Elisa Longo Borghini delivered a perfectly judged performance to win the 2025 Tre Valli Varesine Women’s Race, taking victory ahead of European champion Demi Vollering after the two went head-to-head on the final climb into Varese. Eleonora Gasparrini made it a double podium for UAE Team ADQ, sprinting in for third place after an aggressive day of racing that saw the Italian squad control proceedings from start to finish.
Aggressive start and early break
The race began under clear skies in Busto Arsizio, with 123 riders from 21 teams lining up for the longest edition yet of Tre Valli Varesine at 137 kilometres. The opening 40 kilometres, which took the peloton through the rolling roads toward Varese, saw multiple attacks before a break of five finally escaped after 25 kilometres. Ema Comte of Cofidis, Lara Crestanello of Born to Win BTC Ljubljana, Irma Siri of Top Girls Fassa Bortolo, Eleonora La Bella and Argyro Milaki of Aromitalia 3T Vaiano quickly opened a gap that reached a minute and a half.
The peloton, led by UAE Team ADQ, was in no mood to allow a large advantage. With Silvia Persico and Longo Borghini setting a steady tempo, the escape was kept under control as the race hit the first of six laps over the Montello climb, a two-kilometre ascent averaging around five percent. One by one, the early leaders began to fade, with Siri and Milaki dropping back on the opening ascent. The move was finally caught after 60 kilometres of racing, marking the start of a new phase in the race.
UAE Team ADQ and FDJ–Suez take control
The first serious attacks from the favourites came on the third climb of the Montello, when Longo Borghini accelerated and was followed by Vollering, world champion Magdeleine Vallieres and 18-year-old Paula Ostiz. Although the move was short-lived, it reshuffled the front of the race, reducing the lead group to around 15 riders.
That selection included the biggest names in the peloton – Longo Borghini and Gasparrini for UAE Team ADQ, Vollering and Juliette Labous for FDJ–Suez, Fisher-Black for Lidl–Trek, Vallieres and Ruegg for EF Education–Oatly, Moolman and Marthe Goossens for AG Soudal, Kastelijn and Pauliena Rooijakkers for Fenix–Deceuninck, and Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig for Canyon–Sram.
Behind them, the remnants of the peloton were already two minutes down and fading fast. The key teams had riders in front, ensuring that the chase lost momentum.
Attacks on the penultimate lap
With 25 kilometres to go, Vallieres launched an attack on the descent, taking Karlijn Swinkels of UAE Team ADQ with her. The pair worked well together, briefly opening a gap of 20 seconds before the climb began again. Vollering reacted immediately, lifting the pace behind to bring the leaders back on the slopes of the final Montello ascent.
By 12 kilometres from the finish, the race was reduced to a front group of four – Longo Borghini, Vollering, Vallieres and Fisher-Black. The world champion, who had done much of the work earlier, began to show signs of fatigue, and with seven kilometres remaining, she was distanced as Longo Borghini pushed on, forcing the decisive split.
The decisive Ronchi climb
As the race approached Varese, Yara Kastelijn tried one last attack, but her move was short-lived as the pace rose ahead of the Ronchi climb – the short, sharp ramp that has so often decided the Tre Valli. At two kilometres to go, Longo Borghini and Vollering were alone at the front, trading accelerations before settling into a tactical truce as they approached the final ascent.
On the lower slopes of the Ronchi, Vollering briefly took the lead, testing her rival, but Longo Borghini held firm. With 150 metres remaining, the Italian champion kicked hard, surging clear and opening a decisive gap. Vollering tried to respond but could not come past, leaving Longo Borghini to raise her arms in celebration at the line.
A commanding team display
Gasparrini secured fourth place from the chasing group behind, confirming UAE Team ADQ’s dominance on the day. Noemi Ruegg of EF Education–Oatly just pipped her for the final podium spot, while Fisher-Black, after an active race, completed the top positions just behind.
For Longo Borghini, the win marked a triumphant return to form after a challenging late summer. Having finished outside the medals at both the World Championships in Kigali and the European Championships in France, she used the home roads and familiar climbs of Lombardy to reassert her strength. It was her second Tre Valli Varesine title, following her 2022 success, and another milestone in a career defined by consistency and tactical nous.
UAE Team ADQ’s all-round control, from pacing the early break to protecting their leaders and countering every attack, made their victory comprehensive. With Longo Borghini back on the top step and Gasparrini continuing her breakthrough season, the team ended the Italian autumn classics with momentum and confidence heading toward the off-season.
2025 Tre Valli Varesine Women’s Race result
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