Gigante wins stage as Longo Borghini takes overall Giro lead

Australia's Sarah Gigante won the penultimate stage of the Women's Giro d'Italia while Elisa Longo Borghini claimed the pink jersey as the overall leader.

Gigante broke away from the chasing pack on the final climb of the 150km route from Fermignano to Monte Nerone to catch stage leader Longo Borghini with three kilometres to go.

The 24-year-old then powered away to win stage seven by 45 seconds from Italy's Longo Borghini, who finished second and gained enough time to take over the race lead from Marlen Reusser.

"I'm very grateful to my team - we stuck to the plan," said Gigante, whose second stage win of the 2025 Giro saw her move up to third place in the general classification.

"We really wanted to try something, and winning this stage is fantastic.

"I had studied the final climb and decided to attack on the steep section. I wanted to show that stage four-win wasn't just a one-off, but that I came to Italy to achieve great results," said Gigante, who trails Longo Borghini by one minute 11 seconds overall.

"I'm still a bit far back in the general classification, but I'll give it a go tomorrow," she added.

Defending champion Longo Borghini leads Swiss rider Marlen Reusser, who finished fourth on the stage, by 22 seconds.

Sunday's final stage is a 130km route between Forlì and Imola.

Stage seven results

1. Sarah Gigante (Aus/AG Insurance-Soudal Team) 4hrs 44mins 14secs
2. Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita/UAE Team ADQ) +45secs
3. Isabella Holmgren (Can/Lidl-Trek) +1min 14secs
4. Marlen Reusser (Swi/Movistar Team) +1min 17secs
5. Antonia Niedermaier (Ger/Canyon/SRAM Zondacrypto) Same time
6. Barbara Malcotti (Ita/Human Powered Health) 1min 21secs
7. Urska Zigart (Svn/AG Insurance-Soudal Team) 1min 37secs
8. Pauliena Rooijakkers (Ned/Fenix-Deceuninck) 1min 48secs
9. Évita Muzic (Fra/FDJ–Suez) 2mins 17secs
10. Anna van der Breggen (Ned/Team SD Worx-Protime) 2mins 48secs

General classification after stage seven

1. Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita/UAE Team ADQ) 20hrs 56mins 48secs
2. Marlen Reusser (Swi/Movistar Team) +22secs
3. Sarah Gigante (Aus/AG Insurance-Soudal Team) +1min 11secs
4. Pauliena Rooijakkers (Ned/Fenix-Deceuninck) +2min 55secs
5. Antonia Niedermaier (Ger/Canyon/SRAM Zondacrypto) +3mins 7 secs
6. Anna van der Breggen (Ned/Team SD Worx-Protime) +3min 46secs
7. Isabella Holmgren (Can/Lidl-Trek) +3mins 54secs
8. Urska Zigart (Svn/AG Insurance-Soudal Team) +4mins 32secs
9. Barbara Malcotti (Ita/Human Powered Health) 4min 44secs
10. Katrine Aalerud (Nor/Uno-X Mobility) +5mins 1 secs