Antonio Niedermaier finished the Giro d’Italia in second place, achieving the best result of her career in a major tour. The 23-year-old took third place on Sunday (June 7th, 2026) on the ninth and final stage with start and finish in Saluzzo and thus improved one place in the final ranking.
The Dutch Demi Vollering secured the overall victory with a lead of 34 seconds over Niedermaier. Vollering’s compatriot Anna van der Breggen fell from first to third place on the 145-kilometer final stage. In the end, van der Breggen was 1:37 minutes behind Vollering, having started the stage with a lead of 49 seconds.
With her placement, Niedermaier sent a signal of respect as a tour driver. The German time trial champion had already finished fifth at the Giro last year and came sixth the year before
Niedermaier lays the foundation stone for the queen stage
Niedermaier had already claimed a place on the podium during the queen stage the day before and showed that she is one of the best climbers on the tour. In the sprint of the four-man leading group, she came in third at the mountain finish Colle delle Finestre third place, the stage win went to Vollering.
The finale of the queen stage turned into an unplanned spectacle. The stage had to be shortened due to a snow slab and the leading group sprinted for the day’s victory on the legendary gravel track at Finestre. Originally there was a finish in Sestriere had been planned.
Longo Borghini wins last stage
Italian champion Elisa Longo Borghini secured the day’s victory on the last section in a sprint from a leading group of four ahead of Niamh Fisher-Black from New Zealand. Behind Niedermaier, Vollering rolled to the finish line; the 29-year-old had not taken part in the sprint with her full strength and had rolled over the finish line in celebration.
Vollering had been in control of the race for a long time and had already made his first attacks 90 kilometers from the finish. Shortly before the summit Coletta di Brondello The former Tour winner made the decisive attack against van der Breggen and distanced her competitor around 39 kilometers from the finish.