Giro d’Italia Stage 7 Race Report: Juan Ayuso (UAE Emirates XRG) won the seventh stage of the Giro d’Italia. The Spanish rider was the strongest on a summit finish after a battle between the GC riders. Ayuso’a teammate Isaac Del Toro finished second, ahead of Egan Bernal (INEOS Grenadiers) in third. Primoz Roglič was fourth, but took the overall lead.
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The first GC battle
Stage seven has the first summit finish of the 2025 Giro d’Italia. The 168 kilometre stage starts in Castel di Sangro, the first climb is Roccaraso (6.6km at 6.4%), followed by the steep Monte Urano (4.5km at 9.4%) and the long Vado della Forcella (21.6km at 3.6%).
The final climb begins after 155 kilometres, strangely the Red Bull kilometre is at the base of the Tagliacozzo (12.6km at 5.4%). The climb is not too difficult, but comes in two stages. In the last three kilometres, the road ramps up to 14% in places. The race will blow to pieces, maybe this won’t be the winning move, but the Giro could be lost on the steep finale.
Is Mads talking about an injury?
Today should be a day for the GC men and also for the attackers. There were a lot of early moves as many riders wanted to be in the break. A group with Jay Vine, Lorenzo Fortunato and Diego Ulissi tried, but were not allowed to get away, mostly because of Vine and it was Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe who closed them down. Not long after there was another attempt, and this time Primoz Roglič let it go.
Roglič and Van Aert at the start
Seven riders were in the next move: Gijs Leemreize (Picnic PostNL), Christian Scaroni (XDS Astana), Paul Double (Jayco AlUla), Nicolas Prodhomme (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale), Alessandro Tonelli (Polti VisitMalta), Manuele Tarozzi (VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè) and Gianmarco Garofoli (Soudal Quick-Step). They couldn’t build up a good lead as Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe were now setting a hard pace in the peloton.
Lidl-Trek tried control for Mads Pedersen
At the top of the Cat 3 climb, where Double was first, the escape had a lead of 2:30. On the descent, that lead increased, but it was going to be a difficult day for the break. Red Bull then had help from Mads Pedersen, the pink jersey was working for his Lidl-Trek teammates.
Wout Poels tried to get in the break
Egan Bernal has been quiet, waiting for today?
The peloton kept the break in sight
The break held out well
Ayuso showed his ambitions
Stage winner, Juan Ayuso (UAE Emirates XRG): “This win is a big step in my career. This is my fourth Grand Tour, I’ve been close to winning at the Vuelta. To do it today at my first Giro d’Italia is special. I knew that I could do only one attack and not mess around with two or three on this final which was very explosive. Others started attacking before. When I saw my distance I went full gas. It was important today to not only get the win but also try and recover the time I lost in the time trial. It’s something that gives me a lot of confidence for the coming days. Tomorrow we’ll save the day then Siena comes which a very critical day. I hope I can arrive arrive to the rest day at the front.”
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Giro d’Italia Stage 7 Result:
1. Juan Ayuso Pesquera (Spa) UAE Emirates XRG in 4:20:25
2. Isaac Del Toro Romero (Mex) UAE Emirates XRG at 0:04
3. Egan Arley Bernal Gomez (Col) INEOS Grenadiers
4. Primož Roglič (Slo) Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe
5. Giulio Ciccone (Ita) Lidl-Trek
6. Antonio Tiberi (Ita) Bahrain Victorious
7. Damiano Caruso (Ita) Bahrain Victorious
8. Richard Carapaz (Ecu) EF Education-EasyPost
9. Max Poole (GB) Team Picnic PostNL at 0:08
10. Michael Storer (Aus) Tudor.
Giro d’Italia Overall After Stage 7:
1. Primož Roglič (Slo) Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe
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