[4][5] It has generally held over nine or ten days in early July each year, competing for attention with the more famous men's Tour de France.

Achieving a stage win also provides prestige, often accomplished by a team's sprint specialist or a rider taking part in a breakaway.

[9] The first edition in 1988 was won by two-time Tour de France Feminin winner Maria Canins from Italy.

[10][9] Global Cycling Network notes how "how little we actually know" about early editions of the women's Giro, with no information about stage winners.

[9] In December 2012 it was reported that the company Epinike had withdrawn as Giro Donne organiser, making the 2013 edition uncertain.

[13] In the late 2010s and early 2020s, the race was dominated by Dutch riders, with Annemiek van Vleuten winning four times.

The race returned to World Tour level in 2022, following promises of live television coverage on Eurosport and Rai Sport.