The Dutch rider delivered a decisive sprint from a three-rider breakaway after 146.1 kilometres of racing from Luino to Cittiglio, in a race that was shortened following overnight snowfall on one of the scheduled climbs.
UAE Team ADQ controlled the race from the outset, with Alena Amialiusik, Mavi Garcia, and teammates managing the pace before Italian national champion Elisa Longo Borghini animated the race with early attacks.
The winning move formed through a coordinated acceleration led by Silvia Persico, Eleonora Gasparrini, and Swinkels, who bridged across to a select group and established a decisive gap over the peloton.
With numbers in their favour, UAE Team ADQ controlled the break efficiently. Following the final ascent of Orino, the lead group was reduced to three riders: Swinkels, Anna van der Breggen of Team SD Worx–Protime, and Mie Bjørndal Ottestad of Uno-X Mobility. The trio extended their advantage to over 50 seconds on the chasing group.
The race was ultimately decided in a sprint finish between the three, where Swinkels timed her effort to perfection, converting the team’s strategy into a breakthrough WorldTour victory.
Speaking after the race, Swinkels said:
“I’m super happy. This is my first WorldTour victory. My teammates did an amazing job from the start – they believed in me all day, kept me calm and created the perfect scenario with the attack together with Silvia Persico and Eleonora Gasparrini. They pushed really hard on the climb and set up the move for me. In the end we were three riders left and I was a bit nervous because I knew I was the fastest, but I’m really happy and proud to win this race.”
The result marks Swinkels’ second victory of the season and continues UAE Team ADQ’s strong start to the 2026 campaign on the Women’s WorldTour calendar.
To learn more on Team ADQ, listen to Inside UAE Team ADQ with Melissa Moncada on the Mettleset podcast
