Federica Venturelli clinches her first elite victory at the Giro Mediterraneo in Rosa

Mathew Mitchell

Published on April 22, 2024
in Women's Cycling

In a remarkable sprint finish at Castelnuovo della Daunia, Federica Venturelli seized the first elite win of her career in the fourth stage of the Giro Mediterraneo in Rosa, marking a milestone in her burgeoning cycling career. The 19-year-old from UAE Development Team outpaced her teammate and general classification leader, Lara Gillespie, as well as Asia Zontone of Team Isolmant Premac Vittoria.

“It’s my first victory of the season and my first in this new category,” Venturelli shared post-race, reflecting on her recent challenges and limited racing due to back issues earlier in the season. “I’ve not been able to race much due to some physical problems. I have to thank my team; they really supported me. In the final stages, it was just Gillespie, Federica Piergiovanni, and myself left. On the final climb, I gave everything and to share this success so closely with my teammates is an even greater joy.”

The race day unfolded under the watchful eyes of the UAE Development Team, who controlled the pace at the front of the peloton, thwarting any breakaway attempts and setting the stage for a showdown in the sprint. Venturelli’s win not only illustrates her return to form but also solidifies her position as a promising talent in road cycling.

The Afghan cyclist Fariba Hashimi, celebrating her 21st birthday, was another notable performer, dominating both the second-category mountain primes and expressing her ambitions for the climber’s green jersey. “Training in Italy has allowed me to pursue my sporting dreams, which wouldn’t have been possible in my home country. I’m grateful for the opportunity to compete at this level,” Hashimi stated.

With the general classification unchanged at the top, Gillespie remains in the lead, with Venturelli reinforcing her second position and retaining the white jersey as the best young rider. The competition for the climber’s jersey remains tight, with Elisa Valtulini of BepInk currently leading but closely followed by others.

As the Giro Mediterraneo in Rosa heads into its final stage, the race promises further excitement with a 92 km route from Foggia to Motta Montecorvino, featuring two mountain primes. The final climb, named after Italian cycling legend Maria Canins, will likely be decisive in shaping the final podium of this thrilling race.