The Giro d’Italia Women 2027 will offer plenty of opportunities to turn the general classification upside down. Of the nine stages on the programme, at least four will pit the favourites directly against one another, with no escaping what promises to be a thrilling battle.
After the opening three days, which are likely to feature little more than minor skirmishes, the favourites will have to show their hands on Stage 4, an entirely Bergamo-based stage taking the riders from Credaro to Passo della Presolana. With 3,500 metres of elevation gain, the route tackles some of the province’s most famous climbs, including Forcellino di Bianzano, Ganda and Colle di Zambla. The main challenge, however, is naturally the final ascent of Passo della Presolana. The climb measures 11.7 km at an average gradient of 5.4%, becoming increasingly demanding as it progresses. For those targeting the final Maglia Rosa, this is the first stage to circle in red.
The battle will resume two days later on Stage 6, the Bergamo–Madesimo (Valle Spluga) stage, which promises fireworks. Around the halfway point, the riders will reach an altitude of almost 2,000 metres on Passo San Marco, before facing a long and demanding summit finish. The final ascent to Madesimo measures 18.9 km at an average gradient of 6.4%. Seconds, if not minutes, could be gained or lost here, although the contenders will know that, even after reaching the summit, the Giro Women will still be far from over.
The final showdown will begin on the penultimate day with the TUDOR ITT, an almost entirely uphill individual time trial in Valdigne, in the Aosta Valley. Of the approximately 15 km against the clock, 11.2 km will be uphill, at an average gradient of 4.1%. There will be no tactics or team strategies to rely on here, as the riders will be left alone with nothing but their legs and determination. It would therefore come as no surprise if the biggest time gaps ultimately emerged on this stage.
The decisive final two days in the Aosta Valley will conclude with another major mountain stage, the Monte Bianco Stage, featuring almost 4,000 metres of elevation gain. The route includes the climbs of Doues, Verrogne and Saint-Nicolas, but the ultimate judge will be Colle San Carlo, with its 10.5 km at an average gradient of 10%. The summit comes approximately 25 km from the finish, followed by a long descent and a gentle uphill run-in, where the new queen of the Giro d’Italia Women will be crowned. The route bears a striking resemblance to Stage 14 of the 2019 Giro d’Italia, when Richard Carapaz caught everyone off guard, most notably Primož Roglič and Vincenzo Nibali, laying the foundations for his eventual triumph in the Maglia Rosa.