VOLLERING SNATCHES TITLE FROM VAN DER BREGGEN
Demi Vollering (FDJ United-Suez) has won the Giro d’Italia Women, overhauling Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime) on a dramatic final day.
Despite starting the day 49″ in the clear, it was a day to forget for Van der Breggen, as she lost the maglia rosa during a difficult final stage in this year’s Giro.
An attack from Antonia Niedermaier (Canyon-SRAM zondacrypto) and Vollering’s eventual chase secured the pink jersey for the Dutchwoman.
From the four-rider leading group, however, Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ) was fastest and won Stage 9 ahead of Niamh Fisher-Black (Lidl-Trek), Vollering and Niedermaier.
Highlights: Vollering takes Giro title ahead of Van der Breggen
Video credit: TNT Sports
HOW THE STAGE WAS WON
Another mountainous day for the final stage of this year’s Giro, but slightly longer than Saturday’s, the riders took in a 145km route that started and finished in Saluzzo. They rode three classified climbs, including the Montoso.
Niedermaier attacked just as the TV coverage began, and took Longo Borghini and Fisher-Black with her, leaving Vollering and Van der Breggen in their wake. Femke de Vries of Visma-Lease a Bike briefly chased the front group but eventually fell back to the maglia rosa.
With 39km to go, Vollering attacked on the ascent of the Brondello, the final categorised climb of the day. This sparked a furious chase to the front group, and she made contact with 28km to go.
From there, the gap between the two groups only widened, with Van der Breggen’s seemingly secure GC positioning slipping out of her grasp as the kilometres counted down.
The front group continued to work well in the final kilometres, with riders positioning themselves for a sprint. With 300 metres to go, Fisher-Black launched an early sprint and only Longo Borghini could come around her in the closing metres, taking her first win of this year’s race.
And Demi Vollering, that was enough for her to secure the overall win, as Van der Breggen crossed the line over two minutes back.
Longo Borghini thought she was ‘done’ after challenging time – ‘I was very sick’
Video credit: TNT Sports
THE GIRO D’ITALIA WOMEN 2026 FINAL GC
🥇Demi Vollering (FDJ-Suez)
🥈Antonia Niedermaier (Canyon-SRAM) + 0’30”
🥉Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime) + 1’37”