Top Sprinters at the 2024 Giro d’Italia Women

Elisa Balsamo

The 2024 Giro d’Italia Women promises to be an exciting showcase of sprinting talent. This year’s race offers 2-4 opportunities for sprinters to claim stage wins, depending on their versatility and ability to handle varied terrain. For pure sprinters, the flatter stages will be key targets, while those who can climb moderately well may find additional chances in stages with rolling profiles.

Historically, the Giro d’Italia Women has been a proving ground for some of the sport’s most legendary sprinters. The still-active Marianne Vos of the Netherlands holds the record for the most stage wins with 32 victories, followed by retired German riders Petra Rossner and Ina-Yoko Teutenberg with 18 and 13 wins respectively. These riders have set a high standard, with even the likes of Lorena Wiebes and Kirsten Wild well behind this trio on only a few wins each.

Here’s a closer look at the top sprinters to watch in the 2024 edition, with an eye on their form this season, any setbacks and which parcours they might do best on at this year’s Giro d’Italia Women.

Top Sprinters at the 2024 Giro d’Italia Women

Elisa Balsamo

Wins in 2024: 4
Total Giro d’Italia stage wins: 2

Elisa Balsamo has had an impressive season so far, including victories in the Classic Brugge-De Panne and Trofeo Alfredo Binda. She also placed 2nd in Paris-Roubaix and Gent-Wevelgem. Her powerful finishing kick and sharp race tactics make her a top contender in any sprint finish at the Giro d’Italia Women. She’s coming back from a bad crash at the Vuelta a Burgos but on paper is the fastest sprinter in this year’s race.

Chiara Consonni
Chiara Consonni

Chiara Consonni

Wins in 2024: 3
Total Giro d’Italia stage wins: 2

Chiara Consonni, another talented Italian sprinter, has had a strong 2024 season with wins at the GP della Liberazione PINK, GP Eco-Struct, and the Flanders Diamond Tour. Her ability to find the perfect position in the final metres and deliver a decisive sprint makes her a serious threat in the sprints. Up there as one of the best pure sprinters in this year’s race, she will be trying to outsprint Elisa Balsamo in the main.

Arlenis Sierra

Wins in 2024: 3
Total Giro d’Italia stage wins: 0

Arlenis Sierra from Cuba has had a notable season with wins at the Ruta del Sol, the Cuban road race and the Cuban ITT. Known for her explosive sprints and versatility, Sierra’s performances in both flat and rolling stages highlight her sprinting prowess. Her aggressive style and tactical intelligence make her a formidable competitor. She’s at her best at the end of a tough stage in a reduced group.

Eleonora Gasparrini
Eleonora Gasparrini

Eleonora Gasparrini

Wins in 2024: 2
Total Giro d’Italia stage wins: 0

Eleonora Gasparrini is a rising star in the sprinting scene. This season, she has secured wins at the La Classique Morbihan and Trofeo Binissalem-Andratx. Known for her quick acceleration and ability to navigate through the peloton, Gasparrini has already made a name for herself with several impressive performances. Her potential to secure stage wins at the Giro d’Italia Women is high. She may get a chance when Consonni can’t keep up on the climbs.

Maike van der Duin

Wins in 2024: 0
Total Giro d’Italia stage wins: 0

Maike van der Duin has had a stop-start season due to injuries, beginning with a broken ankle at a team training camp early in the year. Despite these setbacks, she has competed in several races, including the Classic Brugge-De Panne and the Vuelta a Burgos. Van der Duin’s resilience and determination to return to form make her a rider to watch as she aims for a breakthrough at the Giro d’Italia Women.

Tour-Feminin-des-Pyrenees-Guazzini-claims-stage-1-triumph-in-small-bunch-sprint
Vittoria Guazzini

Vittoria Guazzini

Wins in 2024: 3
Total Giro d’Italia stage wins: 0

Vittoria Guazzini has had an outstanding season with victories at Le Samyn des Dames, Stage 1 of the Tour des Pyrénées, and the Italian National Time Trial Championship. Her versatility and ability to perform well in different race conditions make her a key sprinter to watch at the Giro d’Italia Women.

Fem van Empel

Wins in 2024: 0
Total Giro d’Italia stage wins: 0

Fem van Empel has faced a challenging season, participating in races like Dwars door Vlaanderen, Ronde van Vlaanderen, and the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya. Despite not securing any wins, her consistent participation and efforts in various competitions highlight her determination and potential. Van Empel’s ability to compete in both road and cyclocross disciplines adds a dynamic edge to her sprinting capabilities in the Giro. A recent injury because of a driver in training may have disrupted her build-up.

WEINFELDEN, SWITZERLAND - JUNE 17: Kata Blanka Vas of Hungary and Team SD Worx celebrates at finish line as stage winner ahead of Arlenis Sierra Canadilla of Cuba and Movistar Team during the 3rd Tour de Suisse Women 2023, Stage 1 a 56km stage from Weinfelden to Weinfelden / #UCIWWT / on June 17, 2023 in Weinfelden, Switzerland. (Photo by Dario Belingheri/Getty Images)
Blanka Vas

Blanka Vas

Wins in 2024: 1
Total Giro d’Italia stage wins: 1

Blanka Vas has had a productive season with a win at the Hungarian National Road Race. Her diverse skill set allows her to compete effectively across various terrains. In addition to her road race success, Vas continues to perform strongly in cyclocross and mountain biking events, making her a versatile and formidable competitor in the Giro d’Italia Women. If she’s getting led out by Kopecky, she will be delivered close to the line each time.

Lotte Kopecky

Wins in 2024: 10
Total Giro d’Italia stage wins: 1

Lotte Kopecky has had a stellar 2024 season, securing victories at prestigious races such as Paris-Roubaix Femmes, Strade Bianche, and the overall Tour of Britain. Her impressive performances extend to the UAE Tour and the Belgian National Championships in both the road race and time trial disciplines. Kopecky’s strength across various terrains and her tactical intelligence make her one of the most formidable finishers in this year’s Giro d’Italia Women. She can contest all of the stages and be a GC threat as well as a sprinter in this year’s race but may also be supporting Blanka Vas where possible.

Soraya Paladin
Soraya Paladin

Soraya Paladin

Wins in 2024: 0
Total Giro d’Italia stage wins: 0

Soraya Paladin has shown consistent performances throughout the 2024 season, with notable results including 6th place overall in the Ford RideLondon Classique and 7th overall in the Vuelta a Burgos. Her strong finishes in the Amstel Gold Race and Trofeo Alfredo Binda highlight her capability in various race conditions. The tougher the race is, the better for Paladin. On flatter stages, Van der Duin will get the nod for Canyon SRAM.

Dominika Wlodarczyk

Wins in 2024: 1
Total Giro d’Italia stage wins: 0

Dominika Wlodarczyk has had a solid season with a win at the Polish National Road Race. She has also shown consistent performances in races such as the Tour Down Under and the Navarra Elite Classics. Her aggressive racing style and determination make her a rider to watch in this year’s Giro d’Italia Women, even if she will ride in support for Consonni in some stages.

Ruby Roseman-Gannon
Ruby Roseman-Gannon

Ruby Roseman-Gannon

Wins in 2024: 2
Total Giro d’Italia stage wins: 0

Ruby Roseman-Gannon has had a strong season with wins at the Australian National Road Race and the Tour of Britain Women. Her win at the latter was particularly memorable with the Aussie sneaking through a trio of SD Worx riders to claim the win. Her versatility and ability to perform well in different race conditions make her a significant threat in the sprints at the Giro d’Italia Women.

Linda Zanetti

Wins in 2024: 1
Total Giro d’Italia stage wins: 0

Linda Zanetti has shown promise this season with a win at the joint Germany/Luxembourg/Switzerland/Austria U23 road race. Her consistent performances in other races such as the Clasica de Almeria and the Tour of Britain highlight her potential in the peloton. Zanetti’s ability to compete across various race conditions makes her a key contender in the Giro d’Italia Women.

Sarah-Roy-2024-Bretagne-Ladies-Tour-Stage-2
Sarah Roy

Sarah Roy

Wins in 2024: 1
Total Giro d’Italia stage wins: 0

Sarah Roy from Australia has shown solid performances this season, highlighted by a first win in a few seasons at the Bretagne Ladies Tour. Her consistent presence in various stages of the Tour of Britain and Vuelta a Burgos underlines her capability as a seasoned sprinter. Roy’s experience and sprinting skills make her a strong competitor in this year’s Giro d’Italia Women. She’s the sort of sprinter who does best on rolling terrain.