{"id":707577,"date":"2026-06-01T10:28:13","date_gmt":"2026-06-01T10:28:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/707577\/"},"modified":"2026-06-01T10:28:13","modified_gmt":"2026-06-01T10:28:13","slug":"giro-ditalia-women-2026-preview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/707577\/","title":{"rendered":"Giro d’Italia women 2026 Preview"},"content":{"rendered":"

The men\u2019s Giro d\u2019Italia is drawing to a close, with a brutal finale still to come. But the women are only just getting started! The Giro d\u2019Italia Women begins on Saturday, and it promises to be a beautiful race. Can Demi Vollering<\/a>, with the Finestre as the decisive climb, make history? IDL Pro Cycling breaks down the whole race.Where the Tour de France Femmes<\/a> only came into being this decade, the women\u2019s Giro d\u2019Italia \u2014 formerly the Giro donne \u2014 has existed for much longer. 1988 was the year the first edition was held. And what a roll of honour it has, too: riders such as Marianne Vos<\/a>, Annemiek van Vleuten and Elisa Longo Borghini<\/a> have all won it more than once.The Italian is the defending champion, having been the best in both 2024 and 2025. And both times it was a real thriller<\/a>. Two years ago she went into the final day with a one-second lead over Lotte Kopecky. A year later she knocked pink jersey wearer Marlen Reusser<\/a> out of the lead in the final mountain stage with a clever move. Whether she can add a third title is another question: the opposition is extremely strong.Latest winners Giro d’Italia women<\/p>\n

2025 Elisa Longo Borghini
2024 Elisa Longo Borghini
2023 Annemiek van Vleuten
2022 Annemiek van Vleuten
2021 Anna van der Breggen
2020 Anna van der Breggen
2019 Annemiek van Vleuten
2018 Annemiek van Vleuten
2017 Anna van der Breggen
2016 Megan Guarnier<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Route, stage favorites, and times – Giro d’Italia women 2026Stage 1, May 30, 2026: Cesenatico – Ravenna (139 km)\"giro-vrouwen-1\"\/The Giro started with a stage that couldn’t be flatter. On the east coast of Italy, the course featured only 240 meters of elevation gain. Consequently, the sprinters battled for the first pink jersey. In the inevitable sprint, Lorena Wiebes ultimately made the standings abundantly clear with a scorching sprint, but she was disqualified afterwards<\/a> due to using a bike that was too light. Elisa Balsamo<\/a> will therefore wear the first pink jersey on Sunday.Winner:
Elisa Balsamo<\/a> (Lidl-Trek)Stage 2, May 31, 2026: Roncade H-Farm – Caorle (156 km)\"giro-vrouwen-2\"\/<\/p>\n

New day, new sprint opportunities. In the second stage, too, the fast ladies had little to fear from the course. Elisa Balsamo, holding the pink jersey, did indeed cross the finish line first in Carole this time.<\/p>\n

Winner:
Elisa Balsamo<\/a> (Lidl-Trek)Stage 3, June 1, 2026: Bibione – Buja (156 km)\"giro-vrouwen-3\"\/<\/p>\n

A third chance for the fast women? That is certainly possible if you look at the route. But there are now a few more obstacles along the way. Above all, there is the Montenars, a genuinely tough climb 20 kilometres from the finish. Short, but punchy. The finish in Buja, the town where Jonathan Milan grew up, also rises, with the final 200 metres at 10 per cent.<\/p>\n

Favorites
Elisa Balsamo (Lidl-Trek)
Cat Ferguson (Movistar)
Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime)<\/p>\n

Times
Start: 1:30 p.m CET
Finish: approx. 5:39 p.m CET<\/p>\n

Stage 4, June 2, 2026: Belluno – Nevegal (Time trial, 12.7 km)\"giro-vrouwen-4\"\/<\/p>\n

Goodness! After three relatively straightforward days, the first GC appointment is on the calendar, with a climbing time trial of the highest order. The start from Belluno is not too hard, but after the first intermediate point at 5.3 kilometres the road ramps brutally uphill. The gradients go well into double digits on this irregular climb.<\/p>\n

Favorites
Demi Vollering<\/a> (FDJ-SUEZ)
Marlen Reusser<\/a> (Movistar)
Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime)<\/p>\n

Times
Start: as yet unknown
Finish: as yet unknown<\/p>\n

Stage 5, June 3, 2026: Longarone – Santo Stefano di Cadore (146 km)\"giro-vrouwen-5\"\/<\/p>\n

Time for the Dolomites! No super-icons such as the Giau, Stelvio or Tre Cime, but the beautiful Passo Tre Croci from Cortina d\u2019Ampezzo is included. In the finale there are three not-too-long but extremely tough climbs on the route. GC chaos is very much on the cards.<\/p>\n

Favorites
Demi Vollering (FDJ-SUEZ)
Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ)
Niamh Fisher-Black (Lidl-Trek)<\/p>\n

Times
Start: 12:55 p.m CET
Finish: approx. 5:36 p.m CET<\/p>\n

Stage 6, June 4, 2026: Ala – Brescello (159 km)\"giro-vrouwen-6\"\/<\/p>\n

After a few gruelling days, the sprinters get another chance. There are few metres of climbing on the long ride to Brescello. But as has so often happened in the Giro, the finale is lined with corners. In the final kilometre there are no fewer than four right-angle bends.<\/p>\n

Favorites
Charlotte Kool (Fenix-Premier Tech)
Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime)
Elisa Balsamo (Lidl-Trek)<\/p>\n

Times
Start: 2 p.m CET
Finish: approx. 5:37 p.m CET<\/p>\n

Stage 7, June 5, 2026: Sorbolo Mezzani – Salice Terme (159 km)\"giro-vrouwen-7\"\/<\/p>\n

This long stage could be a silent killer. Once again there is not much to get excited about for most of the day, but the finale does feature a significant climb. The ascent to Petragavina is not especially long or steep, but it may be enough to crack the sprinters. Will the pure attackers finally get a chance?<\/p>\n

Favorites
Fleur Moors (Lidl-Trek)
Cat Ferguson (Movistar)
Silvia Persico (UAE Team ADQ)<\/p>\n

Times
Start: 1 p.m CET
Finish: approx. 5:12 p.m CET<\/p>\n

Stage 8, June 6, 2026: Rivoli – Sestriere (105 km)\"giro-vrouwen-8\"\/<\/p>\n

The queen stage, with a capital Q! The riders will travel on flat roads for a long time from Rivoli, but the Colle delle Finestre is the hardest climb ever tackled in the Giro d\u2019Italia Women. Almost 20 kilometres, eight of them on unpaved roads: this will be a war of attrition. After the descent, the road still climbs stubbornly towards Sestriere. Whoever wins here has a strong chance of overall victory.<\/p>\n

Favorites
Demi Vollering (FDJ-SUEZ)
Marlen Reusser (Movistar)
Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ)<\/p>\n

Stage 9, June 7, 2026: Saluzzo – Saluzzo (145 km)\"giro-vrouwen-9\"\/<\/p>\n

The final stage of the Giro is no easy one. In 145 kilometres there are 2,200 metres of climbing, although the summit of the toughest climb comes 90 kilometres from the finish. The Colletta di Brondello is no soft touch either. In terms of profile, it resembles last year\u2019s final stage of the Tour de France Femmes a little. So plenty can still happen.<\/p>\n

Favorites
Marion Bunel (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Magdeleine Vallieres (EF Education-Oatly)
Urska Zigart (AG Insurance – Soudal)<\/p>\n

Favorites final classification Giro d’Italia women 2026<\/p>\n

After years of Dutch dominance, Italian champion Elisa Longo Borghini restored the balance in the Giro d\u2019Italia Women with two wins in a row. The UAE Team ADQ leader is back again this year, but she will not be the outright favourite. That status can only belong to Demi Vollering. The Dutch rider from FDJ-SUEZ has not yet won the race and will do everything she can to change that.<\/p>\n

Last year Longo Borghini fought a fierce battle with Marlen Reusser. The Swiss rider from Movistar is back this year too, returning after a serious back injury. In that same Giro, Sarah Gigante (AG Insurance – Soudal) was the undisputed queen of the mountains. After suffering a severe injury last year, the Australian is still not fully recovered, which is why the Belgian team are backing Ur\u0161ka \u017digart instead.<\/p>\n

Continue reading below the photo!<\/p>\n

\"marlenAnna van der Breggen looked set for overall victory in the Vuelta Femenina, but saw it slip away on the Angliru. Can the SD Worx-Protime leader do it this time? For Visma | Lease a Bike, top climbers Marion Bunel and Femke de Vries line up, while Lidl-Trek also have two strong cards in Niamh Fisher-Black and Isabella Holmgren<\/a> .<\/p>\n

As outsiders, Liv AlUla Jayco have the ever-strong climbing Monica Trinca Colonel, while her compatriot Barbara Malcotti (Human Powered Health) could also do very well. World champion Magdeleine Vallieres (EF Education-Oatly) is also there, as is Antonina Niedermaier (Canyon\/\/SRAM). Besides top favourite Vollering, FDJ-SUEZ also have Elise Chabbey.<\/p>\n

IDL Pro Cycling top picks, 2026 Giro d’Italia women’s race:<\/p>\n

Top favorite: Demi Vollering (FDJ-SUEZ)
Outsiders: Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ), Marlen Reusser (Movistar), Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime) and Marion Bunel (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Long shots: Urska Zigart (AG Insurance – Soudal), Niamh Fisher-Black, Isabella Holmgren (Lidl-Trek), Monica Trinca Colonel (Liv AlUla Jayco), Magdeleine Vallieres (EF Education-Oatly), Barbara Malcotti (Human Powered Health), Antonina Niedermaier (Canyon\/\/SRAM) and Elise Chabbey (FDJ-SUEZ)<\/p>\n

TV Giro d’Italia women 2026<\/p>\n

The race can be seen every day in Europe and the UK on HBO Max and Eurosport (subscription needed).<\/p>\n

In North American you can watch all the action on Flo Bikes (subscription needed), and in Australia the action will be free to view on SBS.<\/p>\n

For the rest of the world, check the official race website<\/a> for details.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The men\u2019s Giro d\u2019Italia is drawing to a close, with a brutal finale still to come. But the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":707578,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[445],"tags":[49,48,635,19488,129842,141400,188044,21615,82],"class_list":["post-707577","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-cycling","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-cycling","tag-demi-vollering","tag-elisa-balsamo","tag-giro-ditalia-women","tag-marlen-reusser","tag-previews","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/707577","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=707577"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/707577\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/707578"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=707577"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=707577"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=707577"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}