After a flat day for the sprinters, the Giro d’Italia Women returns to the hills on stage 6 with a tough 145km route from Bellaria to Terre Roveresche. With over 2,300 metres of climbing and a late uphill drag to the line, the stage promises a battle between breakaway specialists, punchy finishers and general classification contenders as the race enters its final days.
The route – A trip through San Marino and into the Romagna hills
Stage 6 begins at the Adriatic coast in Bellaria-Igea Marina but quickly heads inland toward the Romagna Apennines. After around 30km of flat, the road climbs sharply into San Marino, where the riders tackle a 5.3km ascent at 7% – the hardest climb of the day and the only one categorised. It’s also a rare foreign foray for the Giro, with the peloton briefly crossing into the microstate before descending back into Italy.
The second half of the stage is relentlessly undulating. Long drags to Monteciccardo (6.1km at 4.9%) and Beato Sante (5.3km at 5.6%) sap the legs, while the roads through Cartoceto, Saltara and Villa del Monte never allow for full recovery. A final uphill section towards the finish line in Terre Roveresche could provide one last launchpad for attacks, particularly with the GC picture still evolving.
The finish includes one pass of the line before a 15km finishing circuit that features another climb to Mondavio. It’s a finale that suits strong all-rounders, and the last 10km are far from straightforward, with a final uphill rise just before the line.
Contenders – Reusser under watch, puncheurs circling
Marlen Reusser remains in control of the maglia rosa and is proving to be the most consistent climber in the race. She leads Elisa Longo Borghini by 16 seconds and Anna van der Breggen by nearly two minutes, with the Swiss rider acknowledging that attacks are likely to come soon.
“In the coming days, I expect that those who want to win will have to attack me, because Elisa Longo Borghini and I have a good advantage over the others, who will need to try from far out,” Reusser said.
Stage 6 could be one of those days. Longo Borghini may use the familiarity of racing in Italy to test her rival, especially on the grippy run-in to Terre Roveresche. Further down the GC, riders like Mavi García and Neve Bradbury could also animate the finale, particularly if they sense an opportunity to close gaps before the decisive mountain stage on Monte Nerone.
But this isn’t just about the overall standings. The terrain and lack of a pure summit finish mean it could favour a classics-style rider. Marianne Vos is hunting a 35th Giro stage win and could be in the mix if the race comes down to a reduced sprint. Others like Silvia Persico, Evita Muzic or even Ane Santesteban might view this as one of their last chances to steal a stage.
What’s on offer
Date: Friday, 11th July
Distance: 145km
Start: Bellaria-Igea Marina
Finish: Terre Roveresche
Intermediate sprint: Montecchio (km 80.5)
Climbs:
- San Marino (cat. 2, km 30.4 – 5.3km at 7%)
- Monteciccardo (uncategorised, km 99 – 6.1km at 4.9%)
- Beato Sante (uncategorised, km 117.5 – 5.3km at 5.6%)
- Mondavio (uncategorised, km 135.5)
Prediction
This looks like a day for the puncheurs, and it’s wise to tip Marianne Vos to add yet another Giro stage win to her career total. If she can hang on over the hills, her finishing speed could prove decisive in Terre Roveresche.
