Longo Borghini Takes Giro Donne Lead as Gigante Wins Queen Stage

Australian cyclist Sarah Gigante won the penultimate queen stage of the 2025 Women's Giro d'Italia, marking her second stage victory in the race and the first time an Australian has won two stages since 1998. Gigante broke away on the final climb to Monte Nerone, catching and then distancing defending champion Elisa Longo Borghini, who finished second but took the overall race lead (maglia rosa) from Marlen Reusser by 22 seconds. Longo Borghini's daring attack alongside teammate Silvia Persico, initiated with about 21 km to go, was a decisive and unexpected move that helped her secure the pink jersey despite Gigante's stage win. Gigante's strong performance moved her up to third place overall, trailing Longo Borghini by 1:11 and Reusser by 22 seconds, while the final stage from Forlì to Imola remains critical for the general classification. Both riders praised their teams' efforts, with Gigante emphasizing her team's commitment and Longo Borghini embodying the strategy of being willing to risk losing to ultimately win. The race remains wide open heading into the final 130-138km stage, with intense competition expected for the overall victory.