Giro d'Italia Women: Demi Vollering takes sprint ahead of Anna van der Breggen for stage 5 win and first-ever career Giro stage victory

Demi Vollering of FDJ United-SUEZ claimed her first-ever stage victory at the Giro d’Italia Women by winning the sprint on stage 5, a challenging mountain route through the Dolomites. The decisive moment came after a selective climb to Costa, where Vollering, Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime), Antonia Niedermaier (Canyon-SRAM), and Isabella Holmgren (Lidl-Trek) formed a leading group. Vollering’s well-timed attack on the final climb and her sprinting prowess secured her the win ahead of van der Breggen, who continues to hold the pink leader’s jersey. The stage featured two first-category climbs, the Passo Tre Croci and Passo di Sant’Antonio, which played a crucial role in breaking up the peloton. A large breakaway of 22 riders initially gained a significant advantage, but the favourites’ group, led by FDJ United-SUEZ, gradually reeled them in. Vollering’s team executed a strong strategy, with teammates Amber Kraak and Lauren Dickson supporting the race plan, enabling Vollering to launch her winning move on the second ascent of Costa. After the stage, Vollering expressed satisfaction with her performance, acknowledging the hard effort and teamwork that contributed to her success. She admitted to starting her final climb attack a little early but was pleased with the overall outcome. With this victory, Vollering moved up to second place in the general classification, trailing van der Breggen by one minute. She remains focused on challenging for the overall win, aiming to exploit any weaknesses in the race leader. The stage’s dynamics highlighted the tactical complexity of mountain racing in the Giro d’Italia Women, with multiple attacks and counterattacks shaping the outcome. Notable performances included Marlen Reusser’s aggressive riding, which ultimately saw her lose time, and Elisa Longo Borghini’s resilience despite losing seconds to the leading group. Vollering’s victory not only boosts her confidence but also sets the stage for an intense battle in the coming mountain stages as the race for the pink jersey intensifies.