The third round of the UCI WWT took place in Italy, racing from Taino to Cittiglio for Trofeo Binda. 26-year-old Italian, Erica Magnaldi sprinted to 10th place whilst team mate Ane Santesteban was 18th.
“It was a really a good race for me, I also didn’t expect to be there with the strongest girls in the final, it was amazing and exciting to fight with them for the first position, I am really happy about this.” Said Erica.
Speaking about how the race unfolded:
“It was a hard race, however the climbs were a little bit too short for me, so any real climber, like me couldn’t make a big difference on the climbs, it remained a small group after the second and the last lap.”
“On the last climb during the last lap, there was a sequence of attacks from all the strongest riders, it was really exciting to be there in amongst it all, trying to answer to their attacks. I know that I could have maybe raced a little more clever and save more energy by not chasing the attacks, but in the end I think the result would have been the same, because nobody was allowed to go solo, and I know I’m not very good in the finish and in the sprint, so I did what I could, placing myself in second wheel behind Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio as she started the lead out in the final kilometre. I did my best, and well I think a top 10 in a UCI women’s world tour race like yesterday is a good result. I have to thank all my team mates for the help throughout the race and of course all the staff who like always, did such a great job.”