A breathtaking finale — exhilarating from one perspective, heartbreaking, at least in sporting terms, from another. Demi Vollering delivered a masterpiece, overturning the 2026 Giro d’Italia Women at the very last opportunity and finally managing to shake off Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx–Protime) for the first time. The Maglia Rosa fought with her customary class and determination, but in the end she was forced to surrender on the final kilometre of climbing to Colletto di Brondello, bringing a crazy and unforgettable stage to its dramatic conclusion.
Antonia Niedermaier (CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto) blew the race apart after the Montoso climb and in the end, the German rider climbed to second place overall, relegating Anna van der Breggen to third in the final standings.
But the happiest rider after Demi Vollering was undoubtedly Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ), who claimed victory on the final stage in Saluzzo, proudly showing off her Italian champion’s jersey just a few kilometres from home. The rider from Ornavasso outsprinted Niamh Fisher-Black (Lidl-Trek), as well as Antonia Niedermaier and Vollering, to cap off the Giro in style.
An explosive final stage full of attacks
It was clear from the outset that the Montoso climb (8.9 km at 9.4%), despite coming more than 90 kilometres from the finish, had the potential to do damage. What was far harder to foresee was that it would provide the opening act of an epic stage. FDJ-SUEZ tackled it at full throttle, shattering the peloton and reducing the front group to just seven riders, with even Marlen Reusser (Movistar Team) struggling badly this time around.
Once Valentina Cavallar had been dropped, Anna van der Breggen found herself isolated and forced to manage the situation on her own. In the end, she chose to let Antonia Niedermaier go, and the German, together with Elisa Longo Borghini and Niamh Fisher-Black, forged ahead, building an advantage of as much as 2’15”. For a long time, Niedermaier held the position of virtual Maglia Rosa.
Behind, the remaining favourites regrouped, and the work of Lauren Dickson, Vollering’s teammate, proved invaluable, keeping the leading trio at around 1’40”. On the final climb of the 2026 Giro d’Italia Women, the Colletto di Brondello, Dickson completed her task and Van der Breggen was left with no choice but to lead the chase herself in an attempt to contain the gap to Niedermaier. Vollering seized her moment and, one kilometre from the summit, launched the attack that decided the Corsa Rosa.
Van der Breggen could not hold her wheel and, with 40 kilometres still remaining, Vollering set off alone in pursuit of the three leaders, whom she quickly caught. The Maglia Rosa, meanwhile, lacked the strength to respond and, second by second, watched her hopes of a fifth Giro title disappear — a victory that would have allowed her to equal the all-time record of Fabiana Luperini.
At the front, the four leaders fought out the stage win in a sprint. Longo Borghini opened up, sent her home fans into raptures and ensured she would leave this Giro with a memory to cherish. Vollering, meanwhile, turned the race upside down and completed the Triple Crown in the Maglia Rosa, just as Jonas Vingegaard had done the previous week. She became only the second rider in history to achieve the feat, after Annemiek van Vleuten.
