A women's version of the men's Milan-San Remo returned in 2025 after a 20-year hiatus, leaving Il Lombardia the only men's Monument not to have a women's equivalent. The original women's race – the Primavera Rosa – ran from 1999 until 2005, last won by German rider Trixi Worrack.
The modern event was renamed San Remo Women, and has been rebranded again this year as Milan-San Remo Donne. It doesn't boast the outrageous (and some would say unnecessary) length of the men's version compared to its peers, and neither is it the first Monument of the year for the women (that would be the Trofeo Alfredo Binda), it has been afforded immediate cachet thanks to its links to the historic men's event.
Lorena Wiebes became the first winner in its modern form. As with last year, both men's and women's races will be held on the same day in 2026.
The official route of this year's race has not been announced by organiser RCS yet, but is likely to be very similar to last year, starting in Genoa and finishing in San Remo.
Key info: (Full details of the 2026 edition TBC).
Official Milan-San Remo website
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Milan-San Remo Donne 2026: Key details
Date |
21 March 2026 |
Distance |
156km |
Start location |
Pavia |
Finish location |
San Remo, Italy |
UCI ranking |
WorldTour |
Edition |
8th |
Last winner |
Lorena Wiebes |
TV coverage (UK) |
TNT Sports |
TV coverage (US) |
Max |
Milan-San Remo 2025: The route
With this women's version of the race clocking in at around half the distance of the men's, one of either the start or finish cities named in the title was going to have to be sacrificed. Thus the riders begin in the old city of Genoa, 160km west along the coast from San Remo.
As well as a picturesque coastal location, Genoa offers the perfect jumping-on point to the men's course (the men hit the coast just a handful of kilometres east of Genoa), allowing logistics for both races to neatly merge.
From here the race traces the coast in a largely uneventful way for around 105km, before hitting the first of the day's climbs. These come in the form of a trio of 'capi' – the Mele, Cervo and Berta – small climbs that are dispatched in the space of 15km.
A further 11km down the road the race hits the first of two bigger climbs, the Cipressa (5.6km at 4.1%), which is followed 12km later by the Poggio (3.7km at 3.7% - a simple stat to remember).
The riders crest the Poggio with just six kilometres remaining, and it is hard riding on this climb, coupled with all-in daredevil descending, that tends to make the final selection. If the form book is anything to go by, expect a small group sprinting it out for the win on straight-and-wide Via Roma in San Remo.
Milan-San Remo Donne: Past winners
2025: Lorena Wiebes (Ned) SD Worx-Pro Time
2005: Trixi Worrack (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung
2004: Zulfiya Zabirova (Kaz) Let's Go Finland
2003: Zulfiya Zabirova (Kaz) Prato Marathon Bike
2002: Mirjam Melchers-Van Poppel (Ned) Farm Frites-Hartol
2001: Suzanne Ljungskog (Swe) Vlaanderen-T Interim Ladies
2000: Diana Žiliūtė (Lit) Acca Due O-Lorena Camicie
1999: Sara Felloni (Ita) Acca Due O
