An in-form Mavi García is set to lead the Liv AlUla Jayco team at the 2024 Giro d’Italia Women, aiming for a podium finish. García, who secured third place in the 2022 edition, arrives at the race in strong form following a dominant performance at the Vuelta a Andalucía in late May.
This year’s Giro d’Italia Women marks a new era as RCS, the same organisation behind the men’s Giro, takes over the race’s organisation. The eight-day race, starting on Sunday, 7th July, covers a total distance of 872 km, beginning with a time trial and concluding on Sunday, 14th July. Riders will face the queen stage on Saturday, including the crucial Blockhaus climb, followed by another mountainous test on the final day.
García’s Preparation and Goals
García has expressed her readiness for the race, saying, “I think I prepared very well for my seventh Giro. It is one of my favourite races and has given me great satisfaction with four top-10s in the last four editions. After the victory at the Vuelta a Andalucía at the end of May, I trained at altitude to compete at the nationals. I know that every year that passes, it is more and more difficult, but I will try to fight for the podium in one of the toughest Giros in recent years.”
Joining García is young neo-pro and New Zealand champion Ella Wyllie, who aims for a strong general classification result and the youth jersey. Wyllie was a standout performer at the Vuelta a Andalucía, winning a stage and finishing third overall. Supporting them are climbers Urška Žigart, the newly crowned Slovenian time trial and road race champion, and Amber Pate, alongside the experienced Dutch rider Silke Smulders.
The Liv AlUla Jayco line-up also includes two fast finishers: Ingvild Gåskjenn, a major player in the spring classics and a podium finisher at the Amstel Gold Race, and Australian road champion Ruby Roseman-Gannon, who recently celebrated her first WorldTour victory with a stage win at the Tour of Britain Women.
(Photo Credit: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com)
Team Dynamics and Strategy
Sport Director Shawn Clarke shared his thoughts on the team’s prospects, stating, “We have a pretty good and competitive team for this Giro, which presents a very hard course. The further south you go, the harder it becomes. We have Mavi and Ella, who are both good climbers, and will go for GC and Ella also for the youth jersey. We have a couple of fast finishers with Ruby and Ingvild, and there are two stages that suit both of them very well. In support, we have Urška, a fresh Slovenian champion who is doing super well, Amber, who has grown a lot this season, and finally, Silke who is a solid all-rounder.”
Liv AlUla Jayco Team for 2024 Giro d’Italia Women:
- Mavi García (ESP)
- Ingvild Gåskjenn (NOR)
- Amber Pate (AUS)
- Ruby Roseman-Gannon (AUS)
- Silke Smulders (NED)
- Ella Wyllie (NZL)
- Urška Žigart (SLO)