Stage 6 of the Giro d’Italia Women delivered a proper test of climbing legs and tactical instincts, as the peloton tackled 145km of lumpy terrain from Bellaria-Igea Marina to Terre Roveresche. The stage included three categorised climbs, numerous shorter ramps and a fast, twisty finishing circuit. In the end, it was Liane Lippert who emerged strongest, outsprinting Pauliena Rooijakkers from a two-rider break, but it was the constant shifting of race dynamics that defined the day.
Aggressive start through San Marino
From the flag, the racing was active. Multiple attacks flew in the flat opening kilometres, though no one was given room early on. The first proper test came with the category 2 climb to San Marino – 6.8 km at nearly 7% with ramps up to 14%. Kim Cadzow, wearing the New Zealand national champion’s jersey, launched the first significant move here and briefly led the race solo. She was caught just before the summit by a surging peloton driven by the GC teams. Usoa Ostolaza took the maximum 15 mountain points ahead of Sarah Gigante and Liane Lippert.
The tempo over the top shattered the bunch momentarily, but no breakaway was allowed to form until after the descent. A short lull followed, which was broken when Loes Adegeest rode clear. She gained nearly a minute, with Anna Henderson chasing behind alone. Adegeest picked up maximum points in the intermediate sprint at Montecchio, while Lorena Wiebes took third from the bunch and extended her lead in the points classification.
Photo Credit: LaPresseGC teams begin to show their hand
With just over 50km remaining, the terrain began to bite. The long drag up Monteciccardo (6.1 km at 4.9%) saw the bunch swell and fragment repeatedly. Ostolaza surged again to win the second QOM ahead of Adegeest, collecting another seven points. Behind, the likes of Henderson and Adegeest were reeled in one by one as the road pitched upward and attacks continued.
On the next categorised climb, the cat 3 Beato Sante (5.3 km at 5.6%), Amanda Spratt made the decisive move. Just metres before the summit, the Australian surged clear. Sarah Gigante followed long enough to take second in the QOM sprint but then sat up, protecting her maglia azzurra.
Spratt was soon joined by Juliette Labous and Sara Casasola. The trio began to work together, building a lead of nearly 40 seconds. Liane Lippert then launched a stinging bridge across the gap, closing the deficit alone. Shortly after, Pauliena Rooijakkers made a huge solo effort to reach the front. Ruth Edwards tried to follow but was left stranded between groups.
Final selection on the rolling run-in
Once Rooijakkers arrived, the dynamic in the group shifted. Casasola went straight to the front to set tempo for her teammate. But with five riders now up the road and just under 20km remaining, there was hesitation. That sparked Lippert to make her move. With 9km to go, she attacked on one of the uncategorised climbs, quickly distancing Spratt, Labous and Casasola. Rooijakkers just about held on, riding onto Lippert’s wheel after a brief struggle.
Behind, the GC group was restless. Elisa Longo Borghini chose a steep kicker at 9km to test the waters. Marlen Reusser was alert and marked the move immediately. That acceleration caused Anna van der Breggen and Sarah Gigante to briefly lose contact, though the elastic held. As the favourites marked each other, the gap to Lippert and Rooijakkers stabilised.
Inside 5km, Shirin van Anrooij launched a counter-attack from the GC group. She hovered at around 30 seconds behind the leaders but never got close enough to make contact.
Photo Credit: LaPresseSprint for the stage
Into the final kilometre, Lippert and Rooijakkers still held a 30-second lead. Both riders were visibly fatigued but committed fully. As the line approached in Terre Roveresche, Lippert opened up the sprint first. Rooijakkers had no answer to her acceleration and had to settle for second, two seconds back. Van Anrooij finished third, 46 seconds down, with Silke Smulders and Lieke Nooijen coming in shortly after as late escapees from the chasing favourites’ group.
The GC contenders, including Reusser, Longo Borghini and van der Breggen, rolled in at 1:24. Reusser comfortably retained the maglia rosa, with Longo Borghini still 16 seconds behind in second and van der Breggen at 1:53. Rooijakkers moved up to fourth overall, now just two seconds off the podium.
Stage 6 didn’t just crown a stage winner – it reshaped the GC ahead of the queen stage to Monte Nerone, where the final climbing legs will be tested to the limit.
Photo Credit: LaPresse2025 Giro d’Italia Women Stage 6 result
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