Following Valenciana success, team takes aim at cycling’s apex event
Rally Cycling’s women have been invited to compete at the Giro d’Italia Donne this July. The newly rebranded race, celebrating its 32nd year, is the closest thing to a Grand Tour in women’s cycling, so to be included among the 24 teams invited is a huge opportunity for the team.
“We’re delighted to have received an invitation to the Giro Rosa, the pinnacle of women’s stage racing,” says Charles Aaron, Rally Cycling’s managing director. “It’s a testament to the women on our squad, as well as our support staff around the athletes, all of whom work tirelessly to achieve the best results possible. I’m especially proud that we will be sharing Rally Health’s message of living healthier lives on the biggest stage of all in women’s cycling.”
Full details of the 10-stage route are yet to be released, but this year’s event will race through the northern regions of Piedmont, Lombardia, Liguria, Veneto, and Friuli Venezia Giulia. There will be two time trials along the way (one team, one individual) and the race will end in the Julian Alps near the border between Italy and Slovenia.
In the past, the race has included iconic mountain passes like the Mortirolo, Zoncolan, and Stelvio, justifying its status at the pinnacle of women’s stage racing.
There is no question that it’ll be one of the most challenging ten days that Rally Cycling’s women will face in 2021, but it will also provide plenty of opportunities for the varying talents of the deep roster.
The organizers have promised live coverage of the final phases of each stage, plus post-stage video analysis, which will be available worldwide.
Stages
July 2 – Stage 1: Fossano Cuneo – Team Time Trial
July 3 – Stage 2: Vado Ligure to Prato Nevoso
July 4 – Stage 3: Casale Monferrato to Ovada
July 5 – Stage 4: Formazza to Riale di Formazza – Individual Time Trial
July 6 – Stage 5: Carugate
July 7 – Stage 6: Colico to Colico (Lake Como)
July 8 – Stage 7: Valtellina
July 9 – Stage 8: Schio
July 10 – Stage 9: Fregona
July 11 – Stage 10: Cividale to Matajur (1,642m summit in the Julian Alps)