Stage 5 of the Giro d’Italia Women delivered far more than the flat profile promised, with crosswinds, split groups and team strength reshaping the outcome long before the final sprint. Lorena Wiebes claimed her second win of the race in Monselice after a punishing day where SD Worx-Protime and UAE Team ADQ caught the peloton out in textbook fashion.
The stage set off from Mirano under calm skies, with a pan-flat 120km route ahead and little to suggest anything more than a routine sprint. Within the first 10km, a five-rider breakaway formed. Franziska Brauße (CERATIZIT), Katia Ragusa (Human Powered Health), Asia Zontone (Isolmant-Premac-Vittoria), Alice Bulegato and Sara Luccon (Top Girls Fassa Bortolo) were the riders willing to roll the dice, hoping the peloton might sit up.
The group quickly gained over three minutes and led by 3:10 at the intermediate sprint in Mira, 37km into the day. But even by that point, it was clear they wouldn’t be allowed too much rope. SD Worx-Protime were already controlling things behind, keeping the gap stable rather than letting it grow into the danger zone.
Wind turns a flat stage into a tactical minefield
The decisive moment came not long after the intermediate sprint. As the route turned west-northwest and exposed the bunch to a gentle but persistent crosswind, SD Worx-Protime made their move. They weren’t alone. UAE Team ADQ also committed, and with both squads bringing numbers to the front, the race was suddenly in the gutter.
The split came with 53km to go. Around 15 riders made it into the front echelon, including key figures such as Wiebes, Kopecky, Van der Breggen and Reusser for SD Worx-Protime, as well as Longo Borghini, Gasparrini, Chapman, Amialiusik and Persico for UAE Team ADQ. Marianne Vos and Rosita Reijnhout were there for Visma, Liane Lippert and Marlen Reusser for Movistar, and Katrine Aalerud made it up for Uno-X Mobility.
Once the gap opened, the group didn’t wait. They pressed on, riding through and off with commitment, and the advantage ballooned quickly. Meanwhile, the rest of the peloton scrambled to organise a chase. Canyon SRAM, Fenix-Deceuninck and Lidl-Trek all put riders on the front, but coordination proved difficult. By the time the bunch rolled through the finish line in Monselice for the first time to begin two laps of the local 14.2km circuit, the gap was 1:11.
Photo Credit: LaPresseBreakaway reeled in, peloton cracks for good
The earlier breakaway, still dangling ahead, began to fall apart under the pace. Brauße went solo briefly in an effort to stretch out her time in the lead, but with 45km to go, the entire group had been caught by the surging front echelon. From that point on, it was a war of attrition for those caught behind and an exercise in discipline for those ahead.
Although the chasing peloton managed to keep the gap stable for a time, losing only seven more seconds across the next lap, the damage had already been done. The effort burned through any reserve energy, and the front group continued to ride away. By the final 10km, the gap had stretched to over 1:40.
Controlled finale leads to the expected outcome
Inside the final 20km, thoughts turned to who would win the stage. Attacks were notably absent. With both SD Worx-Protime and UAE Team ADQ holding multiple cards and having already done the damage, there was little interest in destabilising the lead group. It became clear that the finish would come down to a reduced sprint.
As they approached the line in Monselice for the final time, SD Worx-Protime delivered a clinical lead-out. Barbara Guarischi and Lotte Kopecky hit the front at just the right moment, guiding Wiebes into the final straight. Marianne Vos, on her wheel, never showed signs of launching around. Wiebes opened up her sprint with around 150 metres to go and quickly put daylight between herself and the rest.
Vos rolled in for second, with Lippert edging out Kopecky for third. Reusser, safe in the group, retained the pink jersey. Van der Breggen’s presence up front saw her move up to third overall. Katrine Aalerud also climbed in the standings, while a long list of GC riders in the second group conceded crucial time.
Stage 5 was supposed to be a straightforward day for the sprinters. In the end, it was anything but. The race had no climbs of consequence, but the wind, timing, and teamwork proved more decisive than any summit finish.
2025 Giro d’Italia Women Stage 5 result
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Main photo credit: Getty
