Nobody can resist Persico in Segovia

September 10 ^th 2022 - 21:27 [GMT + 2]

Silvia Persico (Valcar - Travel & Service) made the most of her explosive skills to win stage 4 of the Ceratizit Challenge by La Vuelta 22 in the Plaza Mayor de Segovia. The Italian sensation took victory ahead of Demi Vollering (Team SD Worx) and Elisa Longo Borghini (Trek Segafredo) after a thrilling finale. The Olympic champion Anna Kiesenhofer (Soltec Team) launched a great attack that was only neutralised inside the final kilometre, in the climb leading to the Aqueduct. Annemiek van Vleuten (Movistar Team) retained the leader’s red jersey on the eve of the final stage in Madrid.

The peloton set off in front of Palencia Cathedral and Anna Kiesenhofer quickly launches a spectacular solo ride. The gold medallist from Tokyo 2020 opened a gap of almost ten minutes and became the virtual leader of the general standings. In the peloton, Van Vleuten and her teammates allied with FDJ Suez Futuroscope to try to reduce the Austrian's advantage. More squads joined the chase, bringing the gap down ahead of the key sterrato section with 8 km to go.

Kiesenhofer, making her competitive debut with Soltec, was swallowed up by the pack at the start of the final ascent. Grace Brown (FDJ Futuroscope), Van Vleuten and Longo Borghini upped the ante but it was Silvia Persico who emerged in the last 150 metres to beat Vollering right on the line. Thanks to her victory, the Italian takes the green jersey as she leads the points standings.

With these results, 'Miek' all but secures the overall victory in Madrid. Lucinda Brand (Trek Segafredo) is the Queen of the mountains and Kiesenhofer will wear the white jersey of combativeness on the last day of the competition, which will run through the Spanish capital with start and finish in the vicinity of Plaza de Cibeles. The participants must complete 17 laps, with a total of 95.6 kilometres for the final battles before the final podium.