Stage 2 Preview: uphill sprint in Aprica?

The finish in Aprica brings back memories of legendary Alpine stages, but Stage 2 of the Giro d’Italia Women 2025 won’t feature any major climbs. The 92 km from Clusone to Aprica ends with a finale open to interpretation, one that will likely cause some selection. There could be opportunities for attackers, but also for fast finishers who can handle a climb. And the GC contenders will need to stay sharp to avoid being caught out.

The final 15 km are a steady uphill drag

It feels like the first real opportunity to make a mark with a mid- to long-range attack could come as early as Stage 2, the short but potentially decisive Clusone–Aprica, 92 km in length. With only the Bergamo time trial in their legs, the peloton’s hierarchy is still fluid, and it’s unclear whether any of the GC favorites will want to burn through their teams this early, especially with a tricky finale that climbs steadily over the last 15 km, even if gradients rarely exceed 5%. The first half of the stage holds no real dangers, but if the race stays controlled, we could be in for an uphill sprint to the line.