After the fireworks on the climb to Pianezze, the Giro d’Italia Women returns to flatter terrain on stage 5. Thursday’s route from Mirano to Monselice offers a clear chance for the sprinters to reassert themselves before the mountains resume. With little wind forecast and only minor undulations, it’s a day where Lorena Wiebes will be expected to deliver.
Stage 5 begins in Mirano, west of Venice, and remains entirely within the Veneto region. The peloton will traverse the northern edge of the Po Valley, with barely 300 metres of elevation gain across the 120km stage. It’s one of the shortest road stages of the race and by far the flattest.
After a fast run south-west, the riders arrive in Monselice, a town with previous Giro history. The final 28km are made up of two laps of a finishing circuit that includes a brief rise to Arquà Petrarca. The climb itself is short and not especially selective, but its placement within the local lap could offer late attackers a brief window. Most likely, though, it will be the final kilometre that causes the most stress, with two corners inside the last 1,000 metres, positioning will be critical.
While the Euganean Hills feature on the skyline, the race skirts their outer edges without tackling anything serious. There’s also no threat of wind, with barely a breeze expected across the open plains. This is a textbook sprinters’ day, as long as teams can keep it together.
Contenders – Wiebes, Vos and the fight for the points jersey
Lorena Wiebes heads into the stage as the rider to beat. The SD Worx-Protime sprinter won stage 3 in Trento with a commanding kick and now has her eyes on a second victory. She currently sits second in the points classification and will want to close the gap to Anna Henderson, who leads that contest thanks to her stage 1 win and consistent finishes.
Marianne Vos is also in the mix. The Visma-Lease a Bike veteran remains a fixture in fast finishes and will look to extend her remarkable tally of Giro stage wins, which currently stands at 32. If she can find the right wheel and space to accelerate, she’s still one of the best.
Chiara Consonni of Canyon SRAM could feature, while Sara Fiorin of Ceratizit Pro Cycling remains a punchy outsider. However, the field tilts heavily towards Wiebes on this profile.
For the overall contenders, this stage is about risk management. Marlen Reusser wears the maglia rosa and is unlikely to face serious pressure, but attention will still be required.
What’s on offer
Date: Thursday, 10th July
Distance: 120km
Start: Mirano
Finish: Monselice
Intermediate sprint: Arquà Petrarca (km 68.5)
Climbs: Short rise to Arquà Petrarca featured on two finishing laps
Prediction
This stage has Lorena Wiebes written all over it. With a flat route, minimal wind, and a sprint-friendly finish, she should add a second win to her tally in Monselice.
