# Giro d'Italia Women

The Giro d’Italia Women is an annual women's cycle stage race around Italy. First held in 1988, the race is currently part of the UCI Women's World Tour, and is currently organised by RCS Sport, the organisers of the men's Giro d'Italia. The race was previously branded as the Giro d'Italia Femminile prior to 2013, the Giro Rosa from 2013 to 2020, and the Giro Donne from 2021 to 2023.
The race has been considered the most prestigious stage race in women's road cycling, with some teams and media referring to the race as a 'Grand Tour'. However, the race does not meet the UCI definition of such an event. It has generally held over nine or ten days in early July each year, competing for attention with the more famous men's Tour de France. Organisers also stated that they wished to work with the UCI to move the calendar position of the race, so that the race is not overshadowed by the Tour de France. The race is owned by the Italian Cycling Federation, with organisation of the race outsourced.
The rider with the lowest aggregate time is the leader of the general classification and wears the pink jersey. While the general classification gathers the most attention, there are other contests held within the Giro: the points classification for the sprinters, the mountains classification for the climbers, young rider classification for the riders under the age of 23, and the best Italian rider classification. Achieving a stage win also provides prestige, often accomplished by a team's sprint specialist or a rider taking part in a breakaway.

## History

The men's Giro d'Italia cycling race was first held in 1909, and is considered the second most important cycling race in the world. The women's Giro d'Italia was first held in 1988 as the Giro d'Italia Femminile. The first edition in 1988 was won by two-time Tour de France Feminin winner Maria Canins from Italy.
Global Cycling Network notes how "how little we actually know" about early editions of the women's Giro, with no information about stage winners. The race was the second biggest women's race in Italy, behind the long running Trofeo Alfredo Binda-Comune di Cittiglio. In the 1990s, the race was dominated by Italian rider Fabiana Luperini, who won 4 editions of the race between 1995 and 1998, winning 13 stages in the process. Luperini later won the 2008 edition of the race, 10 years after her last victory.
In the 2000s, the race initially grew to 13 stages in length before falling back to 9 stages. Other big races like Grande Boucle Féminine Internationale and Tour de l'Aude Cycliste Féminin were cancelled due to financial difficulties in 2009 and 2010 respectively, leaving the Giro Donne was the only 'Grand Tour' left in women's cycling after 2010.
In December 2012 it was reported that the company Epinike had withdrawn as Giro Donne organiser, making the 2013 edition uncertain. In April 2013, however, organisers announced they had rebranded the race as the Giro Rosa, taking place over eight days. It returned to its traditional ten-day length the following year. In 2016, the race became part of the new UCI Women's World Tour, organised by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI).
In the late 2010s and early 2020s, the race was dominated by Dutch riders, with Annemiek van Vleuten winning four times. In 2021, the race lost its World Tour status due to the lack of live television coverage during the 2020 edition of the race. The decision to downgrade the race to the UCI ProSeries was met with criticism. The race used the Giro d'Italia Donne name in 2021, before returning to Giro Donne in 2022. The race returned to World Tour level in 2022, following promises of live television coverage on Eurosport and Rai Sport. The prize money was also increased to €250,000, with €50,000 for the winner of the general classification. The organisation of the 2023 edition of the race was criticised, with information about the route and riders not available until the last minute.
From 2024, the race will be organised by the men's Giro d'Italia organiser RCS Sport on a four-year contract. The 2024 edition of the race was rebranded to Giro d'Italia Women. From 2024 onwards, the first rider to pass the highest climb of the race was awarded the "Cima Alfonsina Strada" – a prize named after Italian cyclist Alfonsina Strada, who took part in the men's Giro d’Italia in 1924.

## Winners

| Year | Distance [km] | NoS | First | Second | Third |
| 1988 [it] | | 8 | Maria Canins (ITA) | Elizabeth Hepple (AUS) | Petra Rossner (GDR) |
| 1989 | | | Roberta Bonanomi (ITA) | Aleksandra Koliaseva (URS) | Tea Vikstedt-Nyman (FIN) |
| 1990 | | | Catherine Marsal (FRA) | Maria Canins (ITA) | Kathy Watt (AUS) |
| 1991 | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held |
| 1992 | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held |
| 1993 | | | Lenka Ilavská (SVK) | Luzia Zberg (SUI) | Imelda Chiappa (ITA) |
| 1994 | | | Michela Fanini (ITA) | Kathy Watt (AUS) | Luzia Zberg (SUI) |
| 1995 | 976 km (606.5 mi) | 11 | Fabiana Luperini (ITA) | Luzia Zberg (SUI) | Roberta Bonanomi (ITA) |
| 1996 | 1,181.1 km (733.9 mi) | 12 | Fabiana Luperini (ITA) | Alessandra Cappellotto (ITA) | Imelda Chiappa (ITA) |
| 1997 | 1,156.5 km (718.6 mi) | 12 | Fabiana Luperini (ITA) | Linda Jackson (CAN) | Edita Pučinskaitė (LTU) |
| 1998 | 1,173.4 km (729.1 mi) | 13 | Fabiana Luperini (ITA) | Linda Jackson (CAN) | Barbara Heeb (SUI) |
| 1999 | 1,210 km (751.9 mi) | 12 | Joane Somarriba (ESP) | Svetlana Bubnenkova (RUS) | Daniela Veronesi [it; fr] (SMR) |
| 2000 | 1,298 km (806.5 mi) | 13 | Joane Somarriba (ESP) | Alessandra Cappellotto (ITA) | Valentina Polkhanova (RUS) |
| 2001 [it] | 1,440.5 km (895.1 mi) | 13 | Nicole Brändli (SUI) | Diana Žiliūtė (LTU) | Edita Pučinskaitė (LTU) |
| 2002 [it] | 889.2 km (552.5 mi) | 9 | Svetlana Bubnenkova (RUS) | Zinaida Stahurskaya (BLR) | Diana Žiliūtė (LTU) |
| 2003 [it] | 888 km (551.8 mi) | 9 | Nicole Brändli (SUI) | Edita Pučinskaitė (LTU) | Joane Somarriba (ESP) |
| 2004 [it] | 852.9 km (530.0 mi) | 9 | Nicole Cooke (GBR) | Fabiana Luperini (ITA) | Priska Doppmann (SUI) |
| 2005 [it] | 858.3 km (533.3 mi) | 9 | Nicole Brändli (SUI) | Joane Somarriba (ESP) | Edita Pučinskaitė (LTU) |
| 2006 [it] | 894.2 km (555.6 mi) | 9 | Edita Pučinskaitė (LTU) | Nicole Brändli (SUI) | Susanne Ljungskog (SWE) |
| 2007 [it] | 895.3 km (556.3 mi) | 9 | Edita Pučinskaitė (LTU) | Nicole Brändli (SUI) | María Isabel Moreno (ESP) |
| 2008 | 808 km (502.1 mi) | 8 | Fabiana Luperini (ITA) | Amber Neben (USA) | Claudia Häusler (GER) |
| 2009 | 918 km (570.4 mi) | 9 | Claudia Häusler (GER) | Mara Abbott (USA) | Nicole Brändli (SUI) |
| 2010 | 921.9 km (572.8 mi) | 10 | Mara Abbott (USA) | Judith Arndt (GER) | Tatiana Guderzo (ITA) |
| 2011 | 962.1 km (597.8 mi) | 10 | Marianne Vos (NED) | Emma Pooley (GBR) | Judith Arndt (GER) |
| 2012 | 961 km (597.1 mi) | 9 | Marianne Vos (NED) | Emma Pooley (GBR) | Evelyn Stevens (USA) |
| 2013 | 803 km (499.0 mi) | 8 | Mara Abbott (USA) | Tatiana Guderzo (ITA) | Claudia Häusler (GER) |
| 2014 | 953 km (592.2 mi) | 10 | Marianne Vos (NED) | Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (FRA) | Anna van der Breggen (NED) |
| 2015 | 913.68 km (567.7 mi) | 10 | Anna van der Breggen (NED) | Mara Abbott (USA) | Megan Guarnier (USA) |
| 2016 | 857.7 km (533.0 mi) | 10 | Megan Guarnier (USA) | Evelyn Stevens (USA) | Anna van der Breggen (NED) |
| 2017 | 1,008.6 km (626.7 mi) | 10 | Anna van der Breggen (NED) | Elisa Longo Borghini (ITA) | Annemiek van Vleuten (NED) |
| 2018 | 975.2 km (606.0 mi) | 10 | Annemiek van Vleuten (NED) | Ashleigh Moolman (RSA) | Amanda Spratt (AUS) |
| 2019 | 905.8 km (562.8 mi) | 10 | Annemiek van Vleuten (NED) | Anna van der Breggen (NED) | Amanda Spratt (AUS) |
| 2020 | 975.8 km (606.3 mi) | 9 | Anna van der Breggen (NED) | Katarzyna Niewiadoma (POL) | Elisa Longo Borghini (ITA) |
| 2021 | 1,022.74 km (635.50 mi) | 10 | Anna van der Breggen (NED) | Ashleigh Moolman (RSA) | Demi Vollering (NED) |
| 2022 | 1,007.2 km (625.8 mi) | 10 | Annemiek van Vleuten (NED) | Marta Cavalli (ITA) | Margarita Victoria García (ESP) |
| 2023 | 928 km (577 mi) | 9 | Annemiek Van Vleuten (NED) | Juliette Labous (FRA) | Gaia Realini (ITA) |
| 2024 | 876.7 km (544.8 mi) | 8 | Elisa Longo Borghini (ITA) | Lotte Kopecky (BEL) | Neve Bradbury (AUS) |

### Multiple winners

| Wins | Rider | Editions |
| 5 | Fabiana Luperini (ITA) | 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2008 |
| 4 | Anna van der Breggen (NED) | 2015, 2017, 2020, 2021 |
| 4 | Annemiek van Vleuten (NED) | 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023 |
| 3 | Nicole Brändli (SUI) | 2001, 2003, 2005 |
| 3 | Marianne Vos (NED) | 2011, 2012, 2014 |
| 2 | Joane Somarriba (ESP) | 1999, 2000 |
| 2 | Edita Pučinskaitė (LIT) | 2006, 2007 |
| 2 | Mara Abbott (USA) | 2010, 2013 |

### Wins per country

| Wins | Country |
| 11 | Netherlands |
| 9 | Italy |
| 3 | Switzerland, United States |
| 2 | Lithuania, Spain |
| 1 | Germany, France, Russia, Slovakia, United Kingdom |

## Secondary classifications

The Giro Donne awards a number of jerseys for winners of certain classifications – the current competitions that award a jersey are:
* ( from 1988 to 2023, in 2012) Points classification, for the rider with the most points as awarded by finishing positions on stages and the first riders to go through intermediate sprints. Recently, the winner wears the maglia rossa (red jersey).
* ( from 1988 to 2023) Mountains classification, for the rider awarded the most points for crossing designated climbs, generally at the peaks of hills and mountains. The winner wears the maglia azzurra (blue jersey).
* Young rider classification, for the fastest rider under the age of 25 to complete the race. The winner wears the maglia bianca (white jersey).
* Best Italian rider classification, for the fastest Italian rider to complete the race. The winner used to wear the maglia azzurra (blue jersey).
In 2006, the young riders classification was not run, instead a sprints competition was won by Olga Slyusareva (RUS) and awarded the blue jersey.

### Winners by year

| Year | Giro | | Points | | Mountains | | Young | | Italian | | Team | Notes |
| 1988 | 1 | | Petra Rossner | | Maria Canins | | | Not awarded | Not awarded | | | |
| 1989 | 2 | | Petra Rossner (2) | | Roberta Bonanomi | | | Not awarded | Not awarded | | | |
| 1990 | 3 | | Catherine Marsal | | Catherine Marsal | | | Not awarded | Not awarded | | | |
| 1991 | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held |
| 1992 | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held |
| 1993 | 4 | | Luzia Zberg | | Lenka Ilavská | | | Not awarded | Not awarded | | | |
| 1994 | 5 | | Imelda Chiappa | | Sigrid Corneo | | | Not awarded | Not awarded | | | |
| 1995 | 6 | | Petra Rossner (3) | | Fabiana Luperini | | | Not awarded | Not awarded | | | |
| 1996 | 7 | | Fabiana Luperini | | Fabiana Luperini (2) | | | Not awarded | Not awarded | | | |
| 1997 | 8 | | Diana Žiliūtė | | Fabiana Luperini (3) | | Edita Pučinskaitė | Not awarded | Not awarded | | Sanson Mimosa | |
| 1998 | 9 | | Anna Wilson | | Fabiana Luperini (4) | | Cindy Pieters | Not awarded | Not awarded | | | |
| 1999 | 10 | | Svetlana Bubnenkova | | Daniela Veronesi [it; fr] | | Tetyana Styazhkina | Not awarded | Not awarded | | | |
| 2000 | 11 | | Svetlana Bubnenkova (2) | | Edita Pučinskaitė | | Nicole Brändli | Not awarded | Not awarded | | | |
| 2001 | 12 | | Nicole Brändli | | Mari Holden | | | Not awarded | Not awarded | | | |
| 2002 | 13 | | Zinaida Stahurskaya | | Jolanta Polikevičiūtė | | | Not awarded | Not awarded | | | |
| 2003 | 14 | | Regina Schleicher | | Jolanta Polikevičiūtė (2) | | Modesta Vžesniauskaitė | Not awarded | Not awarded | Not awarded | Not awarded | |
| 2004 | 15 | | Oenone Wood | | Svetlana Bubnenkova | | Nicole Cooke | Not awarded | Not awarded | | Safi–Pasta Zara Manhattan | |
| 2005 | 16 | | Giorgia Bronzini | | Svetlana Bubnenkova (2) | | Volha Hayeva | Not awarded | Not awarded | Not awarded | Not awarded | |
| 2006 | 17 | | Susanne Ljungskog | | Edita Pučinskaitė (2) | Not awarded | Not awarded | Not awarded | Not awarded | | Top Girls Fassa Bortolo Raxy Line | |
| 2007 | 18 | | Marianne Vos | | Svetlana Bubnenkova (3) | | Tatiana Guderzo | Not awarded | Not awarded | | | |
| 2008 | 19 | | Ina-Yoko Teutenberg | | Fabiana Luperini (5) | | Claudia Häusler | Not awarded | Not awarded | | | |
| 2009 | 20 | | Claudia Häusler | | Mara Abbott | | Lizzie Armitstead | Not awarded | Not awarded | | | |
| 2010 | 21 | | Marianne Vos (2) | | Emma Pooley | | Marianne Vos | | Tatiana Guderzo | | | |
| 2011 | 22 | | Marianne Vos (3) | | Marianne Vos | | Elena Berlato | | Tatiana Guderzo (2) | | | |
| 2012 | 23 | | Marianne Vos (4) | | Emma Pooley (2) | | Elisa Longo Borghini | | Fabiana Luperini | | | |
| 2013 | 24 | | Marianne Vos (5) | | Mara Abbott (2) | | Francesca Cauz | | Tatiana Guderzo (3) | | | |
| 2014 | 25 | | Marianne Vos (6) | | Emma Pooley (3) | | Pauline Ferrand-Prévot | | Elisa Longo Borghini | | | |
| 2015 | 26 | | Megan Guarnier | | Flávia Oliveira | | Katarzyna Niewiadoma | | Elisa Longo Borghini (2) | | | |
| 2016 | 27 | | Megan Guarnier (2) | | Elisa Longo Borghini | | Katarzyna Niewiadoma (2) | | Tatiana Guderzo (4) | | | |
| 2017 | 28 | | Annemiek van Vleuten | | Annemiek van Vleuten | | Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig | | Elisa Longo Borghini (3) | | Boels–Dolmans | |
| 2018 | 29 | | Annemiek van Vleuten (2) | | Amanda Spratt | | Sofia Bertizzolo | | Elisa Longo Borghini (4) | | Team Sunweb | |
| 2019 | 30 | | Annemiek van Vleuten (3) | | Annemiek van Vleuten (2) | | Juliette Labous | | Elisa Longo Borghini (5) | | WNT–Rotor Pro Cycling | |
| 2020 | 31 | | Marianne Vos (7) | | Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig | | Mikayla Harvey | | Elisa Longo Borghini (6) | | CCC Liv | |
| 2021 | 32 | | Anna van der Breggen | | Lucinda Brand | | Niamh Fisher-Black | | Marta Cavalli | | SD Worx | |
| 2022 | 33 | | Annemiek van Vleuten (4) | | Kristen Faulkner | | Niamh Fisher-Black (2) | | Marta Cavalli (2) | | FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope | |
| 2023 | 34 | | Annemiek van Vleuten (5) | | Annemiek van Vleuten (3) | | Gaia Realini | | Gaia Realini | | Movistar Team | |
| 2024 | 35 | | Lotte Kopecky | | Justine Ghekiere | | Neve Bradbury | Not awarded | Not awarded | | Liv AlUla Jayco | |
| Year | Giro | | Points | | Mountains | | Young | | Italian | | Team | Notes |

### Winners by country

| Rank | Country | Points | Mountains | Youth | Total |
| 1 | Netherlands | 13 | 5 | 1 | 19 |
| 2 | Italy | 3 | 9 | 6 | 18 |
| 3 | Germany | 6 | 0 | 1 | 7 |
| 3 | Lithuania | 1 | 4 | 2 | 7 |
| 5 | Russia | 2 | 3 | 1 | 6 |
| 5 | United States | 2 | 4 | 0 | 6 |
| 7 | United Kingdom | 0 | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| 8 | France | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| 8 | Australia | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 10 | Switzerland | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| 10 | Belgium | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 10 | New Zealand | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| 12 | Belarus | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 12 | Denmark | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 12 | Poland | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 15 | Brazil | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 15 | San Marino | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 15 | Slovakia | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 15 | Sweden | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |

## Stage wins

| Rank | Rider | Stage wins |
| 1 | Marianne Vos (NED) | 32 |
| 2 | Petra Rossner (GER) | 18 |
| 3 | Annemiek van Vleuten (NED) | 16 |