Anna Henderson of Lidl-Trek secured a significant victory at the Giro d’Italia Women in July 2025, winning the second stage and taking the overall lead, a triumph she credits to a willingness to seize opportunity and a changing landscape in women’s cycling. The British rider outpaced Dilyxine Miermont (CERATIZIT Pro Cycling Team) in a sprint finish at Aprica, finishing 27 seconds ahead of previous leader Marlen Reusser (Movistar).
The win marked Henderson’s first WorldTour stage victory and a breakthrough moment in her debut season with Lidl-Trek, following a transfer from Visma-Lease a Bike. Her performance at the Giro came on the heels of a successful 2025 that included WorldTour wins, a team time trial victory at the Vuelta a España, and top finishes in both her National Championships events, as well as strong showings in the Amstel Gold and the World Championships time trial.
Henderson’s success is unfolding against a backdrop of considerable change within her team and the wider sport. The retirements of prominent riders Lizzie Deignan and Ellen van Dijk from Lidl-Trek created openings for latest leadership, while a surge in rider transfers across the women’s peloton has fostered a more unpredictable competitive environment. “There’ll be two huge holes that need to be filled this year, and we’ll miss them deeply,” Henderson said of Deignan and Van Dijk, acknowledging their importance as both competitors and mentors.
The Giro d’Italia stage win, achieved after a 44-kilometer breakaway with Miermont, demonstrated Henderson’s ability to capitalize on opportunities and move beyond her reputation as primarily a time trialist. “I was in complete shock, because we were really ambitious to win stages, but to do that on the first road stage – you couldn’t ask for more,” Henderson recalled. She had told her partner before the stage that she had “nothing to lose,” having prepared specifically for the challenging terrain.
Henderson’s breakthrough season followed a difficult 2024, marked by two collarbone fractures and three surgeries, leading to a period of burnout after securing a silver medal in the Olympic time trial. Her move to Lidl-Trek proved pivotal in her recovery and resurgence. “Sometimes it takes some time to uncover your feet in a new squad,” she explained, “and yeah, I had some of the biggest results in those WorldTour races, and that was really special.”
The changing dynamics of women’s cycling, characterized by increased parity and a wider distribution of victories, have contributed to Henderson’s success. “I think it did change a lot because if you look at who actually won all the races last year, nobody was consistent,” Henderson observed, with the exception of Lorena Wiebes in sprint finishes. This unpredictability, she believes, makes racing “purer” and allows for more riders to contend for victory.
Despite the progress, Henderson highlighted the challenges facing women’s cycling, including the relatively short length of Grand Tours – typically eight or nine stages compared to 21 for men – and the need for increased sponsorship. She also noted the disjointed nature of the women’s calendar, with a concentrated period of racing followed by a lull before the Tour de France Femmes and World Championships.
Looking ahead, Henderson is focused on the Classics and a potential return to the World Championships road race, after Great Britain did not field a team in the 2025 edition. She is also mindful of the need to integrate into the evolving structure of Lidl-Trek following the departures of Deignan and Van Dijk, and to build on the team’s momentum. The team is currently evaluating its strategy for the 2026 season, with Henderson eager to contribute to its continued success.
