Giro Rosa 2017 - R&M Guide

GIRO ROSA 2017 R&M GUIDE

By Diego Martín 2016 GIRO ROSA - 2016 HIGHLIGHTS - 2017 PARCOURS OVERVIEW - TEAM ANALYSIS - FAVOURITES & OUTSIDERS - STAKEHOLDER OPINIONS

GIRO ROSA | F.OSSOLA

From 30th June to 9th July 10 stages 2 time trials 24 teams 7 riders per team 1010.8 kilometre Only North American riders wore the maglia rosa during the 2016 edition

Ciao e Benvenuto Team Analysis Pictures: Pro Teams Giro Rosa Editor: Diego Martín

From Road & Mud we want to thank all the stakeholders and teams that have collaborated to made this guide possible.

The purpose of this guide is to spread women’s cycling knowledge and bring a closer look to the greatest stage race of the women’s international calendar. The pictures used in this guide have been taken from the organizer’s media, teams, collaborators and federations.

If any author of the photographs used is not satisfied with its use, please contact us for your removal. The texts can not be reproduced without the prior consent of its author(s).

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Stakeholder Opinions Steven Sergeant Leah Thorvilson Sarah Roy Miriam Bjørnsrud Sofia Bertizzolo Page 38

Giro Rosa 2016

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he 27th edition of the Italian race began with a prologue in Gaiarine (Treviso), Veneto. The absence of Dutch rider Annemiek van Vleuten (Orica-AIS), probably the best prologue specialist, opened up the range of contenders for the stage victory. It was Canadian rider Leah Kirchmann (Liv-Plantur) who won the prologue, becoming the first maglia rosa of the Italian round. Dutch riders Thalita de Jong and Anna van der Breggen (Rabobank-Liv) finished second and third respectively, just one second behind the winner in a prologue that didn’t open significant differences among the GC contenders.

Italian rider Giorgia Bronzini (Wiggle High5) claimed the first stage after winning the reduced group sprint in San Fior di Sotto. Then US champion Megan Guarnier (Boels Dolmans) and Lithuanian rider Rasa Leleivyte (Aromitalia Vaiano) completed the stage podium. It was the first day in which the GC favorites played their cards. It was the Italian Elisa Longo Borghini (Wiggle-High5) who attacked, taking with her some other race favourites such as Kasia Niewiadoma (Rabobank-Liv), Mara Abbott (Wiggle-High5), Claudia Lichtenberg (Lotto-Soudal), Megan Guarnier and Evelyn Stevens (Boels-Dolmans).

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GIRO ROSA | F.OSSOLA

In the first uphill finale American champion Megan Guarnier (Boels Dolmans) loss the maglia rosa in favor of her compatriot and teammate Evelyn Stevens, who beat Italian rider Elisa Longo Borghini (Wiggle-High5) and Polish rider Kasia Niewiadoma (Rabobank Liv) in the finish line of Montenars.

Italian stage race finishing ahead of Italian rider Maria Giulia Confalonieri (Lensworld-Zannata) and French rider Aude Biannic (Poitou-Charentes Futuroscope 86). Once again no major chances occurred in the GC, with Evelyn Stevens (Boels-Dolmans) maintaining the maglia rosa.

The third stage came down as a stage for the pure sprinters. Australian rider Chloe Hosking (Wiggle-High5) claimed her first Giro Rosa stage, outsprinting Italian rider Marta Bastianelli (AlĂŠ Cipollini) and her teammate Giorgia Bronzini (Wiggle-High5). No major changes occurred in the GC as Evelyn Stevens (Boels-Dolmans) maintained the maglia rosa.

The shortest and most awaited stage of the 2016 edition was the following one and it didn’t dissapoint. With start in Grosio and finish in Tirano, riders had to cover a 77.5-kilometre course with Passo della Foppa (Mortirolo) as the most gruelling difficulty.

Lovere witnessed another bunch sprint finale in the fourth stage of 2016 Giro Rosa. Australian rider Tiffany Cromwell (Canyon//Sram) was the fastest in Lovere claiming her second victory in the

With 34 kilometres to go, riders would reach Mortirollo summit and start a flat segment before facing the technical downhill towards Tirano.

American rider Mara Abbott (Wiggle-High5) proved she was the best climber of 5

the international peloton claiming an extraordinary victory in the Queen stage of the 2016 Giro Rosa, that set herself as the new leader of the race. Abbott delivered an outstanding performance soloing to victory from the first ramps of the fearsome Mortirolo.

American rider Evelyn Stevens (Boels Dolmans) gave up the maglia rosa just in the first mountain stage of the 2016 Giro Rosa. Italian riders Elisa Longo Borghini (Wiggle-High5) and Tatiana Guderzo (Hitec Products) completed the stage podium, finishing 37 seconds behind the winner.

From the first part of the Mortirolo climb, the American climber set her high pace and little by little was opening an increasing advantage over her main chasers, the maglia rosa group.

Abbott reached Mortirolo summit alone and slightly increased her advantage during the later flatter segment before the descent to Tirano, reaching a maximum advantage of 4’30 “over the maglia rosa group. It was in the final part of the descent where the maglia rosa group

shrieked her advantage (also where Mara suffered a crash). Former leader Evelyn Stevens lost 2 minutes on the finish line.

In the second major mountain stage of 2016 Giro Rosa, Dutch team Boels Dolmans got its revenge, getting back the maglia rosa on Megan Guarnier’s shoulders. On a gruelling stage Boels Dolmans riders managed to leave both Elisa Longo Borghini (Wiggle-High5) and Kasia Niewiadoma (Rabobank-Liv) out of contention. Evelyn Stevens (Boels Dolmans) claimed her second stage victory in the second uphill finale of the stage race, finishing six seconds ahead of her teammate Megan Guarnier. While Dutch rider Anna van der Breggen (Rabobank Liv) completed the stage podium.

The individual time trial caused the final significant differences among the GC contenders. It was Evelyn Stevens (Boels Dolmans) who claimed her victory in the 2017 Giro Rosa, jumping to the second GC place as Mara Abbott lost nearly 2 minutes. Dutch rider Anna van der Breggen (Rabobank Liv) and Italian Elisa Longo Borghini (Wiggle-High5) completed the stage podium. American champion Me-

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GIRO ROSA | F.OSSOLA

gan Guarnier (Boels Dolmans) maintained her GC lead before the final two stages.

The penultimate stage witnessed another bunch sprint finale. Italian Giorgia Bronzini (Wiggle-High5) claimed her second victory, outsprinting her compatriots Marta Bastianelli (AlĂŠ Cipollini) and Maria Giulia Confalonieri (Lensworld-Zannata) in Legnano.

the victory after a brave attack on the final part of the race. Dutch rider Riejane Markus (Liv-Plantur) and Italian Maria Giulia Confalonieri (Lensworld-Zannata) completed the podium in Verbania.

Vergania offered the final opportunity for the GC favourites. However, overall podium remained unchanged from the previous stage. It was in fact the only stage where the breakaway succeeded. Dutch Thalita de Jong (Rabobank-Liv) soloed to 7

Highlights Megan Guarnier

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CI Hour Record holder Evelyn Stevens got back in 2016 to the top elite level where she step in 2012.

Stevens delivered an outstanding performance in her final Giro Rosa participation, winning three stages and finishing second overall only behind her teammate Megan Guarnier. An ideal farewell for a unique that has given so much to the sport.

Mara Abbott

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wice Giro Rosa winner, Mara Abbott also call it a day at the end of the 2016 season (after Rio Olympics).

Abbott proved again she was rightly quoted as the best climber of the international peloton. Mortirolo slopes witnessed again a superb performance from the rider from Colorado.

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Evelyn Stevens

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hen US champion rounded an amazing season with her overall Giro Rosa victory, that made her also increased her UCI Women’s World Tour lead. Guarnier persistently performed throughout the ten-day race to claim her first overall victory.

Giorgia Bronzini

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wo-time road race World champion Giorgia Bronzini won two stages in the previous Giro Rosa edition.

Throughout the past season the Italian Wiggle-High5 rider has evolved turning from a pure sprinter into a more complete rider. As she now deals better with the mountain difficulties Bronzini has opened up her victory chances in these type of stage races.

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Parcours Overview

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he longest stage race on the women’s cycling calendar gets underway this Friday in Aquialeia with a 1010.8 kilometre race course. For the first time since its inception, the 28th edition of the Giro Rosa will feature a team time trial on its parcours.

This year’s Giro Rosa has been quoted as a Giro for the sprinters, missing clearly some top mountains and altitude stages. However Giro Rosa course profiles are always just on paper, generally differing from the race course by not reflecting some of the its difficulties.

Stage 1: Aquialeia-Grado (TTT) 11.5km

Aquialeia, a municipality in the region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, hosts the depart of the 28th edition of the Giro Rosa with an 11.5-kilometre team time trial that finishes in Grado. A completely flat time trial that will create the first differences between the GC contenders.

Stage 2: Zoppola-Montereale Valcellina 122.3km

With start in Zoppola and finish in Montereale Valcellina, the second stage hosts the first hilly stage opportunity for the GC contenders. Throughout its 122.3km course three intermediate sprints will be contested. The 2nd category climb of Forcella di Pala Barzana, with only 24 kilometres to go, will be the main difficulty of the stage, a 6.7 kilometre climb at an average 6.6% gradient (maximum of 14%).

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Stage 3: San Fior-San Vendemiano 100km

San Vendemiano will offer the first bunch sprint opportunity of the 28th Giro Rosa edition. Riders will have to cover two laps of roughly 45 kilometres each around San Fior, before heading towards the finish line in San Vendemiano. The shortest road stage of the 28 edition will have one intermediate sprints and a second category climb. The 1.1 kilometre climb of Ca’ del Poggio, with nearly 40 kilometres, at an average 12.2% gradient (maximum of 18%) will cause intense front selection and will be main threat of the stage for the expected bunch sprint.

Stage 4: Occhiobello-Occhiobello 118km

The flattest stage of the 2017 edition of the Italian stage race. Two intermediate sprints will be contested throughout the 118 kilometre loop around Occhiobello. Anything except a bunch sprint will come as a surprise.

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Stage 5: Sant’Elpidio-Sant’Elpidio a Mare (ITT) 12.7km

On paper it doesn’t look like a very demanding course. However, it is indeed a gruelling course for a time trial. With two main, but short, uncategorised climbs throughout its short 12.7-kilometre course, the stage will likely cause some important GC differences.

The first climb comes before the middle of the time trial, with 1.5 kilometres at an average 10.3% gradient, whereas the second one comes towards the end, with 2.6 kilometres at an average 6.5% gradient (maximum of 20%).

Stage 6: Roseto degli Abruzzi-Roseto degli Abruzzi 116.2km

One day after the individual time trial, the peloton will start and finish their sixth stage in. There, they’ll have to complete 4 laps to a nearly 30-kilometre circuit that features Piana degli Ulivi, a 1.4 kilometre climb at an average 3.7% gradient. One intermediate sprinting and one category climb, in the third ascent to Piana degli Ulivi hill (3rd category), will be contested. A stage victory that will likely be contested with a group sprint.

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Stage 7: Isernia-Baronissi 142km

The longest stage and one of the most awaited ones of the 2017 Giro Rosa offers a demanding undulating parcours that may reduce the GC contender list. With 43 kilometres to go, riders will face the only categorised climb of the stage, Passo Serra (2nd category), a 6.2-kilometre climb at an average 4.8% gradient (maximum of 12%).

Stage 8: Baronissi-Centola 142km

The second longest stage of the 2017 Giro Rosa might cause the bigger GC differences of the edition. After nearly 60 kilometres the fireworks will start, riders will face the first of the several uncategorised climbs of the stage. Across Parco Nazionale del Cilento riders will face the only categorised climb of the day, Cuccaro Vetere (2nd category, a 5.1-kilometre climb at an average 5% gradient).

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Stage 9: Palinuro-Polla 122.3km

The calm after the storm and before the final opportunity. The penultimate stage of the 2017 Giro Rosa starts in Palinuro, Centola. The first 40 kilometres of the stage are most demanding ones with an undulating course that features two steady uncategorised climbs. After this segment, some regrouping may occur, setting Sala Consilina QOM (3rd category) as the final threaten to a group sprint finale.

Stage 10: Torre del Greco-Torre del Greco 124km

Torre del Greco will host both the start and the finish line of the final stage of the 2017 Giro Rosa. Riders will have to cover 9 laps to an 11.1-kilometre circuit, before entering a final 24.1-kilometre loop that features Vesuvio (the final categorised climb of the 2017 edition, 2nd category), with only 10 kilometres to go. However, Vesuvio is only an appetiser of what the climb could offer, as they will only be covering a 5.2-kilometre segment of the climb at an average 6% gradient.

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Team Analysis

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Boels Dolmans 1st UCI ranking 13 victories in 2017 van der Breggen - 1st UCI rkg Guarnier Megan van der Breggen Anna Dideriksen Amalie Canuel Karol-ann Blaak Chantal Deignan Elizabeth Brammeier Nikki

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ndoubtedly the strongest squad for the Italian stage race. Current Team Time Trial world champions and winners of one of the only two TTT events held in 2017 (stage 2 of Healthy Ageing Tour).

Olympic champion, Ardennes Week winner, UCI ranking leader and 2015 Giro Rosa winner Anna van der Breggen will likely be Boels Dolmans first GC chance. Top ranked time trial specialist, solid climber and strong GC contender Anna van der Breggen forms part of a very strong rosters with several GC hopes.

Despite her slow start to the season due to lingering concussion symptoms (after her crash in Strade Bianche) defending champion Megan Guarnier heads to the race after claiming in South Lake Tahoe her first victory of the season at Amgen Tour of California.

World champion Amalie Dideriksen will be the main hope of the team for the pure bunch sprints, while the Dutch team will play its chances in the reduced group sprints with their top-end speed riders, such as Chantal Blaak, Lizzie Deignan or Megan Guarnier. Canadian rider Karol-Ann Canuel and British Nikki Brammeier complete a very strong that will try to reedit the 2016 Giro Rosa double.

Leader

Despite not matching World’s best climbing skills current Commonwealth and British champion Lizzie Deignan will be another solid rider for the Dutch registered team for the shorter and power climbs and with her top descending skills.

Anna van der Breggen 16

AlĂŠ Cipollini 8th UCI ranking 5 victories in 2017 Hosking - 8th UCI rkg Hosking Chloe Bastianelli Marta Ensing Janneke Kasper Romy Trevisi Anna Paladin Soraya Santesteban Ane

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ne of the strongest squads for the flatter stages of the 28th edition of Giro Rosa. With a race parcours that potentially increases the sprint finales compare to previous editions of the Italian stage race, Italian team AlĂŠ Cipollini heads to the race with a very strong sprint team. Australian rider Chloe Hosking, who recently renewed her contract for 2018, will be their main hope for the bunch sprints as one of the best international sprinters.

In her powerful lead-out train she will count on with the help of Italian riders Marta Bastianelli, also a top ranked sprinter that will likely have her chances in hillier stages that may end up with a group sprint, and Anna Trevisi, a promising sprinter that will play a supportive role on behalf of her teammates.

strong results during the past two months, are the main hopes for the hill stages for the Italian registered team. German Romy Kasper completes a stronger roster that will try extend their good season in their home race.

Leader

On the overall classification side, Dutch rider Janneke Ensing, who had a remarkable spring classics season, Italian rider Soraya Paladin, who peaked some good performances (in both Emakumeen Bira and Giro del Trentino) with a podium finish in the Nationals, and Spanish rider Ane Santesteban, who has claimed some

Chloe Hosking 17

Bepink Cogeas 15th UCI ranking 2 victories in 2017 Zabelinskaya - 30th UCI rkg Zabelinskaya Olga Noskovรก Nikola Valsecchi Silvia Jackson Alison Ragusa Katia Anoshina Ekaterina Sanguineti Ilaria

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talian team Bepink Cogeas is probably the most underrated team from those participating in the Italian stage race.

Czech rider Nikola Noskovรก has been the revelations of the first half of the cycling season. After finishing fourth in the road race of the 2014 Junior World Road Championships, her focus laid on the mud, scoring her best results in cyclocross. After delivering some strong performances in May both in Saria and Bira (where she won the young classification jersey) Noskovรก has peaked in June claiming her first UCI victory at Giro del Trentino Alto Adige-Sudtirol and becoming both road race and time trial Czech national champion.

hina complete the roster of Italian team Bepink Cogeas as it heads to the Italian stage race with a strong team for the team time trial, where they will try to extend their recent TTT successful results (stage 1 of Setmana Ciclista Valenciana).

Leader

Three time Olympic medallist Olga Zabelinskaya will likely share leading duties with Giro Rosa debutant Noskovรก. Despite her current form is yet unknown (as the Russian rider gets back to competition after breaking her collarbone in a crash suffered in May at Tour of Chongming Island) Zabelinskaya is a top-notch rider for this kind of parcours.

Italian riders Silvia Valsecchi, Katia Ragusa and Ilaria Sanguineti, Canadian Alison Jackson and Russian Ekaterina Anos-

Nikola Noskovรก 18

Canyon//Sram 7th UCI ranking 1 victory in 2017 Cecchini - 16th UCI rkg Cromwell Tiffany Barnes Hannah Cecchini Elena Guarischi Barbara Ryan Alexis Thorvilson Leah Worrack Trixi

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ormer team time trial World champion Canyon//Sram will be one of the top teams to follow at the Italian stage race despite the fact that one of its most versatile climbers, Belarusian rider Alena Amialiusik, misses the race after sustaining a fractured pelvis due to a crash suffered during OVO Energy Women’s Tour. Italian rider Elena Cecchini will be the main overall classification hope for the team, after delivering outstanding performances throughout the European spring classics season.

Cecchini will share leading duties with Barbara Guarischi, who will be Canyon// Sram main hope for the pure bunch sprints in a Giro Rosa edition that has been quoted as suited for the sprinters rather than for pure climbers. The 2015 stage winner will be joined by Australian Tiffany Cromwell, 2016 stage Giro Rosa winner, and British Hannah Barnes, who heads on a strong form after finishing third in OVO Energy Women’s Tour.

ternational cycling calendar) complete a solid roster that will try to fight for both stage victories and overall standings.

Leader

Current German ITT champion Trixi Worrack and Americans Alexis Ryan and Leah Thorvilson (who will make her debut on the biggest stage race of the in-

Elena Cecchini 19

Cervélo Bigla 4th UCI ranking 10 victories in 2017 Moolman-Pasio - 5th UCI rkg Lepistö Lotta Moolman-Pasio Ashleigh Ludwig Cecilie Uttrup Hanselmann Nicole Koppenburg Clara Klein Lisa Pohl Stephanie

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ne of strongest teams to follow during the 28th edition of Giro Rosa.

A very solid seven-rider roster for the sprints, the time trials and the climbs, that features five road national champions. South African Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio, who currently sits fifth on the UCI ranking, emerges as one of the most solid GC contenders for the maglia rosa.

After having a low start to the season, due to injuries sustained after crashing with a police motorbike parked in the middle of a roundabout during the 2016 Chrono des Nations time trial, Moolman-Pasio heads to the Italian stage race on a impressive form, claiming some good performances in April before peaking in May, winning Emakumeen Bira, La Classique Morbihan and GP Plumelec-Morbihan.

some top results at the UCI WWT events.

German riders Clara Koppenburg, Lisa Klein and Stephanie Pohl, and Swiss champion Nicole Hanselmann complete a very solid roster that seeks to contest on-paper Boels Dolmans supremacy.

Leader

Finish rider Lotta Lepistö, third in Doha 2016 World Championships, will be the strongest card for the bunch sprints. While Danish champion Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig, will be the second choice for the hillier stages that may end up with a sprint, after a remarkable breakthrough season where the 21-year old rider has won Setmana Ciclista Valenciana as well as scored

Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio 20

Orica Scott 6th UCI ranking 9 victories in 2017 van Vleuten - 3rd UCI rkg van Vleuten Annemiek Spratt Amanda Garfoot Katrin Williams Georgia Roy Sarah Manly Alex Crooks Jenelle

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nother very strong team that aims for the maglia rosa in the 28th edition of Giro Rosa. After missing the previous edition of the race, in pursuit of a different preparation ahead of Rio 2016, Orica-Scott heads to Italy aiming an overall victory. Dutch rider Annemiek van Vleuten leads a very strong and versatile roster that can employ several race tactics with Australian riders Amanda Spratt and Katrin Garfoot as strong second choices (as similarly played during Emakumeen Bira where they narrowly missed overall victory).

each at Emakumeen Bira. On the sprint side, Australian Sarah Roy will lead the team after a remarkable season, where the Australian rider has step up scoring some top results, including her victory at SwissEver GP Cham as well as her first UCI WWT victory at stage 4 of OVO Women’s Tour. Roy will count with the help of youngsters Alex Manly and Jenelle Crooks. New Zealander Williams Georgia completes a very strong roster ready challenge Giro Rosa overall.

Leader

Annemiek van Vleuten, who recently successfully defend her 2016 individual time trial national title, has shown once again her great persistence, delivering great performances and scoring good results throughout the whole season, winning Cadel Evans Race and Saria as well as finishing on the podium in several top-ranked races and being the UCI WWT leader for two rounds after the Ardennes Week. World ITT bronze-medallist and Australian champion Katrin Garfoot and former Australian champion Amanda Spratt have hit some strong form during the previous month winning one stage

Annemiek van Vleuten 21

Team Sunweb 2nd UCI ranking 6 victories in 2017 van Dijk - 6th UCI rkg Brand Lucinda Mackaij Floortje Rivera Coryn Slik Rozanne Soek Julia Stultiens Sabrina Weaver Molly

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espite the fact that Dutch rider Ellen van Dijk won’t participate in the 28th edition of Giro Rosa, Team Sunweb heads to the Italian race with a versatile roster aiming for a stage victory. American rider Coryn Rivera will lead the team after a remarkable breakthrough season where she has won two UCI WWT rounds (Trofeo Alfredo Binda and Ronde van Vlaanderen) and has been its leader for three rounds. Rivera has proved this season that she is not only a top sprinter for the flatter stages but also for the more demanding ones as she can clearly handle several parlours difficulties, including some powerful climbs.

tant turning point in Sabrina Stultiens’s comeback. The promising Dutch rider suffered a lingering knee injury during the whole 2016 season, setting back her great cycling ambitions. After some strong classics results it seems Sabrina is back on track ready to challenge herself at the longest and most important stage race on the women’s calendar. British Molly Weaver, who has just comeback from injury, and Dutch riders Rozanne Slik and Julia Soek complete a solid roster.

Leader

Dutch rider Lucinda Brand, two-stage winner and maglia rosa wearer in 2015, will be the second choice for the Dutch registered team after brilliantly forwarding her cyclocross form into the spring classics season. Brand could potentially benefit from this year’s parcours, without hard climbing altitude stages, and her great descending skills. Dutch rider Floortje Mackaij will offer an extra chance for the sprint finales and a strong final rush for Coryn Rivera’s leading out manoeuvres. Giro Rosa will mark an impor-

Coryn Rivera 22

Cylance 9th UCI ranking 4 victories in 2017 Wild - 17th UCI rkg Ratto Rossella Tagliaferro Marta Wild Kirsten Doebel-Hickok Krista Jasinska Małgorzata Gutiérrez Sheyla King Dani

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merican team Cylance heads to the Italian stage race on a good form and morale after delivering some solid performances and good results during the previous months. Dutch rider Kirsten Wild, often quoted as the best and most powerful sprinter of the international peloton, will lead the US registered team with the clear goal of a stage victory in a Giro Rosa edition that has been touted as one for the sprinters.

Rossella Ratto will be key riders for the US-registered team fighting to get in the breakaways, hunting for a stage victory.

Marta Tagliaferro completes a solid roster for Cylance that will try to improve her first Giro Rosa appearance performance.

Wild will count on with the help of Sheyla Gutiérrez, newly crowned as Spanish national champion, for the hillier stages that may end up with a bunch sprint.

Leader

On the GC side, American rider Krista Doebel-Hickok and British rider Dani King emerge as the main contenders for Cylance. Doebel-Hickok has peak just before Giro Rosa delivering great performances at both Amgen Tour of California and Giro del Trentino Alto Adige (finishing fourth in both races), while King performed well in front of the home crowds, finishing ninth at OVO Energy Women’s Tour.

Polish Małgorzata Jasinska and Italian

Kirsten Wild 23

Wiggle High5 5th UCI ranking 9 victories in 2017 Longo Borghini - 4th UCI rkg Longo Borghini Elisa Bronzini Giorgia Lichtenberg Claudia Cordon-Ragot Audrey Leth Julie D`hoore Jolien Edmondson Nettie

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ne of the strongest squads for the 28th edition of Giro Rosa. Wiggle-High5 heads to the Italian stage race with both GC and stage victory ambitions. Belgian Bullet Jolien D`hoore and Italian champion Elisa Longo Borghini emerge as the two leader of the team.

After previous Giro Rosa deceptions Elisa Longo Borghini heads to its home race with a stress-free approach, planning day by day at the Italian stage race. After claiming the bronze medal in Rio Olympics road race Longo Borghini seems liberated from her own doubts, ready to shine in front of her home crowds.

sprint.

Newly re-crowned French ITT champion Audrey Cordon-Ragot will play a key supportive role. Danish Julie Leth and Australian Nettie Edmondson complete one of most solid and versatile rosters for this year’s Giro Rosa.

Leader

German rider Claudia Lichtenberg, former Giro Rosa winner, will be a strong co-leader for the British registered team as well as a key tactical card for the most demanding stages.

Belgian champion Jolien D`hoore will be the main sprinter of Wiggle-High5, who heads to Italy with a superb lead-out train. Two-time road World champion Giorgia Bronzini will play a supportive role on behalf of D’hoore on the flatter stages, but will have her chances on the hillier stages that may end up with a bunch

Elisa Longo Borghini 24

Wm3 3rd UCI ranking 10 victories in 2017 Niewiadoma - 2nd UCI rkg Niewiadoma Katarzyna Plichta Anna Kitchen Lauren Koster Anouska Scandolara Valentina Tenniglo Moniek Markus Riejanne

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espite the fact Marianne Vos misses Giro Rosa after breaking her collarbone during OVO Energy Women’s Tour, Dutch team WM3 heads to the Italian stage race with strong maglia rosa hopes. Polish rider Kasia Niewiadoma, who currently leads the UCI WWT, will be the undisputed GC leader of the Dutch team. After a remarkable season, been persistently on the podium at the UCI Women’s World Tour events, the lightweight climber claimed her first victory of the season at OVO Women’s and her first ever UCI WWT win. On the opening stage, with roughly 50km to go Niewiadoma broke solo to victory, carving out an impregnable GC lead.

test their top-end speed on some stages of the race.

Polish rider Anna Plichta, Dutch riders Anouska Koster, Moniek Tenniglo and Riejanne Markus complete a very hierarchically organised roster around Polish talent Kasia Niewiadoma.

Leader

Despite the fact that this year’s Giro Rosa isn’t quoted as suited for pure climbers, the Polish rider has had an impressive progress on the flatter sections and sprints throughout the past months.

Thus, Niewiadoma heads to Italy as a solid contender for the overall victory.

Australian Lauren Kitchen and Italian Valentina Scandolara will play a supportive role on behalf of the 22-year old Polish rider but may have some freedom to

Katarzyna Niewiadoma 25

Fdj Nouvelle Aquitaine Futur.

Biannic Aude Bravard Charlotte Fournier Roxane Gillow Shara Knetemann Roxane Yonamine Eri Duval EugĂŠnie

Team Leader:

Shara Gillow

Hitec Products Aalerud Katrine Frapporti Simona Bjørnsrud Miriam Moberg Emilie Thorsen Thea Becker Charlotte Hoeksma Ilona

Team Leader:

Katrine Aalerud

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Team VeloCONCEPT Villumsen Linda Koster Claudia Mathiesen Pernille Norman Hansen Louise Møllebro Camilla Penton Sara Siggaard Christina

Team Leader:

Linda Villumsen

Lensworld Kuota Guderzo Tatiana Arzuffi Alice Maria Confalonieri Maria Giulia Cucinotta Annalisa Riabchenko Tetiana Spoor Winanda Hannes Kaat

Team Leader:

Tatiana Guderzo

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BTC City Ljubljana Bujak Eugenia Nilsson Hanna Stricker Anna Zita Maria Batagelj Polona Pintar UrĹĄa Eric Jelena Lechner Corinna

Team Leader:

Eugenia Bujak

Lares Waowdeals van Velzen Bryony van Hoek Lotte Rivat Amelie Reis Daniela Cobb Alice Rijkes Sarah Vandenbroucke Saartje

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Astana Beggin Sofia Bertizzolo Sofia Fidanza Arianna RodrĂ­guez Carolina Sierra Arlenis Vieceli Lara Saifutdinova Natalya

Team Leader:

Arlenis Sierra

Aromitalia Vaiano Leleivyte Rasa Laizane Lija Martini Alessia Franchi Elena Bulleri Alessia Nesti Nicole Dalton Heidi

Team Leader:

Rasa Leleivyte

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S.C. Michela Fanini Balducci Francesca Ceoloni Anna García Iraida Kononenko Valeriya Király Mónika Picca Valentina Reati Vittoria

Team Leader:

Mónika Király

Top Girls Fassa Bortolo Bartelloni Beatrice Covrig Ana Maria Leonardi Elena Mariotto Sara Paladin Asja Pavin Michela Rossato Beatrice

Team Leader: Ana Maria Covrig

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Servetto Giusta Sokovnina Natalya Potokina Anna 173 Dobrynina Kseniia 174 Sanabria Ana Cristina 175 Christoforou Antri 176 Fernandes Clemilda 177 Gasparini Alice

Team Leader:

Anna Potokina

Valcar Pbm Muccioli Dalia Persico Silvia Cavalli Marta Pollicini Silvia Arzuffi Allegra Cretti Claudia Zanettin Chiara

Team Leader:

Dalia Muccioli

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Conceria Zabri-Fanini-Guer.

Cipriani Carmela Capobianchi Giorgia De Iuliis Manuela Magnetto Allietta Daniela Salton Basei Marzia Strizzi Isabella Vysotska Yevgeniya

Team Leader: Yevgeniya Vysotska

Giusfredi Bianchi Shapira Omer Balducci Michela Canvelli Vania Bortolotti Simona Cauz Francesca Fraiegari Giorgia Perini Chiara

Team Leader:

Omer Shapira

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Favourites & Outsiders Elena Cecchini Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio Annemiek van Vleuten Kasia Niewiadoma

Anna van der Breggen

Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig Krista Doebel-Hitcok Megan Guarnier

Elisa Longo Borghini Rasa Leleivyte Nikola Noskovรก Ane Santesteban Katrin Garfoot Shara Gillow Coryn Rivera

The Fight for the pink 33

GIRO ROSA | F.OSSOLA

Anna van der Breggen 2015 Giro Rosa winner. Olympic champion has hit some impressive form during the past months, proving herself she one of the top contenders for the overal victory.

Kasia Niewiadoma Brave, powerful and persistent. Polish rider Kasia Niewiadoma has step up this season improving her set of skills, specially those specific for the flatter segments. After her superb performance in OVO energy Women’s Tour, Niewiadoma is one of the top favourites to follow.

Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio South African rider Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio has hit some impresive form ahead of Giro Rosa. Despite the reduced number of long climbs, Moolman-Pasio is one of the top favourites for the victory.

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Annemiek van Vleuten Newly re-crowned ITT national champion Annemiek van Vleuten faces a great opportunity with a race parcours that clearly suits her skills. Similarly to Niewadoma and Moolman-Pasio, Annemiek will try to benefit from her fighting spirit in the Italian race.

Megan Guarnier Defending Giro Rosa champion, heads to the Italian race as one of top favourites.

Despite she hasn’t hit a strong form yet, mainly due to lingering concusion on the first stages of the season, Megan will try to reedit her 2016 title.

Elisa Longo Borghini After some deceptions in the previous editions of the Italian stage race, Italian champion Elisa Longo Borghini heads to her home race aiming a stress-free approach.

Longo Borghini can benefit from Giro Rosa hilly parcours (non-montainous).

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Elena Cecchini The lack of high altitude stages and long climbs may increase Elena Cecchini’s chances, after a remarkable classics season.

Krista Doebel-Hitcok After some superb performances in previous month, the American climber will be the first GC chance for Cylance.

Shara Gillow After switching teams this season joining FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope, in return for more responsability Gillow has scored some top results this season.

Katrin Garfoot Top-class co-leader for Orica Scott. Austrlian champion heads to the Italian race on a great form after testing her climb skills in Emakumeen Bira, where she narrowly missed the overall victory.

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Nikola Nosková The biggest reveleation of the past weeks. With a strong cyclocross background, Nosková will make her debut in the Italian race.

Coryn Rivera American pocket rocket is one of the top riders to watch. Rivera has already proved we were mistakenly quoting her as just a sprinter.

Rasa Leleivyte Persistent GC rider with a strong top-end speed. Leleivyte could benefit from being of the less controlled riders.

Ane Santesteban Despite the Spanish rider hasn’t had her ideal season (suffered a hit and run crash in March), Ane Santesteban heads to the Giro Rosa on good form.

Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig Clearly one of the biggest revelations of the 2017 season. With her top-end power she will be a strong co-leader or second chance for Cervélo-Bigla.

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Stakeholder Opinions Steven Sergeant

StevenSergeant Giro Rosa importance

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he Giro Rosa is the most iconic race in women’s cycling together with La Course race.

Therefore the race is important for our team and we have prepared well in order to reach our goals.

Previous months performances

T

he previous months were good to us, we have been spared from crashes and sickness in previous races. So the team comes to the start in an excellent condition. At the Tour of Thailand, Miriam Bjørnsrud had some great stage results and claimed the Queen Of Mountains jersey on top of a 3rd GC spot. In China we tested our lead out train and we were able to work harder on the small mistakes we made there. Emilie Moberg was our leader and she claimed some great results for the team. She also won the 5th stage of the Healthy Ageing tour in Borkum. Later on she turned her good form into stage victories in the Tour of Zhoushan where she claimed the 1st and the 3rd stage. The overall victory went to teammate Charlotte Becker who claimed the 2nd stage. Simona Frapporti claimed a second place in the 3rd stage and was vital in our team strategies. So yes, the Tour of Zhoushan was indeed good to us as we claimed the yellow and green jersey, 3 out of 3 stage wins, 1&3rd in GC and team GC. Furthermore the team had some excellent results with Nina Kessler claiming some other victories whereby her teammates contributed to the success and in the meantime sharpened their Giro form.

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Race parcours overview

I

believe that it will be an open Giro now as the stronger riders cannot afford to have a weak day. The top 10 could be reshuffled almost every single day. That makes it an exciting tour and we are very much looking forward to be part of it.

The race starts with a team time trial and that makes it tricky as there are not many TTT races in the year. So the strong timetrialists will have their work cut out in this discipline in order to give their team a good head start. On day 4 we have an individual time trial which will reshuffle the GC again. We also have 2 stages, later in the tour, reaching more than 140km which will make it also harder on the riders and so will the weather conditions take its toll on hot days. So all of the above will certainly play a role in the strategy decision making.

Giro Rosa opportunities, goals and expectations

L

ast year we claimed the blue jersey for the best classified Italian rider. This year we could try to regain that title with Simona Frapporti. Our best performances will come from the sprint stages and the breakaway opportunities. We might not have a top 3 GC contender in our ranks on paper but we will be for sure a force to be reckoned with.

Daily highlights, but no live TV coverage

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ive TV is vital for women’s cycling. Every opportunity should be used to broadcastour races life. They aren’t less attractive compared to men’s cycle races. Our races are shorter and that gives more action opportunities. It is also a way to promote our sponsors and give them their needed return on investment.

Of course, road cycling is one of the hardest disciplines to broadcast so it’s not surprising we get to see less of the women’s racing. On the other hand, last year we saw a significant amount more of the racing live than ever before, It got to a stage where we were able to watch women’s road racing life on 6 consecutive weekends. So when camera’s and infrastructure are already in place for the men’s races, organisers and municipalities could only benefit from broadcasting the women’s race as well. The area could be promoted to tourists who will bring a return on investment to their economy. More positive returns could be brought forward.

Personally, I can only hope that when one tweet can convince organisers to live broadcast like we saw in the Ronde Van Vlaanderen this year, perhaps more riders incl. those from the male peloton should jump on this campain to broadcast women’s racing because there is indeed a demand for women’s cycling life tv coverage!

GC contenders

I

believe that we will see a larger group competing for the overall title. With Vos, Stevens and Abbott not participating, riders like Kasia Niewiadoma who’s form is excelent as she recently won the UK women’s tour, Olympic Champion Anna Van Der Breggen is always a force to be recoged with. So is Elisa Longo Borghini, Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio, Leah Kirchmann and least but not last Megan Guarnier, last years overal winner. Behind them are more riders who could put pressure on the GC results and this is where im confident that my riders could play a role in.

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Sarah Roy

Sar_Roy Giro Rosa importance

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he Giro Rosa is the only Grand Tour left on our calendar and I think it’s important for our sport that it stays. It is our longest tour of 10 days and we are more than capable of performing to a high level for every one of those days. The name itself is very popular thanks to the men’s Giro and for our sport and this tour to see half of the interest the men receive is a good thing but I would like to see more tours and more exposure like this in the future.

Previous months performances It’s been really nice to get a few results recently as my coach and I have been working on some weaknesses, so it’s always good to see the rewards of the work put in. I’m pleased with my current form and I’m confident it will carry on into the Giro.

Race parcours overview I think the courses are great. There is no one stage that stands out as the penultimate day, but lacking iconic mountains will probably allow for more exciting racing. The GC will become clearer as the tour goes on, obviously, but the back end of the tour is where most of the climbing will happen, the stages get longer requiring the riders to back up each day while being fatigued so that’s when things will really split up. Both time trials are very short, around 12km or less. The TTT is very flat while the ITT finishes on quite a tough little hill which will certainly put the pressure on the GC riders and play a small role although it won’t be a make or break stage mid-tour. I have never completed the Giro Rosa myself, I raced half of it in 2015 before leaving to prepare for Thüringen but tactically I think things will be especially exciting this year.

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Giro Rosa opportunities, goals and expectations Personally, this years’ Giro Rosa is extremely exciting for me as ORICA-SCOTT are going in with very clear and realistic GC goals. We are headed to the tour with an incredibly strong and motivated team who have prepared specifically both on and off the bike for a GC result. We are all refreshed and ready for a big tour. I am looking forward to supporting our leaders especially because I truly believe in them and our team plan.

Daily highlights, but no live TV coverage The lack of live coverage for this race and all races without coverage is extremely disappointing. Daily highlights is a nice consolation but can never replace live streaming which many local races manage to provide. It is not just important for our sport or for this tour that live streaming be available, it’s a necessity and the low cost channels are there to be used.

GC contenders I haven’t seen a finalised start list but I’d say Boels-Dolmans will be the team to beat while the Italian teams always come with good form for their home tour. Alé-Cipollini and Wiggle-High5 will be the sprint trains to watch on the flatter stages. Some other great GC riders to watch include; Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio of Cervélo-Bigla, Elisa Longo Borghini of Wiggle-High5 and Kasia of WM3.

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Sofia Bertizzolo

sofiabertizz Giro Rosa importance

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t is very important for us to have a long stage races in the UCI calendar, we can have an intense period of racing in the same country and we can avoid very long and expensive travels. Giro Rosa also gives us more visibility because stage race lovers can enjoy the show and get in get with our world that needs more fans and support. For me personally is very important too, this year more than ever because with a lot of cancelled races and a quite empty calendar this is an opportunity not to be missed.

Previous months performances Previous months were not so brilliant for me, I am in my second year in the Êlite category and I still need to do a lot of experience and to race as much as possibile. I did an altitude training camp with the team to prepare this Giro, but anyhow I’ll be at the start with only two races in the last months and a half and I fear I could miss a bit of race rhytm.

Race parcours overview I like the route, less hard than last year for sure, but I think it was extreme the one of 2016 and not too easy this one. It will be a race open to a lot of riders, stages will be hard fought. Two consecutive stages of more than 140 km will make a big difference: stage 7 and 8 are going to define the GC but I think the race will be open till the end because to the high level of the contenders and the very hot weather that we’re going to have in southearn Italy.

Giro Rosa opportunities, goals and expectations This Giro Rosa is a great opportunity, it is a little bit easier in the first part and harder at the end, maybe there will be space for the riders who are not focusing on GC: mixed

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routes are going to help attackers and I hope to take advantage of it in one stage. We’re are going to do our best with our leader (Arlenis Sierra), I think she can aim for a top10 in GC but a lot of things can happen during the race; also points classification could be a goal because we are talking about a riders fast in the sprints but also strong and powerful on the climbs.

Daily highlights, but no live TV coverage TV images are the most efficient way to communicate and advertise. For us is essential to reach a live tv images: otherwise, with everyone focusing on the Tour de France, none even knows who was on the podium in our stages.

GC contenders The favourites for the general classification are for sure Van der Breggen, Longo Borghini and Niewiadoma. For the best young rider I think Ludwig and Noskova

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Leah Thorvilson

leahthorvilson Giro Rosa importance

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think the Giro Rosa is probably one of, if not the most anticipated WWT Race. I get asked fairly often if we have a comparable race to the Tour de France, and I think the Giro is that for us. It’s important to me because it’s such a once in a lifetime experience for me.... I know I will have the worst race nerves ever, but I wouldn’t miss it for anything.

I know so many female cyclists who have the Giro as this ultimate bucket list item they will most likely never get to do... I feel very fortunate to have been given the opportunity to be here. It gives women’s cycling a real marquis event that is watched around the globe.

Race parcours overview I like the race parcours. It sort of has something for everyone.... The TTT, which is a new element to the Giro, flatter stages than the usual Giro with a lot of climbing, but even the flatter stages through in some short but really tough climbs that could potentially shake up the field. Then there are the hilly TT and a few hilly course days later in the stages that I think have potential to be the location of a game changes move from whoever is feeling good and playing their cards right that day. I hear it will be unexpected and unpredictable, and based on the fact that elements of different days fit different riders, I agree.

Giro Rosa opportunities, goals and expectations The opportunity the Giro Rosa provides for me is to experience my first WWT race! My goals for myself are to finish all 10 stages, and to ride them well and ride them smart.

I think on the later stages that have long climbs in them that suit me, I could do well... but I have to race smart to get through the first 5. My goal for the team is to do whatever work I can where needed to put a teammate on the podium each day.

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Miriam Bjørnsrud

MiriamBjornrud Giro Rosa importance

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iro Rosa is the biggest stage race we have in women’s cycling, so it’s definitely one of the races teams with good climbers and GC riders are looking forward to. For me and my team all the races we do are important. We have a super strong climber in Katrine, and also a strong and experienced team that can make good results in many of the different types of stages the race offers this year.

Previous months performances We are many riders coming straight from the nationales, so I bet we all are in good condition. My form should be good, I just hope I can get it all out there.

Race parcours overview From my experience the course are never as it look like in the book! So you never know exactly what you get. But yes, this year’s edition might not be as hard as the others, that’s why we have a complete team with a lot of cards to play with.

Giro Rosa opportunities, goals and expectations We hope for a safe and secure race, with a lot of cheering people! We’re going to one of the most beautiful places in the world (that also offers the best food!), so we have a lot to look forward to.

We hope to leave Italy with some stage victories, and a DS with pink hair.

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Daily highlights, but no live TV coverage Of course media/TV it’s very important for all sports especially women’s sports. It’s good that they show some highlights from every stage. But it’s still a way to go until we get the same broadcast as the boys, like we and our sponsors also deserve.

So this question it’s a bit stupid, not the question itself, but why do it even has to be asked. We should have the same TV rights, and rights in general as the guys have.

GC contenders Annemiek Van Vleuten

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