Silvia Persico secured victory at the Giro dell’Appennino Donne, delivering a strong performance for UAE Team ADQ. The win marks her first of the 2026 season.
It came after a decisive move on the final climb of Livellato. She then finished it off with a controlled sprint from a reduced group. After the 111-kilometre race from Novi Ligure to Genoa was shaped by aggressive racing and tactical execution in the final phase.
Strong team setup and race control
UAE Team ADQ entered the race with momentum. Notably, Eleonora Gasparrini had secured third place the day before. The line-up also included Alena Amialiusik, Erica Magnaldi, Greta Marturano, and Giada Silo. Early in the race, a three-rider breakaway formed. Meanwhile, UAE Team ADQ controlled the peloton behind. Then, on the Passo dei Giovi climb, the team increased the pace and reduced the gap.
Silvia Persico move shapes Giro dell’Appennino Donne
As the race progressed, the peloton split on the final ascent of Livellato. At that point, Persico attacked alongside Célia Gery.
They were later joined by Lucinda Brand on the descent. In the final kilometres, more riders bridged across, including Sarah Van Dam, Viktória Chladoňová, and Niamh Fisher-Black. As a result, a six-rider lead group was formed.
Sprint finish seals the win
From there, the group worked well together to extend the gap. Ultimately, the race was decided in a sprint. Persico timed her effort perfectly. She then used her positioning and finishing speed to take the win, finishing ahead of Brand and Van Dam.
Behind them, Gasparrini sprinted to eighth place from the peloton.
As a result, Persico moves into the lead of the Coppa Italia delle Regioni standings and takes multiple jerseys.
Overall, the victory adds to a strong run of results for Silvia Persico Giro dell’Appennino Donne performances this season.
Rider reaction
Persico said:
“I’ve been waiting for this victory for a couple of weeks. After the work done at altitude, I knew the results would come. I want to thank my teammates, who really believed in me today and gave me full confidence, as well as my coach Luca Zenti and the whole team.”
She added: “My teammates did an excellent job. The plan was to attack on the climb and I managed to go clear with Gery. When the others came back, I tried to manage the situation by making Visma and Trek work, as they had numerical advantage. I stayed covered, following Gery who I knew was strong, and then used my knowledge of the finish to deliver the best possible sprint. Now focus shifts to the Classics.”
To learn more on Team ADQ, listen to Inside UAE Team ADQ with Melissa Moncada on the Mettleset podcast
