Giro d'Italia Women: Demi Vollering overtakes Anna van der Breggen on final day for overall title as Elisa Longo Borghini wins stage 9 sprint

Demi Vollering of FDJ United-SUEZ secured overall victory in the Giro d’Italia Women by launching a decisive attack on the final climb of stage nine. She dropped race leader Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime) on the Colletta di Brondello and bridged to a leading group that included Antonia Niedermaier, Elisa Longo Borghini, and Niamh Fisher-Black. Vollering’s bold move, made with 28km remaining, allowed her to gain enough time to overtake Van der Breggen in the general classification and claim the coveted maglia rosa. The stage itself was a challenging 145km route starting and finishing in Saluzzo, featuring several climbs including the first-category Montoso and the second-category Colletta di Brondello. Niedermaier had earlier broken away with 80km to go, gaining the virtual race lead until Vollering’s well-timed attack. Vollering’s teammate Lauren Dickson played a crucial role in controlling the pace and supporting the eventual winner’s move, ensuring the gap to the breakaway was manageable before Vollering surged ahead. Following her victory, Vollering reflected on the tactical gamble and physical effort required to secure the overall win, describing how she “went all-in” on the final climb despite battling cramps. Her triumph marks a significant milestone, making her only the second woman after Annemiek van Vleuten to win all three women’s Grand Tours: the Giro d’Italia Women, Tour de France Femmes, and Vuelta Femenina. Meanwhile, Elisa Longo Borghini of UAE Team ADQ claimed the stage nine sprint victory, overcoming Fisher-Black in the final metres to take the win while riding in the Italian champion’s jersey. Van der Breggen, who had held the race lead for much of the day, ultimately finished over two minutes behind Vollering and dropped to third overall. The final stage showcased a dramatic shift in the general classification and highlighted the strength and tactical nous of Vollering and her team. With this victory, Vollering cements her status as one of the leading figures in women’s cycling and sets the stage for further battles in the Grand Tours to come.