The queen stage of the Giro d'Italia Women had to be shortened. But the highlight of the tour, the Colle delle Finestre, remained intact. However, the race had to be ended prematurely one kilometre before the mountain prize on the Colle delle Finestre due to the risk of ice slabs falling onto the course. This decision was made for safety reasons, as a new rapid fall in the morning had apparently exacerbated the situation. This meant that the following descent and a nine-kilometre mountain finish to Sestriere were cancelled.
However, the announcement about the shortening of the race only came in the middle of the climb to the Colle delle Finestre, de facto eight kilometres before the finish. Logistically, this must have been a challenge for some teams.
Nevertheless, up to the Colle delle Finestre at an altitude of over 2000 metres, there was a battle between the best riders. After 75 of the original 101 kilometres, Demi Vollering (FDJ - Suez) won with a short attack from the last bend at the improvised finish line ahead of Isabella Holmgren (Lidl - Trek) and Antonia Niedermaier (Canyon - SRAM). Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx - Protime) crossed the finish line in fourth place and defended her pink jersey.
As a result, there were hardly any changes in the top three places in the overall standings. Thanks to the bonus for the stage win, Vollering is now one minute behind van der Breggen. Niedermaier follows in third place with 1:24 minutes.
Giro d'Italia Women 2026 - Results of the 8th stage
How the 8th stage of the Giro d'Italia Women 2026 went
There were several attacks at the start of the stage in Rivoli, but no rider was able to break away decisively. As a result, the stage was largely without a breakaway group.
It wasn't until 66 kilometres from the finish that a 16-strong lead group formed with Lucinda Brand (Lidl-Trek), Silvia Persico (UAE Team ADQ) and Célia Gery (FDJ-United-SUEZ), the winner of the previous day. She was joined by Eva Van Agt (FDJ United - SUEZ), Lily Williams (Human Powered Health), Caroline Andersson (Liv AlUla Jayco), Francesca Barale and Arlenis Sierra (Movistar Team), Alison Jackson (St Michel - Preference Home - Auber93), Susanne Andersen (Uno-X Mobility) and Rosita Reijnhout (Team Visma | Lease a Bike).
However, the group only pulled away by around 30 seconds before heading into the Colle delle Finestre: 18 kilometres with an average gradient of 9 per cent, half of which was on gravel. The leading group quickly fell apart, while the group of favourites caught up with rider after rider. The group of favourites thinned out further and further on the climb.
Marlen Reusser (Movistar) dropped back first, followed by Urska Zigart (AG Insurance - Soudal Team), Niamh Fisher-Black (Lidl-Trek), Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ), Femke De Fries (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) and finally Isabella Holmgren (Lidl - Trek). In the end, only the top three in the overall standings remained: Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx - Protime), Demi Vollering (FDJ - Suez) and Antonia Niedermaier (Canyon - SRAM).
Four kilometres before the finish, Holmgren fought back and attacked shortly afterwards, with Niedermaier jumping right on her rear wheel. However, Van der Breggen and Vollering managed to catch up again.
