The Giro Donne is always one of the biggest stage races of the year. The 33rd edition is classified as a Women`s World Tour event and covers 1002.6 km.
Starting with a with an individual time trial in Cagliari on the island Sardinia the race will cross five regions: Sardinia, Emilia-Romagna, Lombardy, Trentino-Alto Adige and Veneto. At the second day the peloton will face some hills on their way to Tortoli. Stage three offers a good chance for the sprinters in Olbia. After a travel and rest day the peloton heads into the hills around Cesena, followed by a stage for the sprinters and a hard day with finish in Bergamo.
In stage seven the real climbing starts with the final 40 km going uphill and a hard finish on the Passo del Maniva. Stage eight and nine also contains several climbs, with amongst others the Passo Bordala, Passo Daone and Passo Duron. The tenth and final stage will bring the peloton to Padova, where probably the sprinters will show their fast legs.
Liv Racing Xstra will bring Rachele Barbieri, Thalita de Jong, Marta Jaskulska, Tereza Neumanova, Katia Ragusa and Quinty Ton to this race. “For the sprints we count on Rachele, who showed her fast legs several times this year. We will try to form a good lead-out for Rachele, so she can be in the position to do a good sprint. I think we have a strong and balanced team for that assignment. When there is no chance for a sprint, we will try and go in the breakaway. Our main goal is to take a stage win and be present in the front during all stages. I am really looking forward to start this Giro Donne with this team”, sports director Giorgia Bronzini told about the line-up.
Stages
30/06, stage 1: Cagliari – Cagliari (4.7 km)
01/07, stage 2: Villasimius – Tortolì (117.3 km)
02/07, stage 3: Cala Gonone – Olbia (112.7 km)
03/07, rest day
04/07, stage 4: Cesena – Cesena (120.9 km)
05/07, stage 5: Carpi – Reggio Emilia (123.4 km)
06/07, stage 6: Sarnico – Bergamo (114.7 km)
07/07, stage 7: Prevalle – Passo del Maniva (113.4 km)
08/07, stage 8: Rovereto – Aldeno (92.2 km)
09/07, stage 9: San Michele All’Adige – San Lorenzo Dorsino (112.8 km)
10/07, stage 10: Abano Terme – Padova (90.5 km)