Barbara Malcotti scored her third top-ten at the Giro d’Italia by climbing to sixth place on the 150 km stage 7 queen stage from Fermignano to Monte Nerone.
Taking crucial time on her rivals, the 25-year-old rose four places on the general classification, heading into the final stage of La Corsa Rosa in ninth place.
“This is all a dream,” exclaimed Malcotti afterwards. “Maybe Tomorrow or in the next few days, when all will be done, I will start to realize this.”
Malcotti has showcased her best competitive climbing legs to date this Giro, scoring sixth on stage four, tenth on stage six and now another sixth place.
“I really trust in the process and in myself,” she explained. “My feelings were great today, and I guess there were a lot of tired legs in the bunch. I had a fantastic feeling today, and I didn’t go wrong.”
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Malcotti headed into the foot of the 14.8 km at 6.6% Monte Nerone finishing climb in the group of the Maglia Rosa (race leader), chasing lone leader Shirin Van Anrooij (Lidl-Trek) and chaser Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ).
On the coming slopes, Van Anrooij would be pulled back, with Sarah Gigante (AG Insurance – Soudal Team) then making a stage-winning attack, briefly followed by Malcotti, catching and passing Longo Borghini. The defending champion took enough time to seize the race lead, though.
Behind, Malcotti assumed much of the chase within a group of herself, Marlen Reusser, Isabella Holmgren and Antonia Niedermaier, with Malcotti’s pace jettisoning other GC contenders before the line, raising her into the top ten.
“I want to score a strong position in the GC,” Malcotti says of her ambitions. “Being with the top teams was my big goal today to place higher on GC. I gave everything, and then I guess all of the other riders were all out too.”
Tomorrow’s final stage packs in 2,369 meters of climbing. Laps of the Imola area take in the steep Mozzolano and Cima Gallisterna climbs four times before a run-in to the finish line at the Imola race track.
“The Giro is not finished yet, so I have to focus on tomorrow’s race,” says Malcotti. “Ruth, in these last two days, was amazing, so I hope to give her back the work she did for me, then I have to also focus on the position in GC.”
Photos: GettySport
Giro d’Italia Women stage 7 results
1 GIGANTE Sarah – AG Insurance – Soudal Team 4:44:14
2 LONGO BORGHINI Elisa – UAE Team ADQ 0:45
3 HOLMGREN Isabella – Lidl – Trek 1:14
4 REUSSER Marlen – Movistar Team 1:17
5 NIEDERMAIER Antonia – CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto ”
6 MALCOTTI Barbara – Human Powered Health 1:21
7 ŽIGART Urška – AG Insurance – Soudal Team 1:37
8 ROOIJAKKERS Pauliena – Fenix-Deceuninck 1:48
9 MUZIC Évita – FDJ – SUEZ 2:17
10 VAN DER BREGGEN Anna – Team SD Worx – Protime 2:48
Giro d’Italia General Classification after stage seven
1 LONGO BORGHINI Elisa – UAE Team ADQ 20:56:48
2 REUSSER Marlen – Movistar Team 0:22
3 GIGANTE Sarah – AG Insurance – Soudal Team 1:11
4 ROOIJAKKERS Pauliena – Fenix-Deceuninck 2:55
5 NIEDERMAIER Antonia – CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto 3:07
6 VAN DER BREGGEN Anna – Team SD Worx – Protime 3:46
7 HOLMGREN Isabella – Lidl – Trek 3:54
8 ŽIGART Urška – AG Insurance – Soudal Team 4:32
9 MALCOTTI Barbara – Human Powered Health 4:44
10 AALERUD Katrine – Uno-X Mobility 5:01
