The 2025 Giro d’Italia Women offers up eight stages, 919.2 kilometres, and 14,300 metres of climbing across some of northern Italy’s most iconic and lesser-known terrain. From the time trial in Bergamo to the queen stage on Monte Nerone and the hilly finale in Imola, this year’s race doesn’t just hand over the narrative, it asks riders and teams to write it.
Unlike 2024, where the race was largely shaped by a duel between Elisa Longo Borghini and Lotte Kopecky, this year opens up more scenarios. There’s a changing cast of characters, tactical ambiguity from the biggest teams, and a route that blends flat days with climbs long enough to crack the GC wide open.
This isn’t a straightforward preview. It’s a guide to the battles, the questions and the riders who’ll shape one of the most important stage races of the year.
Photo Credit: GettyCan Kopecky really sit back and just prepare for the Tour?
Lotte Kopecky says she’s using the Giro as a build-up to the Tour de France Femmes. That was also the case in 2024, until she won a stage, climbed with Longo Borghini on the Blockhaus and finished just one second off the maglia rosa on the penultimate day. Even with her stated focus on July, Kopecky’s natural competitiveness tends to take over once the flag drops.
The terrain this year suits her style again. There’s no Blockhaus, but the climbs to Pianezze and Monte Nerone allow her to test herself without committing to the full GC effort unless the opportunity arises. Crucially, she’ll be joined by Anna van der Breggen, another unknown factor in her comeback season but has looked strong already. Whether SD Worx-Protime ride with Van der Breggen as co-leader, or use her to launch Kopecky deeper into the race, will be one of the subplots to watch.
Kopecky may not go in chasing pink, but if she’s near the top after four or five days, the temptation to try again for the overall will be immense. With the points jersey also a likely target, she’ll be in the thick of the action regardless.
Photo Credit: GettyIs this Marlen Reusser’s Grand Tour breakthrough?
Marlen Reusser hasn’t been just a time triallist for a long time. But now on a new team, she’s a freed legit GC threat, and this year’s route suits her strengths perfectly. She’ll likely gain time in the opening stage and has the power to control gaps on long, steady climbs like Pianezze and Monte Nerone. After beating Demi Vollering at the Tour de Suisse, she comes in with winning momentum and full support from Movistar.
Importantly, Reusser’s team includes Mareille Meijering, a disciplined climber who’ll act as her road captain. The key will be whether Reusser can handle the unpredictable moments and the long, draining transitions of a Grand Tour. On paper, she’s the top favourite. But converting one-week form into a full Giro win is something few riders manage on their first attempt. If she can ride smart and avoid the one bad day that undoes so many GC campaigns, Reusser could well ride into pink and never let go.
GC shake-ups: where this race will be won, or lost
The fight for the overall will be shaped immediately by Stage 1’s 14.2km time trial in Bergamo. It’s a flat course, but one with technical sections in the closing kilometres that could catch riders out. Reusser should win, but the gaps behind could already put climbers like Juliette Labous, Antonia Niedermaier or even Elisa Longo Borghini on the back foot.
Stage 4 to Pianezze is the next key battleground. It’s the first long summit finish of the race – 11.4km at 7.2% – and comes after two warm-up climbs. This is where GC contenders will start showing their hands. If someone like Yara Kastelijn or Neve Bradbury wants to attack early, this is the day to do it. Pianezze is also long enough to expose anyone bluffing their GC form.
Stage 7 to Monte Nerone is the big one. A true tappone, 150km with 3,850m of climbing, including a brutal final climb that stretches to 15km with sustained ramps above 8%. This is where podiums are won or lost. In 2024, Bradbury gained 44 seconds on both Kopecky and Longo Borghini on the Blockhaus. Expect similar gaps here. Anyone who suffers even slightly can watch their Giro unravel in minutes.
If it’s still close, Stage 8 in Imola is no procession. The World Championship-style circuit with the Mazzolano and Cima Gallisterna offers launch pads for desperate moves. It’s not a summit finish, but if someone is within 20 seconds of pink, this stage could still flip the GC.
Photo Credit: Cor VosSprint storylines: not just Wiebes, Vos, Consonni
Lorena Wiebes is back with 12 wins already in 2025 and a Giro stage win streak dating back to 2022. If the bunch sprints stay together, she’ll be the woman to beat. But the Giro rarely offers clean sprint stages. Even the flattest days this year feature tricky run-ins or circuits that favour positioning over raw speed.
Marianne Vos, of course, cannot be discounted. Her record at the Giro is ridiculous – 32 stage wins – and she’s one of the few sprinters who can survive the lumpy finishes like Stage 6 into Terre Roveresche or Stage 8 in Imola. Vos showed in 2024 that she still has the ability to win from small groups or chaotic finales. Don’t be surprised if she adds another win to her tally.
Chiara Consonni, meanwhile, is due a big Giro in front of a home crowd. She’s won a stage in each of the last three editions and is quick enough to challenge Wiebes on the flatter days like Stage 3 into Trento or Stage 5 to Monselice. Her timing and local knowledge will be crucial in chaotic finishes.
Outside of those three, keep an eye on Georgia Baker and Megan Jastrab – both are rapid and tactically sharp. Sarah Van Dam and Anniina Ahtosalo could feature in reduced bunch finishes, and Mia Griffin is another option if those teams can shape their sprint trains right.
But as ever in the Giro, expect the sprint stages to be unpredictable. Wind, technical finishes, and hilly run-ins will limit pure bunch gallops. Those who can survive the chaos, and the hills, will take the spoils.
Photo Credit: GettyYoung guns and dark horses
There’s a wealth of emerging talent in this Giro, and several riders outside the big-name favourites could shape stages or even the GC.
Antonia Niedermaier is only 22, but already a Giro stage winner and 6th overall last year. She’s better on the long climbs than in the opening time trial, but if she limits her losses early and climbs well at Pianezze and Monte Nerone, a podium is very realistic.
Monica Trinca Colonel is one of the most promising climbers in the field and has shown in hilly Spanish races that she can hang with the best. She lacks some of the depth of top-level stage race experience compared to rivals, but if the stars align, she could win a stage or even finish inside the top five.
Kim Cadzow is back after injury and while she’s unlikely to chase the GC outright, she’s capable of a big day on Monte Nerone or a solo win from a breakaway. Her time trial form is improving, and she’ll be a useful reference for EF Education-Oatly in the mountains.
Yara Kastelijn has quietly turned into a consistent GC performer, with a podium at Vuelta a Burgos and solid climbing form all spring. She may not be flashy, but she’s tough, durable, and tactically savvy – the kind of rider who survives chaos and finishes fourth overall without ever taking the spotlight.
Shirin van Anrooij is returning from a long injury break, but her recent national time trial performance suggests she’s finding rhythm again. A stage win or breakthrough ride isn’t out of the question.
Others worth noting include Petra Stiasny of Roland, Human Powered Health’s Barbara Malcotti, Sarah Gigante, Urška Žigart, and Lore De Schepper (all from AG Insurance-Soudal), who could do well with the Aussie on a comeback and De Schepper in particular is a young rider on the rise who may just pick up a big result if the race opens up.
There’s no dominant narrative going into this year’s Giro d’Italia Women, and that’s a good thing. Kopecky may chase stages, Reusser may chase pink, and Van der Breggen’s return could reset everything mid-race. FDJ-Suez are looking to see how their team fares without Vollering, whilst looking to show that Labous and Muzic are also real Grand Tour leaders.
Add in a route that builds in difficulty, offers real variation, and ends with three punishing days, and we’ve got the makings of a great race. The Giro may still sit in the Tour’s shadow for now, but if the racing matches the potential, it won’t go unnoticed.
