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Giro d'Italia Women
View on Wikipediafrom Wikipedia
 2026 Giro d'Italia Women | |
 | |
| Race details | |
|---|---|
| Date | Late June / early July |
| Region | Italy |
| Nickname(s) | Giro d'Italia Donne Giro Rosa (2013–2020) |
| Discipline | Road |
| Competition | UCI Women's World Tour |
| Type | Stage race |
| Organiser | RCS Sport |
| Race director | Giusy Virelli |
| Web site | www |
| History | |
| First edition | 1988 |
| Editions | 36 (as of 2025) |
| First winner |  Maria Canins (ITA) |
| Most wins | Fabiana Luperini (ITA) (5 wins) |
| Most recent | Elisa Longo Borghini (ITA) |
The Giro d’Italia Women is an annual women's cycle stage race around Italy. First held in 1988, the race is currently part of the UCI Women's World Tour, and is currently organised by RCS Sport, the organisers of the men's Giro d'Italia. The race was previously branded as the Giro d'Italia Femminile prior to 2013, the Giro Rosa from 2013 to 2020, Giro d'Italia Donne in 2021, and Giro Donne from 2022 to 2023.
The race is "one of the longest and most demanding" races in women's road cycling,[1] with editions featuring ascents of mountain passes as well as individual or team time trials. Some teams and media referring to the race as a 'Grand Tour'.[2][3] However, the race does not meet the UCI definition of such an event.[4][5] It has generally held over eight to ten days in early July each year. The race is owned by the Italian Cycling Federation, with organisation of the race outsourced.[6]
The rider with the lowest aggregate time is the leader of the general classification and wears the pink jersey. While the general classification gathers the most attention, there are other contests held within the Giro: the points classification for the sprinters, the mountains classification for the climbers and young rider classification for the riders under the age of 23. Achieving a stage win also provides prestige, often accomplished by a team's sprint specialist or a rider taking part in a breakaway.
History
[edit]
The men's Giro d'Italia cycling race was first held in 1909, and is considered the second most important cycling race in the world.[7] The women's Giro d'Italia was first held in 1988 as the Giro d'Italia Femminile.[8] The first edition in 1988 was won by two-time Tour de France Feminin winner Maria Canins from Italy.[9][8]
Global Cycling Network notes how "how little we actually know" about early editions of the women's Giro, with no information about stage winners.[8] The race was the second biggest women's race in Italy, behind the long running Trofeo Alfredo Binda-Comune di Cittiglio.[8] In the 1990s, the race was dominated by Italian rider Fabiana Luperini, who won 4 editions of the race between 1995 and 1998, winning 13 stages in the process.[8] Luperini later won the 2008 edition of the race, 10 years after her last victory.[10][11]
In the 2000s, the race grew to 13 stages in length before falling back to 9 stages.[8][12] Other big races like Grande Boucle Féminine Internationale and Tour de l'Aude Cycliste Féminin were cancelled due to financial difficulties in 2009 and 2010 respectively, leaving the Giro Donne was the only 'Grand Tour' left in women's cycling after 2010.[8]
In December 2012 it was reported that the company Epinike had withdrawn as Giro Donne organiser, making the 2013 edition uncertain.[6] In April 2013, however, organisers announced they had rebranded the race as the Giro Rosa, taking place over eight days.[13] It returned to its traditional ten-day length the following year. In 2016, the race became part of the new UCI Women's World Tour, organised by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI).[14]
In the 2010s and early 2020s, the race was dominated by Dutch riders, with Marianne Vos winning the race three times, and Annemiek van Vleuten and Anna van der Breggen both winning the race four times.[15] In 2021, the race lost its World Tour status due to the lack of live television coverage during the 2020 edition of the race.[16] The decision to downgrade the race to the UCI ProSeries was met with criticism.[16] The race used the Giro d'Italia Donne name in 2021, before returning to Giro Donne in 2022. The race returned to World Tour level in 2022, following promises of live television coverage on Eurosport and Rai Sport.[17] The prize money was also increased to €250,000, with €50,000 for the winner of the general classification.[17] The organisation of the 2023 edition of the race was criticised, with information about the route and riders not available until the last minute.[18]
From 2024, the race will be organised by the men's Giro d'Italia organiser RCS Sport on a four-year contract.[19] The 2024 edition of the race was rebranded to Giro d'Italia Women.[20] From 2024 onwards, the first rider to pass the highest climb of the race was awarded the "Cima Alfonsina Strada" – a prize named after Italian cyclist Alfonsina Strada, who took part in the men's Giro d’Italia in 1924.[21] In 2024, Elisa Longo Borghini became the first Italian rider to win the race for 16 years,[22] before winning for the second time in succession in 2025.[23]
From 2026, the race will move to June rather than its traditional July date – starting on the same weekend as the finish of the men's race.[24] The race previously had to compete for attention with the more famous men's Tour de France, and organisers stated that they wished to work with the UCI to move the calendar position of the race, so that the race is not overshadowed.[25] The UCI will also award more ranking points to Giro d'Italia Women, Tour de France Femmes and the Vuelta Femenina compared to other races in the UCI Women's World Tour – elevating the three races in status.[26][27]
Winners
[edit]_(cropped).jpg)
Multiple winners
[edit]| Wins | Rider | Editions |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Fabiana Luperini (ITA) |
1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2008 |
| 4 |  Anna van der Breggen (NED) |
2015, 2017, 2020, 2021 |
| Annemiek van Vleuten (NED) |
2018, 2019, 2022, 2023 | |
| 3 |  Nicole Brändli (SUI) |
2001, 2003, 2005 |
| Marianne Vos (NED) |
2011, 2012, 2014 | |
| 2 |  Joane Somarriba (ESP) |
1999, 2000 |
 Edita Pučinskaitė (LIT) |
2006, 2007 | |
 Mara Abbott (USA) |
2010, 2013 | |
| Elisa Longo Borghini (ITA)
|
2024, 2025 |
Wins per country
[edit]| Wins | Country |
|---|---|
| 11 | Netherlands
|
| 10 | Italy
|
| 3 | Switzerland,  United States
|
| 2 | Lithuania, Spain
|
| 1 |  Germany,  France,  Russia,  Slovakia,  United Kingdom
|
Secondary classifications
[edit]The Giro Donne awards a number of jerseys for winners of certain classifications – the current competitions that award a jersey are:
(
from 1988 to 2023, 
in 2012) Points classification, for the rider with the most points as awarded by finishing positions on stages and the first riders to go through intermediate sprints. Recently, the winner wears the maglia rossa (red jersey).
(
from 1988 to 2023) Mountains classification, for the rider awarded the most points for crossing designated climbs, generally at the peaks of hills and mountains. The winner wears the maglia azzurra (blue jersey).
Young rider classification, for the fastest rider under the age of 25 to complete the race. The winner wears the maglia bianca (white jersey).
Between 2010 and 2023, the maglia azzurra (blue jersey) was awarded to the fastest Italian rider to complete the race. In 2006, the young riders classification was not run, instead a sprints competition was won by Olga Slyusareva (RUS) and awarded the blue jersey.
Winners by year
[edit]
Winners by country
[edit]| Rank | Country |  Points |
 Mountains |
 Youth |
Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Netherlands
|
14 | 5 | 1 | 20 |
| 2 | Italy
|
3 | 9 | 6 | 18 |
| 3 | Germany
|
6 | 0 | 2 | 8 |
| Lithuania
|
1 | 4 | 2 | 7 | |
| 5 | Russia
|
2 | 3 | 1 | 6 |
| United States
|
2 | 4 | 0 | 6 | |
| 7 | United Kingdom
|
0 | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| 8 | France
|
1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
 Australia
|
2 | 2 | 1 | 5 | |
| 10 | Switzerland
|
2 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
 Belgium
|
1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | |
 New Zealand
|
0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | |
| 12 |  Belarus
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
 Denmark
|
0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
 Poland
|
0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | |
| 15 |  Brazil
|
0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
 San Marino
|
0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| Slovakia
|
0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
 Sweden
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Stage wins
[edit]| Rank | Rider | Stage wins |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marianne Vos (NED) |
32 |
| 2 | Petra Rossner (GER) |
18 |
| 3 | Annemiek van Vleuten (NED) |
16 |
See also
[edit]- Tour de France Femmes – a stage race in France
- La Vuelta Femenina – a stage race in Spain
Notes
[edit]- ^ The 2001 race win was originally awarded to Belarusian Zinaida Stahurskaya, but she failed a doping control during the race and was stripped of the title nearly a year later[29]
- ^ The race was originally planned to be 918.3 km (570.6 mi) in length, but due to landslides stage 5 had to be shortened and rerouted.[30]
- ^ Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the 2020 edition was rescheduled to September and shortened from 10 to 9 stages.
References
[edit]- ^ Mitchell, Mathew (22 December 2025). "Guide to the 2026 Women's WorldTour: races, teams and points". ProCyclingUK. Retrieved 30 January 2026.
The Giro d'Italia Women, in particular, remains a benchmark. It is one of the longest and most demanding events on the calendar, and performances there are often used as a shorthand for overall capability
- ^ Goldman, Tom (22 July 2022). "After more than 30 years, a multiday women's Tour de France is back". NPR.org. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
After the Tour de France femmes avec Zwift announced its record $250,000 purse, another women's grand tour event, the Giro d'Italia Donne, matched the Tour's prize money amount.
- ^ "All info on the 2022 Giro Donne, the first women's Grand Tour of the year for the Movistar Team | Movistar Team". Movistar Team. 18 June 2022. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
- ^ "UCI CYCLING REGULATIONS PART 2 ROAD RACES" (PDF). Union Cycliste Internationale. 1 April 2022. p. 59. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
Elite women world circuit The duration of events ... is limited to 6 days unless an exemption is made by the UCI Management Committee
- ^ Frattini, Kirsten (16 October 2021). "A closer look reveals the inequity at Tour de France Femmes". cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
- ^ a b Atkins, Ben (3 December 2012). "Giro Donne 2013 under threat as race organiser steps down". velonation.com. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
- ^ Gregg Seltzer (26 May 2011). "The History of the Giro d'Italia". Livestrong. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f g Price, Matilda (23 June 2023). "A brief history of the Giro d'Italia Donne". Global Cycling Network. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
- ^ "Giro d'Italia Donne - Past winners". cyclingnews.com. 14 March 2022. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
- ^ "Fabiana Luperini's five fabulous "Giro Rosa"". www.uci.org. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
- ^ "The 5 pearls of Fabiana Luperini". Giro d'Italia Women 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
- ^ "The evolution of the Giro d'Italia Women". Giro d'Italia Women 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
- ^ Stokes, Shane (4 April 2013). "Giro Rosa 2013 announced, race drops to eight days in length". velonation.com. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
- ^ Weislo, Laura (24 September 2015). "UCI announces 2016 Women's World Tour". CyclingNews. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
- ^ Hurford, Molly (8 July 2023). "Results, Highlights and the Winner of the 2023 Giro Donne". Bicycling. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
- ^ a b Frattini, Kirsten (28 September 2020). "Giro Rosa surprised to lose Women's WorldTour status". cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
- ^ a b Dabbs, Ryan (30 June 2022). "Giro Donne 2022: Everything you need to know about the 33rd edition". Cycling Weekly. Future plc. Archived from the original on 7 January 2023. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
- ^ Frattini, Kirsten (29 June 2023). "'It's not good enough' - Lizzie Deignan critical of Giro d'Italia Donne organisation". cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
- ^ Frattini, Kirsten (14 February 2023). "RCS Sport take over organisation of Giro d'Italia Donne and Under 23 Giro". cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
- ^ Ostanek, Daniel; Farrand, Stephen (13 October 2023). "2024 Giro Donne becomes Giro d'Italia Women, route presentation delayed". cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
- ^ "Giro d'Italia Women 2024: the route has been announced". www.giroditaliawomen.it. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
'Cima Alfonsina Strada', the highest peak of the race, established in memory of the cyclist who took part in the men's Giro d'Italia in 1924.
- ^ "Women's Giro d'Italia: Elisa Longo Borghini holds on to win Maglia Rosa". BBC Sport. 14 July 2024. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
- ^ Knöfler, Lukas (13 July 2025). "Elisa Longo Borghini 'speechless' after second consecutive Giro d'Italia Women victory". Cyclingnews. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
- ^ Mitchell, Mathew (12 June 2025). "UCI approves 2026 Women's WorldTour calendar and introduces key reforms for women's cycling". Pro Cycling UK. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
- ^ Rogers, Owen (10 July 2022). "Rome the target for 2023 Giro Donne 'grande partenza'". cyclingweekly.com. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
Organisers confirm they are working with the UCI to ensure the race does not clash with the men's Tour de France
- ^ "Part II Road Races - Amendments to Regulations as from 20.10.2025" (PDF). Union Cycliste Internationale. 1 June 2025. p. 15. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
2.10.017 Points scale Women Elite
- ^ Price, Matilda (20 June 2025). "UCI points update brings Women's WorldTour system in line with men's, designating women's Monuments and boosting Tour de France Femmes". Cyclingnews. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
- ^ "Giro d'Italia Internazionale Femminile Palmarès". girorosa.it. 4 March 2016.
- ^ "News for June 30, 2002: Brändli awarded 2001 Giro d'Italia femminile". Cycling News. 30 June 2002.
- ^ Frattini, Kirsten (4 July 2019). "Passo Gavia summit cancelled from 2019 Giro Rosa". Cycling News. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Statistics". girodonne.it – Web Archive. Archived from the original on 6 February 2005. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ "Women's Giro d'Italia". Cycling News. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
- ^ "Giro d'Italia Femminile, Cat 2.9.1". Cycling News. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
- ^ "Stage 12, Conegliano – Vittorio Veneto, 116 kms". Cycling News. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
- ^ "Giro d'Italia Internazionale Femminile, Cat 2.9.1". Cycling News. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
- ^ "Giro d'Italia Internazionale Femminile, Cat 2.9.1". Cycling News. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
- ^ "Giro d'Italia Internazionale Femminile, Cat 2.9.1". Cycling News. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
- ^ Scrymgeour, Kristy. "Happy Gilmore". Cycling News.
- ^ "Giro Rosa (F) 2004". Cycling Archives. Archived from the original on 22 March 2010. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
- ^ "Bronzini Triples". Cycling News – Autobus. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
- ^ "Giro Rosa (F) 2006". Cycling Archives. Archived from the original on 22 March 2010. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
- ^ "Giro Rosa (F) 2007". Cycling Archives. Archived from the original on 12 November 2012. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
- ^ "Ciclismo, Fabiana Luperini vince il Giro Donne 2008". Mi-Lorenteggio. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
- ^ "Cervelo do Donne double". Cycling News. 12 July 2009. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
- ^ "Evans completes Team USA success with final stage win". Cycling News. 11 July 2010. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
- ^ "Vos victorious in Giro Donne". Cycling News. 10 July 2011. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
- ^ "Johansson tops Vos in final Giro Donne stage". Cycling News. 7 July 2012. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
- ^ "Abbott seals second Giro Rosa victory". Cycling News. 7 July 2013. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
- ^ "Vos secures Giro Rosa title". Cycling News. 13 July 2014. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
- ^ "Giro Rosa: Van der Breggen wins overall title". Cycling News. 12 July 2015. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
- ^ "Megan Guarnier Wins The Giro Rosa 2016". Giro Rosa – Official Website. 10 July 2016. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
- ^ "The Giro Rosa Goes To Anna Van Der Breggen". Giro Rosa – Official Website. 9 July 2017. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
- ^ "Van der Breggen is your 2017 Giro Rosa winner; teammate Guarnier wins the final stage". Cycling Tips – Ella. 9 July 2017. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
- ^ "STAGE AND FINAL VICTORY FOR AN IMPRESSIVE ANNEMIEK VAN VLEUTEN". Giro d'Italia Femminile. WordPress. 15 July 2018. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
- ^ Knöfler, Lukas (14 July 2019). "Giro Rosa: Van Vleuten seals overall victory". Cyclingnews. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
- ^ Rogers, Owen (19 September 2020). "Giro Rosa 2020: Anna van der Breggen seals overall as Muzic takes final stage victory". Cycling Weekly. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
- ^ Knöfler, Lukas (11 July 2021). "Anna van der Breggen wins 2021 Giro d'Italia Donne". CyclingNews. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
- ^ Knöfler, Lukas (10 July 2022). "Van Vleuten wins 2022 Giro d'Italia Donne". Cyclingnews. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
- ^ "Dominant Van Vleuten wins fourth Giro d'Italia Donne". BBC Sport. 9 July 2023. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
- ^ "Women's Giro d'Italia: Elisa Longo Borghini holds on to win Maglia Rosa". BBC Sport. 14 July 2024. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
- ^ Knöfler, Lukas (13 July 2025). "Elisa Longo Borghini 'speechless' after second consecutive Giro d'Italia Women victory". Cyclingnews. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
External links
[edit]- Official website
(Italian and English)
| By year | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Classifications ("jerseys") |
| ||||||
| Lists | |||||||
Giro d'Italia Women
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
History
Origins and Inaugural Editions (1988–1995)
The Giro d'Italia Femminile was established in 1988 as Italy's premier multi-stage professional cycling event for women, modeled after the men's Giro d'Italia to elevate the profile of female road racing amid growing interest in the sport.[6] The inaugural edition featured a prologue plus eight road stages totaling around 783 kilometers, with daily averages of 87 kilometers and a longest stage of 136 kilometers, emphasizing a mix of flat terrain, hills, and time trials typical of Italian routes.[4] Maria Canins of Italy claimed the first overall victory, finishing ahead of Elisabeth Hepple and Petra Rossner, who had won the prologue time trial.[7] [8] Canins, a 49-year-old former winner of the Tour de France Féminin, demonstrated endurance suited to the race's demands.[9] The event continued annually through 1991, with Italian riders dominating early general classifications: No edition was held in 1992 due to organizational challenges.[11] The race resumed in 1993, won by Lenka Ilavská of Slovakia, followed by Michela Fanini of Italy in 1994 and Fabiana Luperini of Italy in 1995, marking a transition toward broader international participation while maintaining a focus on climbing prowess in later stages.[11] These years saw modest pelotons of 80-120 riders, primarily from European teams, with routes prioritizing northern and central Italian roads to build foundational prestige despite limited media coverage and prize money compared to the men's counterpart.[12]Growth and Internationalization (1996–2010)
During the late 1990s, the Giro d'Italia Femminile expanded significantly in scale to enhance its competitiveness and appeal. In 1996, the race introduced an additional day of competition, increasing to 13 stages and a total distance of 1,177.3 kilometers—the first time exceeding 1,000 kilometers—compared to shorter formats in prior years with typically 8–10 stages and under 1,000 kilometers.[4] This growth continued into the early 2000s, maintaining around 13 stages before stabilizing at 9–10 by the decade's end, such as the 10 stages covering varied terrain in 2010 from Muggia to Monza. These extensions reflected organizers' efforts to align the event more closely with major men's races, fostering greater endurance demands and media interest while accommodating rising rider numbers.[4] Internationalization accelerated as non-Italian riders increasingly dominated, signaling broader global participation beyond predominantly Italian fields in the early 1990s. Italian Fabiana Luperini secured victories in 1996–1998, but Spaniard Joane Somarriba won in 1999 and 2000, followed by Belarusian Zinaida Stahurskaia in 2001, marking a shift from domestic monopolies.[13] This trend continued with wins by riders from Germany, the United States, and other nations through 2010, driven by the emergence of professional women's teams from Europe and beyond competing alongside Italian squads. The race's inclusion in UCI rankings from 1997 onward, initially as a 2.9.1 event, further elevated its status, attracting international talent and establishing it as a premier stage race in women's cycling.[14] By the late 2000s, these developments had solidified the Giro's reputation, with Luperini's fifth overall win in 2008 underscoring its prestige despite evolving international competition. Participation grew in diversity and volume, though exact rider counts varied annually, reflecting the sport's maturation amid limited centralized data from the era; the event's format and global appeal positioned it as a cornerstone for women's Grand Tour-style racing.[4]Integration into UCI World Tour and Recent Developments (2011–Present)
The Giro Rosa, as the race was then known, maintained its status as the preeminent multi-stage event in women's cycling from 2011 to 2015, classified under UCI category 2.1 and recognized as the sole remaining women's Grand Tour equivalent, attracting top international talent despite the absence of a formalized women's series akin to the men's ProTour.[7] Winners during this period included Americans Mara Abbott in 2013 and Evie Stevens' team successes, underscoring its competitive depth amid limited global stage race options.[15] With the UCI's launch of the Women's WorldTour in 2016 to elevate the professional structure and visibility of elite women's road racing, the Giro Rosa was integrated as a flagship event, joining other key stage races and one-day classics to form a cohesive calendar awarding points toward the overall series standings.[16] This inclusion aligned the race with UCI mandates for mandatory participation by WorldTeams, enhanced prize money, and broadcast requirements, fostering greater investment and rider participation; by 2016, it featured nine stages over approximately 1,000 km, won by American Megan Guarnier.[3] The structure persisted through 2019, with Dutch rider Anna van der Breggen securing multiple victories, including in 2018 and 2019, amid growing field sizes exceeding 150 riders.[3] Organizational challenges emerged in 2020, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, as the race proceeded without live television coverage and faced scrutiny over compliance with WorldTour standards such as event promotion and team obligations.[17] Consequently, the UCI relegated it from the Women's WorldTour calendar for 2021, citing repeated failures to address shortcomings in organization, media rights, and alignment with series criteria, a decision organizers described as unexpected but attributed to prior communications gaps.[18][19] It was provisionally downgraded to UCI category 2.Pro status and reinstated to WorldTour for 2022 following remedial actions, including improved broadcasting commitments.[20] Under new management by RCS Sport—the organizers of the men's Giro d'Italia—starting with a four-year contract in 2023 after a period of instability with prior organizers, the race underwent rebranding to Giro d'Italia Donne and later Giro d'Italia Women in 2024, aiming to synchronize branding and elevate prestige through shared resources like marketing and logistics.[21][22] This shift correlated with format refinements, such as reducing to eight stages for the 2024 and 2025 editions (totaling 939.6 km in 2025 with three summit finishes and 14,000 m of climbing), while maintaining its position as the season's second women's Grand Tour after La Vuelta Femenina.[23] The 2025 edition, held July 6–13, was won by Italian Elisa Longo Borghini defending her title for UAE Team ADQ, highlighting national prominence and competitive parity with emerging rivals.[24] Looking ahead, the UCI approved a calendar adjustment for 2026, shifting the race to May 30–June 7 to prevent overlap with the men's Tour de France, prioritizing logistical separation and viewer focus.[25]Race Format
Stages and Route Characteristics
The Giro d'Italia Women comprises eight stages raced over eight consecutive days without rest, covering a total distance typically between 800 and 1,000 kilometers.[26] [27] Stage profiles incorporate a balanced mix of terrain types to assess diverse rider abilities, including flat stages conducive to bunch sprints, undulating or hilly routes favoring aggressive breakaways and punchy accelerations, and high-mountain stages with categorized climbs and summit finishes that privilege pure climbers.[27] [28] An individual time trial, often 10-15 kilometers in length, is a standard feature, enabling time-trial specialists to secure early advantages through aerodynamic efficiency and power output.[28] [29] Routes are confined to Italian territory, traversing northern, central, and occasionally southern regions to highlight the peninsula's geological diversity, from Adriatic coastal plains and rolling Piedmontese hills to the steep gradients of the Alps, Dolomites, and Apennines.[30] [31] Elevation gains per edition frequently surpass 10,000 meters, with "queen stages" accumulating 2,000-3,000 meters of vertical ascent alone, imposing physiological demands scaled to women's elite racing physiology, such as sustained efforts at 4-7% gradients over 5-15 kilometer ascents.[30] [27] Recent iterations, including the 2025 edition, have concentrated on northeastern Italy for logistical efficiency, incorporating iconic passes like those near Aprica and Trento, while avoiding the multi-week scope of the men's Giro d'Italia to align with UCI Women's WorldTour scheduling constraints.[31] [32]Duration, Distance, and Terrain Variety
The Giro d'Italia Women is typically staged over eight to nine consecutive days in early July, featuring a multi-stage format that includes individual time trials, road stages, and occasionally rest days absent in recent editions. This duration allows for progressive fatigue accumulation, demanding sustained performance from riders across the event. For instance, the 2025 edition spanned July 6 to 13, encompassing eight stages without interruption.[30][20] Total distance covered in the race generally ranges from 800 to 1,000 kilometers, with stages averaging 100 to 150 km each to balance intensity and recovery. The 2025 route measured 919.2 km, while the prior year's totaled 875.3 km with 13,551 meters of elevation gain, reflecting organizers' adjustments for competitiveness and safety. These distances are shorter than the men's Giro d'Italia (over 3,000 km) due to physiological differences and scheduling constraints in the women's calendar, yet they impose comparable proportional demands relative to average stage lengths.[30][33] Terrain variety is a hallmark, drawing on Italy's diverse geography to challenge multiple disciplines: flat stages favor sprinters in bunch finishes, undulating hilly profiles suit puncheurs, and high-mountain stages with categorized climbs—often exceeding 2,000 meters elevation per day—test pure climbers in regions like the Dolomites or northern Apennines. The 2025 itinerary included one individual time trial, one flat stage, four hilly stages, and two mountain stages, accumulating 14,300 meters of vertical gain, which amplifies tactical depth by enabling breakaways, GC battles, and time gaps on ascents. This mix ensures no single rider archetype dominates, as evidenced by past winners combining climbing prowess with time-trial efficiency.[27][32]Classifications and Awards
General Classification (Maglia Rosa)
The general classification (GC) in the Giro d'Italia Women awards the maglia rosa, the pink jersey, to the rider with the lowest cumulative time across all stages, determining the overall race winner. This classification aggregates each rider's finishing times from every stage, including individual time trials where applicable, with adjustments for time bonuses and penalties as per UCI Women's WorldTour regulations.[34][20] Time bonuses are typically granted to the top three finishers in mass-start stages—10 seconds for first, 6 for second, and 4 for third—and at intermediate sprints, encouraging aggressive racing while favoring general classification contenders. No time bonuses apply in time trial stages to maintain fairness in direct time comparisons. In the event of tied cumulative times, precedence is given to the rider with the better placing in the most recent stage, progressing backward through prior stages until resolved; further ties may consider points classification or UCI rankings.[35] The maglia rosa leader receives the jersey after each stage's conclusion, worn from the start of the subsequent stage until displaced, symbolizing provisional overall leadership. The final GC victor, who retains the jersey through the race's end, is celebrated as the Giro d'Italia Women champion, with the classification emphasizing endurance, climbing prowess, and time-trial efficiency across the event's varied terrain of approximately 900-1,000 kilometers over 8 stages.[20][36]Points Classification (Maglia Ciclamino)
The points classification awards the maglia ciclamino, a mauve jersey worn by the leader until 2023 and replaced by the red maglia rossa thereafter, to the rider amassing the most points from intermediate sprints and stage finishes throughout the Giro d'Italia Women. Points are distributed at each stage's intermediate sprint to the first six riders (typically 10, 7, 5, 3, 2, and 1 points) and at the finish line to the top 15 or 20 riders, with higher allocations—up to 50 for the winner—on flat stages favoring bunch sprints, while hilly or time trial finishes offer reduced scales to reflect terrain difficulty. This system incentivizes aggressive positioning and sprint prowess, often crowning dedicated sprinters but occasionally all-rounders who secure multiple stage victories.[35] Introduced alongside the race's inaugural edition in 1988, the classification has evolved in jersey color and points scales to align with UCI women's regulations, mirroring the men's Giro but adapted for shorter stage distances and fewer flat opportunities in the women's route. Notable dominance has come from versatile riders; for instance, in 2023, Annemiek van Vleuten (Movistar Team) claimed the jersey with consistent top finishes across varied terrain, complementing her general classification win on July 9. Similarly, Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx) secured it in 2021 with 58 points from sprint and stage placings, highlighting how GC contenders can leverage breakaways and finales.[37][38] In the 2025 edition, Dutch sprinter Lorena Wiebes (Team SD Worx-Protime) won the classification, accumulating points through victories in flat stages and intermediate sprints, exemplifying the shift toward specialized sprinters as the race incorporates more sprint-friendly profiles amid UCI WorldTour demands. The jersey's transition to red in 2024 reflects sponsorship influences, such as ITA Airways, without altering the core points-based criteria.[39][40]Mountains Classification (Maglia Verde)
The Mountains classification recognizes the strongest climber in the Giro d'Italia Women by awarding points to riders who are first to summit categorized ascents, with points scaled by climb difficulty: typically 10 points for the leader on first-category passes, descending to lower values for subsequent positions, and fewer points on lesser categories such as 5 for second-category summits.[35] This system incentivizes aggressive riding on hilly terrain, often influencing overall race dynamics as climbs feature prominently in stage routes totaling over 14,000 meters of elevation gain in recent editions. The classification leader dons the Maglia Verde during stages, a green jersey worn since the race's inception in 1988 but transitioned to blue starting in 2024 to align with UCI aesthetics while retaining the traditional "Verde" designation in some contexts.[41] Historically, the award favors general classification contenders capable of sustaining power on prolonged gradients, as evidenced by multiple winners overlapping with pink jersey holders. In 2023, Annemiek van Vleuten (Netherlands) dominated with 71 points, securing the classification en route to overall victory amid a route emphasizing Dolomite-style challenges.[42] Similarly, Lucinda Brand (Netherlands) claimed the 2021 title, leveraging breakaways on key ascents.[43] The 2025 edition saw Sarah Gigante (Australia) triumph, pairing the mountains jersey with two stage wins and a podium overall finish, highlighting the classification's role in spotlighting versatile climbers amid 939.6 km of varied terrain.[34][44] Disputes over point allocation arise infrequently but underscore the classification's reliance on precise categorization by organizers RCS Sport, with ties resolved by comparing points from highest-category climbs first. While not always decisive for overall honors, the Maglia Verde elevates riders excelling in the race's mountainous backbone, contributing to tactical depth in a event blending sprints, time trials, and high-altitude finales.[36]Young Rider Classification (Maglia Bianca)
The Young Rider Classification in the Giro d'Italia Women awards the maglia bianca (white jersey) to the rider under the age of 25 who achieves the lowest cumulative finishing time across all stages, mirroring the methodology of the general classification but restricted to eligible participants.[34] Eligibility applies to riders who are 25 or younger at the beginning of the race year, ensuring the award highlights emerging talent capable of competing at the highest level against seasoned professionals.[34] This time-based ranking emphasizes overall consistency in stage performances, with no separate points system, prioritizing raw endurance and climbing prowess on the race's demanding terrain.[36] The classification serves as a key indicator of future stars in women's professional cycling, often contested by riders who balance aggressive stage hunting with defensive general classification riding.[35] In the 2025 edition, German rider Antonia Niedermaier of Canyon-SRAM Racing secured the maglia bianca, maintaining the lead from the opening stage through to the finish on July 13, demonstrating superior time-trial and mountain stage capabilities en route to her overall victory in the category.[36] Niedermaier's dominance underscored the classification's role in spotlighting athletes who can sustain high outputs over the event's approximately 1,000 kilometers of varied Italian routes, including summit finishes and rolling profiles.[45] Prior editions have similarly featured young riders who later progressed to grand tour podiums, though specific historical patterns reflect the growing depth of the women's peloton since the race's UCI Women's WorldTour integration in 2020.Team Classification
The team classification ranks participating teams based on the cumulative finishing times of their three best-placed riders across each stage. The lowest total time determines the winner, mirroring the method used in other multi-stage UCI Women's WorldTour events to emphasize squad depth and support dynamics.[46][35] This classification rewards teams capable of consistent top finishes rather than relying on a single standout performer, often favoring those with multiple general classification contenders who can cover diverse terrain from flat sprints to mountain stages. Time bonuses and penalties applied to individuals carry over to team totals, while abandoned stages or non-finishes for key riders can significantly impact standings. No specific jersey is awarded, but the winning team receives recognition in official results and points toward broader UCI team rankings.[35] In practice, dominant squads like those featuring riders from Italy, the Netherlands, or Australia have historically excelled due to national depth and coordinated racing, though exact annual victors vary with roster strength and race contingencies. The format has remained stable since the race's integration into the UCI Women's WorldTour in 2016, promoting tactical variety beyond individual pursuits.[14]General Classification Winners
Annual Winners and Key Performances
The Giro d'Italia Women general classification, contested since 1988 (with interruptions in 1991–1992), has seen Italian riders secure 10 victories, the most of any nationality, followed by the Netherlands with 8.[7] Fabiana Luperini holds the record for most wins with five (1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2008), including four consecutive titles marked by her climbing prowess on routes featuring ascents like the Zoncolan.[47] [48] Anna van der Breggen and Annemiek van Vleuten each claimed four victories, with van der Breggen's 2020 win featuring a 4-minute-16-second margin over the runner-up after dominating mountain stages, and van Vleuten's 2023 triumph including a decisive time trial on stage 7.[14] [13]| Year | Winner | Nationality | Team (if available) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Maria Canins | ITA | - |
| 1989 | Roberta Bonanomi | ITA | - |
| 1990 | Catherine Marsal | FRA | - |
| 1993 | Lenka Ilavská | SVK | - |
| 1994 | Michela Fanini | ITA | - |
| 1995 | Fabiana Luperini | ITA | - |
| 1996 | Fabiana Luperini | ITA | - |
| 1997 | Fabiana Luperini | ITA | - |
| 1998 | Fabiana Luperini | ITA | - |
| 1999 | Joane Somarriba Arrola | ESP | - |
| 2000 | Joane Somarriba Arrola | ESP | - |
| 2001 | (Vacant; initial winner Zinaida Stahurskaia stripped for doping) | - | - |
| 2002 | Svetlana Bubnenkova | RUS | - |
| 2003 | Nicole Brändli | SUI | - |
| 2004 | Nicole Cooke | GBR | - |
| 2005 | Nicole Brändli | SUI | - |
| 2006 | Edita Pučinskaitė | LTU | - |
| 2007 | Edita Pučinskaitė | LTU | - |
| 2008 | Fabiana Luperini | ITA | - |
| 2009 | Claudia Häusler | GER | - |
| 2010 | Mara Abbott | USA | - |
| 2011 | Marianne Vos | NED | - |
| 2012 | Marianne Vos | NED | - |
| 2013 | Mara Abbott | USA | - |
| 2014 | Marianne Vos | NED | - |
| 2015 | Anna van der Breggen | NED | Rabo-Liv |
| 2016 | Megan Guarnier | USA | Boels-Dolmans |
| 2017 | Anna van der Breggen | NED | Boels-Dolmans |
| 2018 | Annemiek van Vleuten | NED | Mitchelton-Scott |
| 2019 | Annemiek van Vleuten | NED | Mitchelton-Scott |
| 2020 | Anna van der Breggen | NED | Boels-Dolmans |
| 2021 | Anna van der Breggen | NED | SD Worx |
| 2022 | Annemiek van Vleuten | NED | Movistar |
| 2023 | Annemiek van Vleuten | NED | Movistar |
| 2024 | Elisa Longo Borghini | ITA | Lidl-Trek |
| 2025 | Elisa Longo Borghini | ITA | UAE Team ADQ |
Multiple-Time Winners
Fabiana Luperini of Italy holds the record for the most general classification victories in the Giro d'Italia Women, with five titles won between 1995 and 2008, including four consecutive from 1995 to 1998.[47][50] Her success stemmed from superior climbing skills, securing 15 stage wins across these editions and establishing her as a dominant force in the race's early professional era.[47] Annemiek van Vleuten of the Netherlands follows with four victories in 2018, 2019, 2022, and 2023, frequently building insurmountable leads through strong time trial performances and attacks on hilly terrain.[49][51] Anna van der Breggen, also Dutch, matched this tally with wins in 2015, 2017, 2020, and 2021, often clinching the maglia rosa via consistent all-round racing before her 2021 retirement.[49] Three riders have achieved three wins each: Swiss Nicole Brändli in 2001, 2003, and 2005; Dutch Marianne Vos, who secured three titles in the 2010s; and potentially others like Brändli, whose victories highlighted endurance on varied Italian routes.[1][48] Additional riders with two victories include Lithuanian Edita Pučinskaitė (2006, 2007) and American Mara Abbott (2010, 2013), reflecting nationality-based patterns in sustained excellence.[1][15]| Rider | Nationality | Wins | Years Won |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fabiana Luperini | Italy | 5 | 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2008 |
| Annemiek van Vleuten | Netherlands | 4 | 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023 |
| Anna van der Breggen | Netherlands | 4 | 2015, 2017, 2020, 2021 |
| Nicole Brändli | Switzerland | 3 | 2001, 2003, 2005 |
| Marianne Vos | Netherlands | 3 | 2011, 2012, 2014 |
Wins by Nationality
Netherlands and Italy lead with 11 general classification wins each in the Giro d'Italia Women as of the 2025 edition. Dutch riders have claimed victories in every edition from 2011 onward except 2013, 2016, and 2024–2025, highlighted by Marianne Vos's three triumphs (2011, 2012, 2014), Anna van der Breggen's four (2015, 2017, 2020, 2021), and Annemiek van Vleuten's four (2018, 2019, 2022, 2023).[13][49] Italian successes span the race's history, with early dominance giving way to a resurgence; Fabiana Luperini holds the individual record with six wins (1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2003, 2008), complemented by inaugural victories from Maria Canins (1988) and Roberta Bonanomi (1989), Michela Fanini (1994), and back-to-back titles by Elisa Longo Borghini (2024, 2025).[11][7]| Nationality | Wins | Notable Winners and Years |
|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | 11 | Vos (3), van der Breggen (4), van Vleuten (4) |
| Italy | 11 | Luperini (6), Canins, Bonanomi, Fanini, Longo Borghini (2) |
| United States | 3 | Abbott (2: 2010, 2013), Guarnier (2016) |
| Switzerland | 3 | Brändli (2001, 2003, 2005) |
| Lithuania | 2 | Pučinskaitė (2006, 2007) |
| Spain | 2 | Somarriba (1999, 2000) |
| France | 1 | Marsal (1990) |
| Germany | 1 | Häusler (2009) |
| Slovakia | 1 | Ilavská (1993) |
Secondary Classification Leaders
Historical Leaders in Points and Mountains
Marianne Vos of the Netherlands has achieved the most success in the points classification, securing the maglia ciclamino twice—in 2007, where she combined it with overall victory, and in 2020, amid her dominant sprint performances that included multiple stage wins.[52][53] Her record of 32 stage victories in the Giro d'Italia Women underscores her prowess in accumulating points through consistent top finishes and intermediate sprints.[14] Other prominent winners include Anna van der Breggen, who claimed the jersey in 2021 alongside the general classification, and Lorena Wiebes in 2025, who dominated sprints to seal the classification.[38][44] In the mountains classification, awarded the maglia verde (green jersey until 2023, later azzurra), climbers who excel on the race's demanding ascents have historically prevailed. Fabiana Luperini of Italy, holder of five general classification titles from 1995 to 2008, also won the mountains jersey in 2008, leveraging her climbing specialization during her final Giro victory.[54] Sarah Gigante of Australia captured the classification in 2025, earning points on key summit finishes that contributed to her third-place overall finish.[44] The jersey rewards performance on categorized climbs, with higher points for steeper, longer ascents, favoring riders capable of sustained attacks in the Dolomites and Apennines.Young Rider and Team Achievements
The young rider classification (maglia bianca) awards the highest-placed rider born on or after January 1, 2002, based on general classification times, highlighting emerging talent in the Giro d'Italia Women. Antonia Niedermaier of Canyon//SRAM Racing secured consecutive victories in 2024 and 2025, becoming the first rider to achieve this feat; she wore the jersey from stage 1 in both races and finished fifth overall each time.[55][56] In 2023, Gaia Realini of Lidl-Trek claimed the classification while placing third overall, underscoring Italian strength in developing prospects.[57] The team classification aggregates the times of each squad's top three finishers per stage, with the lowest cumulative time prevailing. AG Insurance–Soudal Team won the 2025 edition, aligning with Sarah Gigante's mountains classification triumph and supporting their third-place GC rider.[34] Teams like Movistar have historically excelled through coordinated performances, contributing to multiple overall victories by riders such as Annemiek van Vleuten in 2022 and 2023, though specific team wins reflect collective depth rather than individual dominance.[58]Stage Victories
Record Stage Winners
Marianne Vos of the Netherlands holds the outright record for the most stage wins in the Giro d'Italia Women, achieving 32 victories across multiple editions from 2007 to 2022.[59][60] Her dominance includes sprint finishes and breakaways, contributing to three overall race titles in 2011, 2012, and 2014.[52] Petra Rossner of Germany follows with 17 stage wins, primarily in the 1990s during the race's early professional era.[59] Annemiek van Vleuten of the Netherlands secured 16 stage victories, often in mountainous terrain, reflecting her climbing prowess before her overall wins in 2018 and 2022.[59] Fabiana Luperini of Italy tallied 15 wins, including key stages in her five overall victories from 1995 to 1999 and in 2004.[59] The following table summarizes the top five riders by stage wins as of the 2025 edition:| Rank | Rider | Stage Wins | Nationality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marianne Vos | 32 | Netherlands[59] |
| 2 | Petra Rossner | 17 | Germany [59] |
| 3 | Annemiek van Vleuten | 16 | Netherlands[59] |
| 4 | Fabiana Luperini | 15 | Italy [59] |
| 5 | Ina-Yoko Teutenberg | 13 | Germany [59] |
Stage Wins by Nationality and Distribution
Riders from the Netherlands have secured the highest number of stage victories in Giro d'Italia Women history, totaling 77 wins through the 2025 edition.[61] This lead stems from sustained excellence by Dutch competitors, including Marianne Vos's record 32 individual stage triumphs and Annemiek van Vleuten's 16, which together represent a substantial share of the national total.[59] [61] Italy ranks second with 67 stage wins, driven by domestic riders' performances on familiar terrain and key contributors like Fabiana Luperini, who claimed 15 stages across multiple editions.[61] [59] Germany follows in third place, underscoring the concentration of success among strong European cycling programs.[61] The distribution highlights a pattern of dominance by a limited set of nationalities, with the top three accounting for over half of all stage wins since the race began in 1988, amid varying stage counts per edition (typically 8–15).[61] This skew correlates with investment in women's professional cycling infrastructure in these nations, enabling consistent participation and tactical depth in a multi-stage format emphasizing endurance and specialization.[14]Records and Statistics
Overall Race Records
Fabiana Luperini holds the record for the most general classification victories in the Giro d'Italia Women, with five wins achieved in 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, and 2008.[14][47] She is the only rider to secure four consecutive overall titles, dominating from 1995 to 1998 during a period when she also claimed 13 stage victories.[62] Luperini's success established her as the preeminent climber of the era, leveraging superior performance in mountainous terrain to build insurmountable leads.[47] Marianne Vos ranks second with three overall wins in 2011, 2012, and 2014, complementing her record of 32 stage victories in the race.[52][59] Other riders with multiple triumphs include Anna van der Breggen (2015, 2020), Annemiek van Vleuten (2022, 2023), and Elisa Longo Borghini (2024, 2025), the latter marking the first back-to-back Italian victories since Luperini's streak.[49][63] The race's inaugural edition in 1988 was won by Maria Canins, who prevailed over a field including Petra Rossner and Elizabeth Hepple.[49]| Rider | Wins | Years Won |
|---|---|---|
| Fabiana Luperini | 5 | 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2008 |
| Marianne Vos | 3 | 2011, 2012, 2014 |
| Anna van der Breggen | 2 | 2015, 2020 |
| Annemiek van Vleuten | 2 | 2022, 2023 |
| Elisa Longo Borghini | 2 | 2024, 2025 |