Urška Žigart safely navigates flat stages, now faces the famed Finestre

French rider Célia Gery of FDJ-Suez claimed victory in the seventh stage of the 37th Giro d'Italia Donne, a flat stage that concluded with a successful breakaway. Slovenian cyclist Urška Žigart of AG Insurance Soudal safely crossed the finish line, maintaining her position in the top ten overall as the race heads into a demanding mountain stage.

The stage was largely uneventful regarding major attacks on the climbs, with many favorites seemingly conserving energy for the upcoming queen stage. However, the descent saw Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ) and Lucinda Brand (Lidl-Trek) launch attacks, catching a group of five escapees. A strong lead group formed, and in the final sprint, the 21-year-old Gery proved strongest, securing the biggest win of her career.

Urška Žigart is currently in tenth place overall, 3 minutes and 26 seconds behind the leader. She had a notable performance in the previous day's mountain time trial, finishing ninth. Notably, she completed the final climb of that stage without radio communication from her team car, a move reminiscent of her fiancé Tadej Pogačar's style.

The challenging Finestre climb, with its long, steep gradients and a final section on gravel, is expected to be decisive. This terrain could favor Žigart's strengths as she aims to improve her top-ten standing. Meanwhile, the battle for the pink jersey is heating up, with Demi Vollering (FDJ-Suez) expected to attack leader Anna van der Breggen on the Finestre, potentially deciding the winner of this year's Giro d'Italia Donne.