Home favourite Elisa Longo Borghini won the women's Giro d'Italia for the second year in a row on Sunday after finishing fourth in the closing stage behind Liane Lippert.
The 33-year-old Italian had taken possession of the overall leader's pink jersey on Saturday and kept hold of it when it mattered most.
She topped the general classification by 18 seconds ahead of Swiss rider Marlen Reusser (Movistar).
A double for 𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐀 𝐋𝐎𝐍𝐆𝐎 𝐁𝐎𝐑𝐆𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐈! After her triumph in 2024, the 🇮🇹 champion does it again. She's the Queen of the Giro d’Italia Women 2025! 🩷
— Giro d'Italia Women (@girowomen) July 13, 2025
𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐀 𝐋𝐎𝐍𝐆𝐎 𝐁𝐎𝐑𝐆𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐈 è la Regina del #GirodItaliaWomen 2025! 🩷
📸 LaPresse#WonderfulWomen #WOW pic.twitter.com/YxDG1F3UOE
"I'm lost for words. This Giro was intense, packed with emotions, unforgettable" commented Longo Borghini.
"I knew I was going to have to give everything and that's what I did.
"Cycling is full of highs and lows, and moments like this make the sacrifice worthwhile," she added.
🥹 «We believed every single day» says @ElisaLongoB in her end-of-the-race interview as the 2025 winner of the Giro d'Italia Women 🩷
— Giro d'Italia Women (@girowomen) July 13, 2025
🥹 «Ci abbiamo creduto ogni singolo giorno» dice la vincitrice della corsa 🩷#GirodItaliaWomen #WonderfulWomen #WOW | @UAETeamADQ @UCI_WWT pic.twitter.com/ujdgZJyypR
Reusser's German teammate Lippert took the eighth and final stage, a 134km ride from Forli to Imola, getting the better of Anna van der Breggen as the pair sprinted for the line, with Reusser third on the day.
Australia's Sarah Gigante, who had won Saturday's queen stage, took third overall, at 1min 11sec.
STAGE EIGHT WINNERS
- 1. Liane Lippert (GER/MOV) 3hr 40min 07sec,
- 2. Anna van der Breggen (NED/DLT) at s.t,
- 3. Marlen Reusser (SUI/MOV) 8sec,
- 4. Elisa Longo Borghini (ITA/ALE) s.t,
- 5. Evita Muzic (FRA/FDJ - SUEZ) s.t,
- 6. Isabella Holmgren (CAN/TFS) s.t,
- 7. Pauliena Rooijakkers (NED/FED) s.t,
- 8. Silke Smulders (NED/MTS) s.t,
- 9. Antonia Niedermaier (GER/CSR) s.t,
- 10. Sarah Gigante (AUS/AGS) s.t
OVERALL STANDINGS
1. Elisa Longo Borghini (ITA/ALE) 24hr 37min 03sec,
2. Marlen Reusser (SUI/MOV) at 18sec,
3. Sarah Gigante (AUS/AGS) 1min 11sec,
4. Pauliena Rooijakkers (NED/FED) 2:55,
5. Antonia Niedermaier (GER/CSR) 3:07,
6. Anna van der Breggen (NED/DLT) 3:32,
7. Isabella Holmgren (CAN/TFS) 3:54,
8. Barbara Malcotti (ITA/RLW) 4:44,
9. Urska Zigart (SLO/AGS) 4:56,
10. Katrine Aalerud (NOR/UXT) 5:19