Human Powered Health heads into the 2025 Giro d’Italia Women with a versatile and Italian-influenced roster, targeting success on both the general classification and stage wins. The eight-day race, beginning with a time trial in Bergamo on 6th July, promises a demanding route that mixes summit finishes, punchy terrain, and limited opportunities for sprinters.
Barbara Malcotti, a consistent climber and former top-15 finisher at this race, returns for her third consecutive Giro with the team. She expects the 2025 edition to be even tougher than last year, pointing to the pivotal mountain-top finish on stage 2 as an early moment of truth. “Stage 2 will already start to define the GC,” she said. “It can be chaotic because some people need to warm up their legs. It’s short, and the uphill starts at 10 km, so it will be an important beginning.”
Malcotti has already enjoyed a productive 2025 season and views this Giro as a key target. “I grew up this year on the bike, so I can play my card at this Giro. I aim to get the best result I can because of all the effort I put into my personal life and on the bike to get ready for the Giro.”
She is joined by Giada Borghesi, who made an immediate impact after joining the team before the 2024 Giro, taking sixth on a stage and later finishing second overall at the Tour of Guangxi. Despite a disrupted 2025 due to a dislocated patella in January, Borghesi is eager for a strong return at her home stage on day three. “It will be such an emotional day,” she said. “We’ll ride just one kilometre from my house, and we will finish in Trento, where I usually train. Having my family, friends, and so many supporters along the road will make it even more special.”
Ruth Edwards, the reigning Pan American time trial champion, brings a strong engine for the opening time trial and potential support roles in the mountains, while Silvia Zanardi targets the sole flat stage into Monselice on stage 5. Navigating the circuit’s sharp corners in the final kilometre will be crucial for positioning and execution in what looks like her clearest sprint opportunity.
Also lining up are Yurani Blanco, Carlotta Cipressi, and Katia Ragusa, offering added depth and support across the varied terrain. Ragusa, in particular, has experience on rolling Italian terrain and could feature in breakaways or tactical late moves.
The race concludes with a mountainous doubleheader: Monte Nerone on stage 7 and a tough circuit around Imola on the final day. With the Maglia Rosa still potentially in play, Malcotti and Human Powered Health could be well-positioned to shape the outcome in the race’s decisive moments.
Human Powered Health 2025 Giro d’Italia Women line-up
- Barbara Malcotti
- Ruth Edwards
- Yurani Blanco
- Giada Borghesi
- Carlotta Cipressi
- Katia Ragusa
- Silvia Zanardi
