The Giro d’Italia Women is the longest-running women’s professional race, and is as famous for its prestige and historical significance as it is for the mountainous backdrop and unpredictability that have fuelled a myriad of anecdotes and tales stemming from across its 36-year history.
First organised in 1988, it was known as the Giro d’Italia Femminile, but it also had other names such as Giro Rosa and Giro Donne, with the most consistent organiser being Giuseppe Rivolta who ran the event for 18 years. Although it is a race cherished by many it has also had a chequered past, with its status fluctuating over time, although it is now firmly established as a Women’s WorldTour fixture.
