The defining moment of the 2025 Giro d’Italia Women is here, with the queen stage delivering a brutal mountain test and a summit finish that will decide the race. Stage 7 climbs to Monte Nerone after 150km of increasingly selective terrain from Fermignano, and it’s the last big opportunity for the overall contenders to make their mark.
After the summit finishes at Aprica and Pianezze, the GC picture remains finely balanced. Marlen Reusser continues to lead the maglia rosa for Movistar, but the Swiss rider is just 16 seconds ahead of defending champion Elisa Longo Borghini, with Anna van der Breggen still a threat at 1:53. Beyond them, Pauliena Rooijakkers, Katrine Aalerud, and Sarah Gigante remain within striking distance. All eyes, though, are on Gigante, who has already won at altitude in this race and could climb her way into serious contention on Monte Nerone.
The route – Monte Nerone decides the Giro
This is a stage designed for GC drama. After leaving Fermignano, the riders climb from the start toward Pian di Trebbio, setting the tone for a relentlessly hilly day. The stage profile includes ascents of Moria, Passo la Croce, Valico di Sitria and Valico di Croce Avellana, softening the legs before the final battle.
In the last 40km, the route takes on a technical series of ramps past Frontone and Cagli. The final ascent to Monte Nerone is 8km at an average of over 8%, rising to 1,395 metres. This is where the Giro will likely be won or lost.
What’s on offer
Date: Friday, 11th July
Distance: 150km
Start/Finish: Fermignano – Monte Nerone
Climbs:
- Pian di Trebbio
- Moria
- Passo la Croce
- Valico di Sitria
- Valico di Croce Avellana
- Monte Nerone (summit finish, 8km at 8%)
Prediction
Sarah Gigante has already shown she is the strongest pure climber in this year’s Giro. After her emphatic win on stage 4 and a GC position that gives her room to attack, stage 7 is set up perfectly for the Australian to take another victory and possibly move into podium contention again. If she’s as good on Monte Nerone as she was at Pianezze, the others may be left behind.
