Four mountain classifications, 3,500 metres in altitude and a category 1 final climb: stage 7 was the first test of strength for the classification riders. In the end, Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates - XRG) took victory after 168 kilometres. The Spaniard broke away from the other big names with 500 metres to go and won his first Grand Tour stage.

Behind him, his team-mate Isaac del Toro finished second, four seconds behind, with Egan Bernal (INEOS Grenadiers) and Primoz Roglic (Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe) following in third and fourth place. This was enough for Roglic to take the pink jersey from Mads Pedersen (Lidl - Trek) who, as expected, played no part in the uphill finish. However, with Giulio Pellizzari, Roglic only had one helper at his side in the finale.

Strong team performance by UAE Team Emirates - XRG

The final climb to Tagliacozzo celebrated its premiere at the Giro d'Italia. The climb led over 12.6 kilometres with an average gradient of 5.4 per cent to the finish. However, the last three kilometres were particularly challenging with double-digit gradients. UAE Team Emirates - XRG in particular showed strong team leadership in the finale with four riders in the 17-rider group.

In the overall standings, Roglic now has a four-second lead over Ayuso. His team-mate Del Toro follows with nine seconds. There were hardly any big time gaps among the big names. Thomas Pidcock (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team) lost the most time with 34 seconds. After a crash during the stage, Romain Bardet (Team PicnicPostNL) reached the finish 5:09 minutes behind.

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How the 7th stage of the Giro d'Italia 2025 went

It took around 25 kilometres until the breakaway group of the day was formed. Starting in Castel di Sangro, the riders immediately headed uphill to Roccaraso (3rd category). Several groups formed in the first few kilometres, briefly breaking away, but were soon caught up again. Lorenzo Fortunato (XDS - Astana), the leader of the mountain classification, finally secured the first mountain classification after six kilometres in Roccaraso.

A group then formed around Jay Vine (UAE Team Emirates - XRG), but Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe refused to let them go. Only when the Australian Vine dropped back were his companions able to break away from the peloton, second by second, before Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe let the breakaway go.

Mads Pedersen in the pink jersey as pace setter

The escape group consisted of Christian Scaroni (XDS Astana Team), Alessandro Tonelli (Team PoltiVisitMalta), Gianmarco Garofoli (Soudal - Quick-Step), Nicolas Prodhomme (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team), Manuele Tarozzi (VF Group - Bardiani CSF - Faizanè), Paul Double (Team Jayco - AlUla) and Gijs Leemreize (Team PicnicPostNL). From then on, the lead grew to a maximum of four minutes. Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe did most of the chasing.

Double won the mountain classification up to Monte Urano (2nd category) after 70 kilometres. The Briton later also secured the points in Vado Della Forcella (2nd category) after 105 kilometres. From the summit, there were still 60 kilometres to the finish. A few kilometres later, Lidl-Trek set off on a tempo offensive, with Mads Pedersen in the pink jersey at the front.

Egan Bernal shows his form in the final

At the start of the twelve kilometre long final climb, the escape group broke up and Garofoli, Tonelli, Prodhomme and Tarozzi left their companions behind. However, the lead at this point was only 40 seconds. Behind them, Pedersen led the peloton into the climb and then broke away. He reached the finish 15 minutes behind. INEOS Grenadiers and Bahrain - Victorious then forced the pace. The breakaway was caught with five kilometres to go.

Among the favourites, the race only got going in the last three kilometres. Giulio Ciccone (Lidl - Trek) was the first rider to attack, then Egan Bernal (INEOS) stepped up the pace at the Flamme Rouge - which resulted in the decisive attack by Ayuso, who rode away from the competition in the last 500 metres.