After the opening time trial in Bergamo, the Giro d’Italia Women continues on day two with the first road stage of the race. It may finish in the famous ski town of Aprica, but this is no Alpine slog. Instead, stage two offers a short uphill finish after a rolling approach – ideal territory for sprinters with climbing legs or punchy all-rounders like Marianne Vos.
At just under 100 kilometres, it’s a short and snappy day that ends with a long drag uphill from Edolo to Aprica, averaging 3.5% over the final 14 kilometres. There’s a brief bite in the early slopes near Santicolo, but from there the gradient softens into a steady grind. While it’s not quite selective enough for a big GC shake-up, any rider who finds themselves out of position or struggling for form may still lose time.
Short and steady, not savage
The route starts in Clusone and quickly descends to Lovere, before following the Val Camonica north towards Edolo. From there, the road begins to rise gently but consistently toward the finish. The climb to Aprica is a well-known one in Italian cycling history, though this time it plays a much softer role – more of a launchpad than a battleground.
It’s the kind of stage that will frustrate pure climbers hoping for an early GC statement, but riders with punch, power and positioning sense will see this as a golden opportunity. Think back to Piedicavallo in 2019 – a similar finish where Marianne Vos timed her effort to perfection for a memorable win.
Favourites
There’s no clear-cut favourite for this sort of finish, but Lotte Kopecky is certainly among the leading names. The SD Worx-Protime rider showed excellent form in the opening time trial and is more than capable of producing a big kick on a gentle uphill drag. Teammate Anna van der Breggen could also be a factor if the tempo is high enough to break things up.
Marianne Vos thrives on these intermediate finishes, and stage two has her name all over it if she’s feeling good. A win here would echo her 2019 triumph and deliver another chapter in her storied Giro history. Lorena Wiebes might also be in with a shout, depending on how she handles the climbing.
Don’t discount riders like Elisa Longo Borghini, Juliette Labous, or Christina Schweinberger either – all strong enough to hang on and potentially contest a fast finish from a reduced group. A late move in the final kilometre can’t be ruled out either if the peloton hesitates.
What’s on offer
- Date: Monday, 7th July
- Distance: 96km
- Start/Finish: Clusone – Aprica
- Climbs:
- Edolo to Aprica ascent (14km at 3.5%) – uncategorised
- Intermediate sprint: Not specified
Prediction
This looks like a prime opportunity for Marianne Vos to add another Giro stage win to her tally. The finish suits her perfectly, and with the gradients not steep enough to eliminate her, few can match her finishing speed on this sort of terrain.
