After 876.7 kilometres, Elisa Longo Borghini (Lidl-Trek) wins the women's Giro d'Italia by 21 seconds ahead of Lotte Kopecky (Team SD Worx - Protime), who was just one second behind the Italian before the final stage. Kopecky tried everything again on the final day, but on the last 200 metres of the 117 kilometres between Pescara and L'Aquila, the world champion's legs went to sleep and Longo Borghini stormed to Giro victory. Antonia Niedermaier (Canyon//SRAM Racing) finished the Tour of Italy in sixth place as the best German in the overall standings.
Pienaar wins stage 8 of the Giro d'Italia Women 2024
Kimberley (Le Court) Pienaar (AG Insurance - Soudal Team) took the stage win from a three-strong breakaway group ahead of Ruth Edwards (Human Powered Health) and the German road champion Franziska Koch (Team dsm-firmenich PostNL).
It will take some time to realise what I have achieved - Elisa Longo Borghini
Giro d'Italia Women 2024 - Results: the top 10 of stage 8
- Kimberley (Le Court) Pienaar (AG Insurance - Soudal Team) 3:19:08
- Ruth Edwards (Human Powered Health) +0:00
- Franziska Koch (Team dsm-firmenich PostNL) +0:00
- Elisa Longo Borghini (Lidl-Trek) +0:25
- Juliette Labous (Team dsm-firmenich PostNL) +0:29
- Pauliena Rooijakkers (Fenix-Deceuninck) +0:29
- Neve Bradbury (Cayon//SRAM Racing) +0:29
- Mavi Garcia (Liv AlUla Jayco) +0:29
- Mareille Meijering (Movistar) +0:32
- Justine Ghekiere (AG Insurance - Soudal Team) +0:32
Giro d'Italia Women 2024: The final standings in the overall standings
- Elisa Longo Borghini (Lidl-Trek) 24:02:16
- Lotte Kopecky (Team SD Worx - Protime) +0:21
- Neve Bradbury (Canyon//SRAM Racing) +1:16
- Pauliena Rooijakkers (Fenix-Deceuninck) +2:05
- Juliette Labous (Team dsm-firmenich PostNL) +2:15
- Antonia Niedermaier (Canyon//SRAM Racing) +2:41
- Gaia Realini (Lidl-Trek) +3:41
- Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (FDJ-Suez) +4:31
- Mavi Garcia (FDJ-Suez) +5:17
- Niamh Fisher-Black (Team SD Worx - Protime) +5:54
How the 8th stage of the 2024 Giro d'Italia for women went
The first notable leading group on the final day consisted of four riders: Justine Ghekiere (AG Insurance - Soudal Team), Lucinda Brand (Lidl-Trek), Katrine Aalerud (Uno-X Mobility) and Claire Steels (Movistar Team). Their breakaway attempt came to an end at the Castel del Monte mountain classification (1st category). For Ghekiere, however, her mission was accomplished. With the points at the mountain classification, she secured her mountain jersey. After that, the race was uncontrolled. There were numerous attacks from the group for the pink jersey. In the end, three riders broke away: Franziska Koch (Team dsm-firmenich PostNL), Ruth Edwards (Human Powered Health) and Kimberley (Le Court) Pienaar (AG Insurance - Soudal Team).
Runaways pull away
The trio became more and more of a problem for Lotte Kopecky (Team SD Worx - Protime), who was only one second behind Elisa Longo Borghini (Lidl-Trek) in the overall standings before the stage. After all, the time bonuses would have been awarded to the top three riders at the stage finish if the breakaway riders had stayed in front. And that's what it looked like. The lead of Koch, Edwards and Pienaar grew to over a minute. Kopecky had her only remaining helper Niamh Fisher-Black working for her, but the group didn't get much closer to the breakaway.
Kopecky tries to overtake Longo Borghini
With ten kilometres to go, Loes Adegeest (FDJ-Suez) left the peloton to bridge up to the leading trio and got as close as 30 seconds before being caught on the penultimate climb. Kopecky attacked at the start of the penultimate climb, but Longo Borghini did not leave her wheel at first.
Pienaar wins stage 8
Franziska Koch had problems at the front and had to let Edwards and Le Pienaar go, but fought her way back on the final descent. The group of favourites tried to stand still, which made it clear that the breakaway trio would decide the victory among themselves. The sprint at the front was quickly decided. Kimberley (Le Court) Pienaar was the strongest rider on the slightly uphill finishing straight and won ahead of Edwards and Koch.
Longo Borghini outpaces Kopecky
Behind them, there was a fight for overall victory. Kopecky tried again in the final kilometre, but the world champion's legs exploded in the last 200 metres. Longo Borghini pulled away and secured the maglia rosa.
