On Friday, July 2, Rally Cycling will begin the Giro d’Italia Donne in Fossano, Italy. 10 hard-fought days later, they’ll arrive in Cormons having completed an epic race across mountainous northern Italy via the shores of Lakes Garda and Como, with a smattering of fast and furious flat stages for the sprinters.
The ‘Giro Rosa’, as it is known, is the longest, toughest, and most exalted women’s stage race in the world, with a heritage dating back 30 years. It is women’s cycling’s only Grand Tour.
Team director Andrew Bajadali emphasized the importance of this prestigious race.
“The significance of the race is huge for our program. This is world cycling on the big stage, and to be part of it with a strong capable team is great. The team is over the moon to be here!”https://www.youtube.com/embed/DoGFoBDUm9M
The Rally Cycling roster is not there to simply make up numbers in the peloton, Bajadali said.
“Our expectations for the Giro Donne are to be competitive in several areas, particularly stages with hard finishes for our climbers, Krista and Clara, and to hopefully be in there for a GC result at the end.”
Bajadali also explained that the riders will seek out any opportunity to impress themselves upon the race.
“It’s a long race and we will of course take it day by day, but we are ambitious and looking for every opportunity that comes our way.”
The stage-by-stage
Stage 1: July 2, Fossano – Cuneo (26.7km)
Divining the first maglia rosa of the race with a rarely-seen team time trial.
Stage 2: July 3, Boves – Prato Nevoso (100km)
Holy mackerel, that’s a big mountain! Jagged up-and-down, followed by a stunning 10.8km ascent of Colle del Prel.
Stage 3: July 4, Casale Monferrato – Ovada (135km)
Wow, that’s a lot of GPMs. Breakaway bonanza or bunch kick in Ovada?
Stage 4: July 5, Fondovalle – Cascate de Toce (11.2km)
A hard climber’s TT in the northern Italian Alps. 11km, but all uphill.
Stage 5: July 6, Milano – Carugate (120km)
A pan-flat, guaranteed sprint on a 26km finishing circuit at Carugate.
Stage 6: July 7, Colico – Colico (155km)
A lumpy but utterly lovely lap around the shores of Lake Como.
Stage 7: July 8, Soprazocco Di Gavardo – Puegnago Del Garda (106km)
A hilly circuit race that sees the peloton come within a stone’s throw of Lake Garda five times.
Stage 8: July 9, San Vendemiano – Mortegliano (129.4km)
The race reaches the north-eastern corner of the county and it’s another one for the sprinters.
Stage 9: July 10, Feletto-Umberto – Monte Matajur (122.6km)
Two major mountain tests, including a summit finish at Monte Matajur – it is here that the Giro Donne will ultimately be decided.
Stage 10: July 11, Capriva del Friuli – Cormons (113km)
One last dust-up with few opportunities for the GC to take further time. Could be one more for the break.
Roster: Holly Breck, Katie Clouse, Krista Doebel-Hickok, Heidi Franz, Clara Koppenburg, Sara Poidevin.
Follow the race: For the very latest updates from the race, follow the official hashtag #girodonne on Twitter and Instagram.
You can watch each stage finale live in the USA and Canada on GCN+ while Europeans can see the race on Eurosport Player (Romania and Netherlands excluded).