The first thought after the end of Stage 5 of the Giro d’Italia Women 2025 is one of regret for the sprinters, who will finish the week without a proper opportunity to make their mark. Even the Mirano–Monselice stage, which was supposed to be their best – and last – real chance, ultimately turned its back on them, forcing another grueling day. In truth, it was the wind that ruined the party, suddenly shaking up the race and rewriting the general classification.
With the return of warmer weather, after a calm opening phase that hinted at a scenic sprint at the foot of the Euganean Hills, first a crash and then crosswinds led UAE Team ADQ and SD Worx-Protime to spring a trap, one that many riders, almost all of them in fact, fell into. Everyone except the Maglia Rosa, Marlen Reusser (Movistar). The front group was whittled down to 20 riders, including Reusser, Elisa Longo Borghini, Anna van der Breggen, and Katrine Aalerud (Uno-X Mobility) – all in the GC top 10 – while everyone else was left behind, including yesterday’s surprise winner, Sarah Gigante (AG Insurance–Soudal). In the end, they would lose 1’42”… an eternity, with only three stages to go.If the Australian climber was a real threat with a 34-second gap heading into Saturday’s Monte Nerone stage, at 2’16” she now poses much less danger.
The group of 20 – Longo Borghini, Amialiusik, Chapman, Gasparrini, and Persico (UAE Team ADQ); Brauße (Ceratizit); Ragusa (Human Powered Health); Zontone (Isolmant-Premac-Vittoria); Lippert, Reusser (Movistar); Kopecky, Cecchini, Guarischi, Harvey, van der Breggen, Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime); Vos, Reijnhout (Visma | Lease a Bike); Luccon (Top Girls Fassa Bortolo); and Aalerud (Uno-X Mobility) – entered the Monselice finishing circuit knowing they would contest the stage among themselves. But the intent of UAE and SD Worx to gain time in the GC, taking advantage of their numerical superiority, outweighed any individual ambitions for stage glory.
And so it came down to a sprint — and when that happens, we know that Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime) is nearly unbeatable, especially when delivered perfectly by Barbara Guarischi and Lotte Kopecky. The Dutch rider claimed her fifth career Giro victory, ahead of the legendary Marianne Vos (Visma | Lease a Bike) and Liane Lippert (Movistar). Tomorrow, from Bellaria-Igea Marina to Terre Roveresche, there’s space for long-range attacks, but given how chaotic the GC battle has become, nothing can be taken for granted.
