie Couzens (Fenix-Premier Tech) ST

10. Josie Nelson (Picnic PostNL) ST

15:55

CELIA GERY (FDJ UNITED-SUEZ) WINS STAGE 7 OF THE GIRO D'ITALIA WOMEN!

A massive victory for the French rider, who was given permission by her team leader and has rewarded her team with another stage win.

The breakaway survives by seven seconds as Celia Gery came from behind with 100m to go to overtake Brand and claim a huge victory in the Women's World Tour.