The 2025 Giro d’Italia Women opened with a high-stakes individual time trial around the city of Bergamo, covering 14.2 kilometers of mostly flat to gently undulating terrain with a technical, twisty finale. Swiss powerhouse Marlen Reusser of Movistar Team claimed a decisive stage victory, setting a blistering pace from the start and never relinquishing her lead. Reusser’s winning time of 17 minutes and 22 seconds not only gave her the day’s honors but also the coveted maglia rosa as the first overall leader of the race.
Lotte Kopecky, the Belgian national champion riding for SD Worx–Protime, delivered a strong performance and finished second, 12 seconds behind Reusser. Despite not being a time-trial specialist in the traditional sense, Kopecky’s combination of raw power and handling finesse allowed her to outperform many rivals on the technical portions of the course. Rounding out the podium was Italian star and defending Giro champion Elisa Longo Borghini. Racing on home soil and cheered on by local fans, Longo Borghini finished third, just 4 seconds behind Kopecky, maintaining a solid position in the early general classification battle.
The time trial began under clear skies and warm temperatures in Bergamo’s historic center. Riders faced a relatively flat course in the first two-thirds, designed for high speeds, followed by a more technical final section as they returned into the heart of the city. Reusser, a multiple national and European time trial champion, quickly established herself as the benchmark rider. She recorded the fastest intermediate split at the 7 km mark, already putting time into her GC rivals.
Kopecky started slightly conservatively but accelerated through the second half, using her track-honed pacing skills to post a strong negative split. However, she couldn’t match Reusser’s sustained power output in the flat section and lost time there. Longo Borghini, a consistent performer in all terrains, showed solid form and stayed close to both riders but conceded small time gaps in the final corners, which proved critical.
Behind the top three, other notable performances included Antonia Niedermaier (Canyon//SRAM), who finished fifth overall and claimed the white jersey for best young rider. Dutch all-rounder Riejanne Markus (Visma–Lease a Bike) also made the top 10, further shaking up early GC predictions.
Take-aways
Marlen Reusser is now in the pink jersey and clearly eyeing a top GC position, though her traditional strength lies in time trials and flatter terrain. Defending the lead in the mountains could be a challenge.
Kopecky and Longo Borghini are both within striking distance and better suited to the upcoming climbing stages, particularly Stage 2 and Stage 4.
Antonia Niedermaier, as the best young rider, demonstrated maturity and control, confirming her status as a rising GC threat.
Time gaps opened early, setting the tone for an aggressive, closely fought Giro. Riders like Mavi García and Juliette Labous are still well in contention.
HIGHLIGHTS
RESULTS
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