To understand how much winning Il Giro d’Abruzzo 2025 meant to him, all you had to do was watch the final podium celebrations in front of the Sanctuary of San Gabriele, in Isola del Gran Sasso. Georg Zimmermann downed half a bottle of Astoria in thirty seconds and showered his fellow podium finishers – David De La Cruz, who finished second, and Pablo Torres, who came in third – in a burst of sparkling wine.
After all, the German rider from Intermarché–Wanty had never before won the general classification of a stage race, not even in the youth categories. As a pro, he had taken a stage at the Critérium du Dauphiné and one at the Tour de l’Ain and, as an under-23, he had already made a name for himself in Italy with wins at the prestigious Trofeo Piva, the Coppa della Pace, and a stage of the Giro del Friuli. So, in a sport where winning is anything but easy, it is only fair to enjoy the moment, and celebrate it as much as possible.
Zimmermann had done most of the work yesterday, dropping his rivals on the uphill finish at Aremogna in Roccaraso. But since the stage win went to the surprising Colombian Edison Callejas, the German had to wait until today’s final finish to truly celebrate. UAE Team Emirates–XRG tried to put him under pressure, but the rider from Augsburg stayed alert and composed, fully aware that there simply wasn’t enough terrain left to challenge him.
The Emirati team – which has now won 5 out of 8 stages since this race returned to the calendar – could take consolation in the day’s stage victory. Ivo Oliveira, long known for his work as a domestique, has turned into a stage hunter and bagged two wins out of four in this edition of Il Giro d’Abruzzo. The Portuguese rider made it into the day’s break, held off the chasing peloton together with Sjoerd Bax (Q36.5), and then outkicked the Dutchman on the cobbled sprint in Isola del Gran Sasso.
While Oliveira enjoys his dream week, Zimmermann, along with his bottle of Astoria, also takes home the Gran Sasso stone – set into the beautiful Giro d’Abruzzo trophy. Everyone gets what they deserve, and it’s been a week to remember.
