From a first pink jersey 11 years ago to a 1-minute lead today, Anna van der Breggen is back: 'You keep fighting'

Anna van der Breggen delivered a scorching ride in Tuesday’s Giro d’Italia Women uphill time trial. The SD Worx-Protime leader put all her rivals, Marlen Reusser and Demi Vollering among them, more than one minute behing her. As she said that in her flash interview afterwards, she even surprised herself.

Van der Breggen first took the maglia rosa 11 years ago, while the last time she wore the jersey was five years ago. After her comeback, she is now back in pink for the first time. “This is something I really did not expect, but it is incredible. I am very happy.”

The flash interviewer pointed out that she is receiving the 100th pink jersey for the Netherlands. “I hope I am an example of the fact that if you keep fighting, it can eventually come your way. It never happens in one step,” said the SD Worx-Protime leader.

“Some riders have so much talent, but others can do it through hard work. I have worked very hard over the past two years to get back to this point, so it means a great deal that I can now win like this.”

“Taking the pink jersey is one thing, but wearing it is another,” she knows only too well. “There are still hard stages to come and it will also keep raining over the next few stages, so I know a lot can happen and that it will be very difficult to defend the pink jersey. But the first goal has been achieved, and that deserves a celebration — that is the most important thing.”

“The legs are good, but it will be a tricky job,” she added, already looking ahead to Wednesday’s stage. “It is going to rain and there are a few technical descents in tomorrow’s stage. I am looking forward to it anyway, especially with the women around me. We can only do our best, and that applies to this Giro too.”

“It is already good that I can defend the pink jersey. The time trial is different from a road race, but both the legs and the head were good,” she said, almost understating it. “It was nice not to be the favourite or to have expected this, but it is a dream to wear pink.”

Finally, Van der Breggen had kind words for her teammates. “Lorena, who sadly is no longer here, will be very proud of me and I am proud of her. I am also thinking of the other women, like Mikayla Harvey, who crashed. In stage races you do it together, as riders and staff.”