The Giro d’Italia Women returns in 2025 for what could be its final edition in the shadow of the men’s Tour de France, a placement that has long diminished its visibility but never its sporting value. A race rich in history and heartbreak, the Giro remains the longest-running stage race in women’s cycling, with a roll of honour that reads like a hall of fame for Italian greats.
Fabiana Luperini still stands as the queen of the Giro, with five overall victories between 1995 and 2008. Before her, Maria Canins, Roberta Bonanomi, and Michela Fanini carried the Italian flag to the top step of the podium. After a long wait, Elisa Longo Borghini finally joined that elite company in 2024, winning an edition characterised by stifling heat, tactical brilliance, and a narrow triumph over Lotte Kopecky. It was Longo Borghini’s dream realised, and the battle went right to the final stage in L’Aquila.
Last year’s route offered a mix of sprinter-friendly finishes and high mountain drama, with stage wins from Neve Bradbury, Chiara Consonni, Clara Emond, and Liane Lippert, all of whom played a role in animating the race. But it was the summit finish on the Blockhaus, and Kopecky’s relentless time gains through bonus seconds, that kept the GC on a knife’s edge until the final climb.
A punchy, unpredictable 2025 parcours
This year’s Giro runs from 6th to 13th July and again starts with a time trial – this time in Bergamo. The 14.2 km course is largely flat with a few undulations, making it a day for the powerful time triallists to strike early. Marlen Reusser is tipped as the favourite to take the first maglia rosa, just as Longo Borghini did in Brescia a year ago.
Stage 2 heads into the mountains but only gently so, finishing in Aprica. The climb is long but not especially steep, a repeat of the type of terrain that saw Marianne Vos win in Piedicavallo back in 2019. It’s not yet one for the pure climbers, but expect the GC hopefuls to test their legs. Stage 3 delivers the highest altitude of the week, with the Passo del Tonale (1,883m) featured early as the Cima Alfonsina Strada. The rest is largely downhill or flat into Trento, likely setting up a sprint. From here, things get more serious. Stage 4 concludes with a summit finish at Pianezze after 11.4 km at 7.2%, including ramps to 11%. It’s a climb etched into Giro lore – Fabiana Luperini made her name here in the 1990s, and the GC contenders will need to be fully alert.
Stage 5 looks flat on paper, finishing in Monselice, but it’s a potential ambush day. Crosswinds and short hills could see a split, while the final 14 km circuit features a short kicker and some technical turns – sprinters will have to work hard. Stage 6 crosses briefly into San Marino before heading to Orciano di Pesaro, another lumpy transitional stage with six climbs and over 2,400 metres of climbing. It’s tailor-made for a late attack, and the kind of day Clara Emond seized brilliantly in 2024.
Stage 7 is the queen stage: 150 km with over 3,600 metres of climbing, ending on Monte Nerone – nearly 15 km at 6.7%. It’s a brutal day with multiple climbs before the final ascent, and this is likely where the maglia rosa will be won or lost. The route echoes the 2020 World Championships, with echoes of Anna van der Breggen’s solo triumph drifting along its ridgelines. The final day begins in Forlì and finishes with three laps of the Imola circuit, including the Cima Gallisterna and Mazzolano climbs each time. With bonus seconds and short climbs still in play, it’s not guaranteed the GC will be wrapped up before this final loop.
While the spotlight will be on the contenders of 2025, the ghosts of past editions linger. Anna van der Breggen’s four overall wins, Nicole Brändli’s consistency in the 2000s, Juliette Labous’s podium in 2023, and of course, Vos and Consonni’s regular stage-winning exploits – they all help define the Giro’s unique flavour.
Previous Winners
2024
Elisa Longo Borghini
2023
Annemiek van Vleuten
2022
Annemiek van Vleuten
2025 Giro d’Italia Women Stage Profiles
Stage 1
Stage 2
Stage 3
Stage 4
Stage 5
Stage 6
Stage 7
Stage 8
Live TV Coverage
Sunday 6th July to Sunday 13th July 2025
Live on Discovery Plus/Max/TNT Sports across most of Europe
Stage 1: 11:45-13:45
Stage 2: 11:45-13:45
Stage 3: 11:45-13:45
Stage 4: 11:45-13:45
Stage 5: 11:45-13:45
Stage 6: 11:45-13:45
Stage 7: 11:45-13:45
Stage 8: 11:45-13:45
All times in BST
Twitter: Updates
Startlist: FirstCycling
Photo Credit: Getty
2025 Giro d’Italia Women Contenders
UAE Team ADQ arrive with the reigning champion, Elisa Longo Borghini, who will be looking to defend the maglia rosa she claimed with authority in 2024. Across 13 editions, Longo Borghini has become synonymous with the Giro – tactical, resilient, and consistent in the mountains. An impressive solo win at the Italian National Championships bodes well for a repeat. She’ll be backed by Silvia Persico, who has twice finished in the top 10 overall (7th in 2022, 8th in 2023) and remains a punchy wildcard for stage wins on hillier days. Also lining up is Erica Magnaldi, who finished 5th overall last year and could once again thrive on long climbing stages. In faster finales, Eleonora Gasparrini might be the team’s option for a sprint, particularly if the peloton is thinned down by late undulations.
Over at SD Worx, there’s no shortage of winning pedigree. Lotte Kopecky returns as one of the race’s biggest names, after finishing 2nd overall in 2024 and winning a stage. Add to that another stage win back in 2020, and she’s proven she can be effective across a wide range of profiles. With a time trial, plus a punchy route expected, the terrain could suit her again if she wants to chase stages or even test the GC waters once more. Supporting her will be Lorena Wiebes, whose sprinting dominance in this race is well established – three stage wins from her appearances in 2021 and 2023 underline just how lethal she can be in the right finale, and she’s having quite a season already. Of course, the headline name is Anna van der Breggen, returning in a racing role at the Giro for the first time since her retirement. With four overall victories (2015, 2017, 2020, and 2021) and four stage wins to her name, she is one of the successful riders in the event’s history. How she slots into the SD Worx strategy remains to be seen – potentially, she’s the GC leader for them, with Kopecky here to find form going into the Tour de France Femmes instead.
Over at Movistar, Liane Lippert is coming in as a former stage winner from the 2024 Giro, where she stormed to victory on a punchy uphill finish. While her GC record is modest at Grand Tours, she has top-10 potential if she races consistently across the ten days. Lippert thrives when the stages are dynamic and aggressive, and the middle portion of the Giro looks to suit her racing instincts. Sara Martin, fresh off winning the Spanish national road title, has had a solid run of form this summer. Though more of an attacking rider than a climber, her aggressive style and confidence could earn her freedom to hunt stages. The wildcard in Movistar’s line-up is Marlen Reusser. She’s among the most powerful riders in the peloton and a proven time triallist, but the Giro has never been kind to her – she didn’t finish either of her previous starts in 2020 or 2021. If she’s committed to the GC, she can climb well enough to threaten, particularly with the absence of some bigger names this year. But it’s also plausible that Reusser is using the Giro as preparation for the Tour de France Femmes, and in that case, she may focus on select stages rather than the overall. It’s still hard to rule her out of a very solid GC finish though.
Photo Credit: GettyCanyon SRAM zondacrypto balance GC ambitions with one of the most dangerous sprinters in the race. Chiara Consonni has three Giro stage wins to her name and thrives on flat stages with technical finishes. She’ll be aiming to add to that tally if the peloton comes to the line together. On GC, Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig returns for another tilt after finishing 6th in both 2022 and 2023, and 8th last year. She’s proven across the Ardennes and stage races, but has often lost time in one key moment – if she can string together consistency across the 10 days, she remains a genuine podium threat. Antonia Niedermaier adds further climbing firepower after finishing 6th last year and winning a stage in 2023. Still just 21, she’s one of the more exciting young talents and could threaten for the top 5 again if her form holds. Soraya Paladin rounds out the team with her usual stage-hunting instincts – she’s gone close more times than most, with 17 Giro stage top-10s over the years and a particular knack for finishing fast on tough, selective stages.
FDJ-Suez brings one of the most consistent Giro GC riders of recent years, Juliette Labous, who has made the Giro her key target once again. After finishing 5th overall last year, she’s already stood on the podium with 2nd in 2023 and has never finished outside the top 10 since 2021. Her stage win on the Passo Maniva in 2022 remains her most dominant performance in Italy, and with no clear GC favourite above the rest, she’ll start among the very top contenders. Alongside her, Evita Muzic has a chance to step up, freed from support duties now that Demi Vollering isn’t present. Muzic was 17th last year and 14th in 2022, but her climbing profile hints at further potential if she can handle the longer efforts. Célia Gery might get her chance in the faster finishes – the 20-year-old was 4th in the French national championships and sprinted to 8th on the final stage of the Tour of Britain last month. If the field fragments, she could be FDJ-Suez’s best hope in reduced bunch sprints.
Over at Fenix-Deceuninck, Yara Kastelijn makes her Giro debut, which is surprising given her long-standing presence on the calendar in other stage races. With her punchy climbing style, she may be let loose on the mid-mountain days, but it’s Pauliena Rooijakkers who carries the GC credentials here. She was 4th overall in 2024 and 12th the year before, thriving in attritional mountain stages and often riding herself into the top 10 by consistency alone. They’ll also keep an eye on the faster finishes – Christina Schweinberger and Marthe Truyen are both capable of top-10s if things come back together, especially in smaller groups.
Monica Trinca Colonel returns to the Giro d’Italia Women with far greater expectations than last season, where she finished 23rd overall. Her rapid progression in 2025 has turned her into Liv AlUla Jayco’s primary GC option, particularly after a strong runner-up finish at the Italian national road race last weekend. That result wasn’t just a flash – she’s been consistently riding well all year, notably climbing with the best at stages of the Vuelta Femenina and showing she can time trial capably when needed. This Giro may be the moment she truly breaks through in a stage race. In the sprints, Georgia Baker will be the go-to for traditional flat finishes. She’s struggled to convert lead-out work into personal results this season, but a flatter stage or reduced bunch could tilt the odds in her favour. Caroline Andersson is another card to play – especially when conditions are harder or the parcours more rolling. Her ability to surf wheels and produce a fast finish in selective groups makes her a threat when the peloton is thinned.
Laboral Kutxa look increasingly comfortable at this level and brings a well-rounded squad. Ane Santesteban is one of the team’s most experienced riders and has deep Giro history, with 7th in 2020 and 10th in 2023 among her highlights. She was 21st last year but still remains a dependable climber. Usoa Ostolaza impressed on debut in 2024, finishing 16th overall, and has grown stronger in recent Spanish races. She’ll likely shadow Santesteban on the GC. In the sprints, the team could back either Arianna Fidanza or Laura Tomasi – both have Giro stage top-10s in past editions and should be in the mix on flatter days.
At Lidl-Trek, the depth of options is impressive. Lucinda Brand returns for her first Giro since 2019, bringing three stage wins from earlier in her career and past GC results that include 4th in 2018 and 6th in 2019. Though she may not be in full GC mode anymore, her race sense and endurance make her an ever-dangerous breakaway threat. Anna Henderson lines up for her Giro debut with some promising form – 3rd at the British national championships, 6th on the final stage of the Tour of Britain, and 8th overall there all suggest she’s on the rise. Amanda Spratt has had a patchy relationship with the Giro in recent years, DNFing three in a row, but she was 3rd in 2019 and should be a capable stage hunter if things go right. Meanwhile, Shirin van Anrooij rode her first Giro last year, finishing 29th overall, and could ride into a top-10 placing if the route plays to her strengths and she has freedom to race.
AG Insurance-Soudal fields a versatile trio of climbers with Grand Tour ambitions. Ashleigh Moolman Pasio returns to the Giro for the first time since 2021, when she finished 2nd overall and claimed a stage win on the Prato Nevoso summit finish. This may be her last appearance at the race, and her experience could prove vital. First-time starter Sarah Gigante has shown strong recent form, finishing 12th at the Tour de Suisse and growing in consistency. The Australian remains a powerful time triallist and climber, and how she handles the daily grind of the Giro will be worth watching. Mireia Benito and Urška Žigart add depth – Benito was 12th at Vuelta a Burgos and 9th on the queen stage at Tour de Suisse, while Žigart is quietly having her best season to date, finishing 5th overall in Switzerland. With such depth, the team may ride opportunistically in the early stages before fully committing behind their strongest GC card.
Petra Stiasny comes into the Giro d’Italia Women in arguably the best form of her career. Riding for Roland, the Swiss climber has always been consistent in the mountains, but this season has marked a noticeable step up in performance. Her 11th place overall at the Tour de Suisse was a strong indicator, especially given the quality of the field, and she backed that up with 4th at the Alpes Gresivaudan Classic – a one-day race loaded with climbing. Just weeks earlier, she also placed 5th on the summit finish queen stage of the Vuelta a Burgos, confirming her climbing legs are sharp heading into July. At the Giro, she’ll face longer efforts and back-to-back mountain stages, but her previous experiences here – 22nd in 2022 and 23rd in 2023 – should help. The time trial will be a weakness but if Stiasny can ride conservatively early on and aim to climb into the top-15, if not higher, as the race progresses. If the team races for her, she could also be a dark horse for a top-10 on any summit finish days.
Team Picnic-PostNL arrive with a quietly well-rounded squad that could punch above expectations, especially with the form shown by Eleonora Ciabocco and Francesca Barale in recent weeks. Ciabocco may not have left a mark on her first two Giro appearances, but a 3rd place finish at the Italian national championships, followed by a solid 10th overall at the Tour de Suisse, points to her growing strength and confidence. Barale has likewise had a quiet Giro history so far, though her consistency this season has improved – she placed 7th at nationals and finished a respectable 26th in the Swiss tour. Both are unlikely GC threats, but either could emerge as an opportunist in breakaways or tough transition stages. The most intriguing name here, though, is Pfeiffer Georgi. It’s surprisingly her debut Giro despite already having made her mark in one-day races and shorter tours. Her runner-up spot at the British nationals last weekend was her first top-10 since Omloop het Nieuwsblad, but with no clear GC ambitions, Georgi could become a stage-hunting wildcard, particularly on lumpy or tactical days.
There’s no bigger name in the long history of the Giro Rosa/Giro Donne/Giro d’Italia Women than Marianne Vos, and she returns again with Team Visma | Lease a Bike to add to her extraordinary tally of 32 stage wins and three GC titles. It’s a legacy that stretches back to her debut in 2007, and although her general classification days are likely behind her, Vos remains one of the most dangerous riders on any rolling or uphill sprint finish. She’s taken stage wins in every imaginable style, and even at 37, is capable of adding more. With no major GC focus for the team this year, support will likely be thrown behind Vos for stage opportunities, while younger teammates like Mijntje Geurts, Maude Oudeman, Rosita Reijnhout and Viktoria Chladonova may be encouraged to animate the race. All four are still in the learning phase at WorldTour level, but the Giro offers plenty of scope for breakaways and long-range efforts, especially in the mid-mountain stages, where they may get a chance to chase a result for themselves.
Meanwhile, Uno-X Mobility bring a lean squad with GC hopes likely resting on Katrine Aalerud. She’s yet to crack the top 10 in her six previous Giro appearances, but 2025 has arguably been her most consistent season to date. She was 5th overall at the Tour of Norway and followed that with 10th at the Vuelta a Burgos and 19th in La Vuelta Femenina – a string of steady climbing form that suggests she’s still progressing. The Giro’s longer climbing days may be slightly more of a stretch, but if she can ride consistently and avoid time losses early, a top-10 finish in the GC isn’t out of reach.
Top 3 Prediction
⦿ Elisa Longo Borghini
⦿ Marlen Reusser
⦿ Juliette Labous
