Strong performance in the Giro d’Italia Women secures De Vries sixth place in the general classification
# De Vries Shines in Giro d’Italia Women, Secures Sixth Place Overall
In a thrilling final stage of the Giro d’Italia Women, Femke De Vries demonstrated her strength and resilience, finishing sixth in the general classification. The stage featured three categorized climbs, setting the stage for an exciting conclusion to the race.
As the first climb unfolded, Demi Vollering created a strong pace, ensuring that only seven riders, including a focused De Vries, remained in contention. In a strategic move, Antonia Niedermaier, Elisa Longo Borghini, and Niamh Fisher-Black broke away from the leading group. De Vries attempted to close the gap but found herself alongside Vollering and Anna van der Breggen instead, aiming to limit losses.
On the final ascent, Vollering launched a decisive attack that quickly closed the gap to the leaders. De Vries and van der Breggen were unable to keep pace and focused on finishing strong together. Longo Borghini ultimately claimed victory for the stage, while Vollering was crowned the overall winner of the Giro. De Vries capped off her impressive performance by winning the sprint for fifth, securing her sixth place in the general standings.
“I’m super proud with how this Giro has turned out. It really was a great race,” De Vries shared shortly after the stage. “The first climb went as expected. Longo Borghini went all out and attacked early on. I went with her the first time, but hesitated just a little too long on the second attack. I tried to close the gap but ended up in the chase group. Rutger told me to take it easy, after which I ended up in the group with Anna and Demi. That was nice. Towards the end, I thought: I have to survive that final climb. When Demi accelerated, I couldn’t quite keep up, but in the end, I rode to the finish with Anna. I think I can be very happy with this result.”
Team manager Rutger Tijssen too praised the efforts of De Vries. “This stage had it all. It was brilliant to be part of it. We’d initially hoped a large breakaway would form with a few of our riders in it, so that Femke would still have one or two teammates with her later on. That breakaway didn’t materialize because the pace in the peloton was very high,” Tijssen noted. He recapped the stage’s intensity, emphasizing De Vries’s commendable performance and her capability on the climbs. “Femke has ridden a fantastic Giro, finishing sixth. When you see how she held her own this week, particularly yesterday on the Finestre, that’s simply very good. She has shown what she’s worth, and that’s a great deal. This gives us a lot of confidence for the future.”
### Final Stage Results:
1. Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ) – 3:45:09
2. Niamh Fisher-Black (Lidl – Trek) – +00:00:00
3. Antonia Niedermaier (CANYON//SRAM) – +00:00:02
5. Femke De Vries (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) – +00:02:23
### General Classification Standings:
1. Demi Vollering (FDJ United – SUEZ) – 29:54:19
2. Antonia Niedermaier (CANYON//SRAM) – +00:00:30
3. Anna van der Breggen (Team SD Worx – Protime) – +00:01:37
6. Femke De Vries (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) – +00:05:07
With her sixth-place finish and exceptional performance throughout the Giro, De Vries has made a significant mark, inspiring confidence and showcasing her potential for future competitions.
