Lorena Wiebes won a dramatic and tense edition of Sanremo Women, timing her final sprint perfectly to overhaul Marianne Vos and Elisa Longo Borghini on the famous Via Roma. Vos claimed second, while Noemi Rüegg delivered an impressive sprint to complete the podium in third.
The highly anticipated revival of Sanremo Women saw a stellar peloton roll out from Genoa, marking the event’s return after a 20-year hiatus. The start list was stacked with top names including eventual winner Lorena Wiebes, Marianne Vos, Elisa Longo Borghini, Demi Vollering, Elisa Balsamo, Lotte Kopecky, Katarzyna Niewiadoma, and Puck Pieterse.
The early kilometres unfolded cautiously, with few riders willing to risk attacks ahead of the decisive Cipressa and Poggio climbs. Anne Knijnenburg of VolkerWessels made the first serious attempt to break away but was quickly pulled back. Knijnenburg tried again shortly afterwards, briefly joined by Italian duo Laura Tomasi of Laboral Kutxa-Fundación Euskadi and Virginia Bortoli from Top Girls Fassa Bortolo. Their lead remained minimal, prompting Knijnenburg to push on solo, crossing the Capo Mele alone before being reeled in as the pace lifted.
Photo Credit: LaPresseCipressa keeps the pace high
Approaching the Cipressa, nerves increased sharply in the peloton, causing several crashes. Elisa Balsamo from Lidl-Trek briefly went down but managed to regain contact without significant issues. Another set of crashes shortly after claimed several riders, including Letizia Paternoster from Liv AlUla, Chiara Consonni, Olivia Baril, and Silke Smulders, fracturing the peloton considerably.
On the Cipressa itself, Erica Magnaldi of UAE Team ADQ led the peloton with a controlled effort designed to protect Longo Borghini. FDJ-Suez’s Loes Adegeest then lifted the tempo, ensuring no favourites could escape. Pauline Ferrand-Prévot from Jumbo-Visma led aggressively on the descent, momentarily causing a split, but the groups soon merged, setting up a fast and nervous approach to the Poggio.
Photo Credit: LaPresseNo-one clear on the Poggio
As the group reached the Poggio, Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig of Canyon SRAM set a high pace in support of Kasia Niewiadoma, prompting attacks from Juliette Labous of FDJ-Suez and Kim Le Court from AG Insurance-Soudal. However, neither rider could create a meaningful gap. Demi Vollering accelerated near the summit to position herself for the descent, cresting ahead of Pieterse, Wiebes, and Longo Borghini.
Vollering initially led the descent, with Pieterse then taking over and pushing the pace. At the foot of the Poggio, Elisa Longo Borghini immediately attacked, gaining a significant advantage. In response, SD Worx-Protime moved quickly, as Lotte Kopecky, making her season debut, chased relentlessly to reduce the gap for teammate Wiebes.
With just 250 metres to the line, Longo Borghini still held a slender lead. Marianne Vos was the first to launch her sprint, overtaking Longo Borghini, but Wiebes timed her effort to perfection, surging past both riders to claim victory. Vos settled for second place, while Noemi Rüegg secured third. Pauline Ferrand-Prévot initially finished fourth but was later relegated to 12th after race officials penalised her for deviating from her line and impeding Rüegg.
Photo Credit: LaPreeseRider reactions and insights
Lorena Wiebes celebrated her victory by praising her team’s exceptional performance, highlighting Lotte Kopecky’s crucial role. She explained that despite Elisa Longo Borghini’s strong late attack, she was never overly concerned, knowing Kopecky’s strength would close the gap. Wiebes admitted that Marianne Vos briefly surprised her by starting the sprint early, but she was confident in her own speed. Reflecting on her overall performance, she described how strong she felt over both Cipressa and Poggio, which reassured her she could sprint for victory.
Lotte Kopecky expressed satisfaction despite sacrificing her own chances. She approached her first race of the season uncertain about her form but was reassured by the team’s clear plan. Kopecky explained her tactical decision not to close the gap to Longo Borghini too quickly, mindful of inviting further counterattacks. Eventually, she was forced to fully commit, confident in Wiebes’s ability to finish it off.
Marianne Vos was realistic but content after her second-place finish. She acknowledged that beating Wiebes in a sprint was always difficult and described her tactic of going early to surprise the European champion. Despite missing out on victory, Vos had no regrets, praising the exceptional work of her teammates, especially Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, in positioning her safely during a highly nervous race.
Noemi Rüegg was delighted with her third-place finish, describing it as feeling like a victory given the race’s monumental status. The Swiss rider revealed that while the team targeted a podium, she hadn’t personally envisioned standing on it herself. Rüegg noted that the Cipressa and Poggio were not as difficult as anticipated, enabling her to follow Kopecky’s wheel perfectly into the final sprint.
Elisa Longo Borghini was disappointed after narrowly missing out on a home victory. She described her late attack as all-or-nothing and praised her UAE Team ADQ teammates for their commitment throughout the day. While she briefly believed she could hold on for victory, she acknowledged Kopecky’s impressive chase effort. Longo Borghini concluded positively, noting how significant the return of Sanremo Women is for women’s cycling.
Pauline Ferrand-Prévot accepted her relegation by the race jury, conceding the sprint became complicated and admitting no intention to obstruct Rüegg. She respected the jury’s decision and remained proud of Jumbo-Visma’s overall performance, highlighting Vos’s podium as evidence of their strong teamwork.
Puck Pieterse enjoyed the event more than anticipated but suggested future editions could benefit from greater distance. Pieterse believed a longer, tougher race—potentially exceeding 200 kilometres—would ensure the Poggio climb becomes decisive, creating more opportunities for climbers to challenge sprinters.
Kim Le Court was pleased with her sixth-place finish despite the chaotic nature of the finale. She admitted feeling extremely nervous prior to the start, given the historical significance of Sanremo Women. Le Court praised the consistent support from her AG Insurance-Soudal teammates, acknowledging she feels stronger with each race and optimistic for upcoming opportunities.
Photo Credit: LaPresse2025 Sanremo Women result
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Main photo credit: LaPresse
