Twenty-two teams took part in the race. The teams were announced on 23 June 2025.[1] All 15 UCI Women's WorldTeams were automatically invited. They were joined by two UCI Women's ProTeams and five UCI Women's Continental Teams.
The race featured three summit finishes, with the queen stage on stage 7 with a summit finish at Monte Nerone at an elevation of 1,395 metres (4,577ft).[2][3] As the highest climb of the race, the first rider to pass Passo del Tonale on stage 3 (1,883 metres (6,178ft) in elevation) was awarded the "Cima Alfonsina Strada"[2] – a prize named after Italian cyclist Alfonsina Strada, who took part in the men's Giro d’Italia in 1924.[4] Despite rumours, the route did not feature the Mortirolo climb, last used in the 2016 edition of the race.[2][5]
Reacting to the route, 2024 winner Elisa Longo Borghini stated that she "really [likes] the route; it suits my characteristics".[6] The race remained at 8 stages in length, with the Tour de France Femmes becoming the longest event on the women's calendar with 9 stages.[7] As with the previous editions, the route required a waiver from the Union Cycliste Internationale, as Women's WorldTour races have a maximum race length of six days.[8]
Reusser won the opening time trial in Bergamo by 12 seconds, putting her in the maglia rosa of the leaders jersey.[12] On the second stage to Aprica, Anna Henderson (Lidl–Trek) and Dilyxine Miermont (Ceratizit Pro Cycling) escaped the peloton with around 40km (25mi) remaining in the stage.[13] In the finish, Henderson outsprinted Miermont to take the stage win. Henderson took the overall race lead, 15 seconds ahead of Reusser. Henderson also took the red jersey of the points classification.[13] Stage 3 to Trento was won in a sprint finish by Lorena Wiebes (Team SD Worx–Protime), with several contenders for the sprint delayed by crashes behind.[14]
Stage 4 to Pianezze (Valdobbiadene) was the first mountain stage of the race, with Sarah Gigante (AG Insurance–Soudal) winning the stage after attacking with 1.5km (0.93mi) remaining to the summit finish.[15] Her stage victory allowed her to take the lead in the mountains classification. Finishing together 25 seconds behind Gigante were Reusser and Longo Borghini, with other contenders for the overall victory losing time overall. Reusser retook the overall lead, with a 16 seconds lead ahead of Longo Borghini.[15] Henderson lost over 10 minutes on the stage, but did maintain her lead in the points classification.[15]
Stage 5 to Monselice was won by Wiebes in a sprint finish, however splits behind meant that many contenders lost time to Reusser, with Gigante dropping to 5th overall.[16] Reusser was given a yellow card for "intimidating" Katia Ragusa on the stage – a second yellow card would result in expulsion from the event.[17] Lotte Kopecky (Team SD Worx–Protime) abandoned the race prior to stage 6 with back pain, wishing to recover prior to the start of the Tour de France Femmes.[18]
Stage 6 was a hilly stage to Igea Marina – Liane Lippert (Movistar Team) and Pauliena Rooijakkers (Fenix–Deceuninck) escaped the peloton with 10km (6.2mi) remaining, with Lippert outsprinting Rooijakkers to win the stage. Shirin van Anrooij (Lidl–Trek) finished third on the stage, 46 seconds behind. Reusser finished in the peloton and maintained her overall lead over Longo Borghini and van der Breggen, with Rooijakkers moving into fourth overall.[19]
Stage 7 was the second mountain stage of the race, with a summit finish at Monte Nerone at an elevation of 1,525m (5,003ft). At the bottom of the climb, Longo Borghini attacked, aiming to take the overall lead from Reusser. On the climb, Gigante caught up with Longo Borghini before soloing to the finish with 2km (1.2mi) remaining to win the stage by 45 seconds ahead of Longo Borghini. Reusser was nearly a minute 20 seconds behind Gigante, therefore losing the lead to Longo Borghini. Gigante's performance was praised in the media, with Cycling Weekly stating that she "proves herself one of the world best climbers".[20]
The final stage of the race used a hilly finishing circuit around in Imola. Longo Borghini had to maintain her 22-second lead over Reusser to win the maglia rosa. In the closing part of the stage, Lippert and van der Breggen attacked, with Lippert outsprinting her rival to take her second stage win of the race. Reusser took third on the stage, gaining a four-second time bonus – however this was not enough to deny Longo Borghini the overall victory.[21]
Result
The race was won by Longo Borghini for the second time, beating Reusser by 18 seconds. Longo Borghini did not win a stage during the race. Following her victory, Longo Borghini stated that the race had been "intense, emotional, unforgettable" and that "I knew I had to dig deep and fight until the very end.” Reusser stated that she'd been sick for the last three days, and that she was "super happy that I could somehow save this second place".[22]
Third overall was Gigante, who also took the mountains classification. Rooijakkers was 4th overall, with Antonia Niedermaier (Canyon–SRAM zondacrypto) 5th overall to win the youth classification. Wiebes took the points classification, and the team classification was won by AG Insurance–Soudal.[21]
↑ On stage two, Lotte Kopecky, who was second in the points classification, wore the red jersey, because first placed Marlen Reusser wore the pink jersey as the leader of the general classification.
↑ On stage three, Dilyxine Miermont, who was second in the points classification, wore the red jersey, because first placed Anna Henderson wore the pink jersey as the leader of the general classification. For the same reason Lorena Wiebes wore the red jersey in stage 4.
↑ On stage three, Soraya Paladin, who was third in the mountains classification, wore the blue jersey, because first placed Anna Henderson wore the pink jersey as the leader of the general classification and second placed Dilyxine Miermont wore the red jersey.
Classification standings
Legend
Denotes the leader of the general classification
Denotes the leader of the mountains classification
Denotes the leader of the points classification
Denotes the leader of the young rider classification
↑ "Giro d'Italia Women 2024: the route has been announced". www.giroditaliawomen.it. Retrieved 2024-01-31. '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.
↑ Frattini, Kirsten (2021-10-16). "A closer look reveals the inequity at Tour de France Femmes". cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 2022-02-28. Regarding, the number of days of competition during a stage race, the UCI sets the elite women's stage races at six days, unless an exemption is made by its Management Committee.
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