AG Insurance - Soudal to the Giro d’Italia

AG Insurance - Soudal to the Giro d’Italia

The second Grand Tour of the season starts in just a couple of days and runs between 30 May-7 June.

Nine stages, 1200 kilometers and 12 000 meters of elevation - these are the main ingredients of the 37th Giro d’Italia Women, which kicks off from Cesenatico and concludes in Saluzzo. One of the season’s hardest races, it’s set to feature two summit finishes: one in Nevegal, at the end of a challenging individual time trial, and another one in Sestriere. The latter comes on the penultimate stage, whose main highlight will be one of cycling’s most iconic climbs - the Colle delle Finestre, with its steep but breathtaking dirt roads.

Several stages are ideal for the sprinters to show their speed, including the one concluding in Ravenna, the former capital of the Western Roman Empire, where the first pink jersey will be awarded. But it won’t be just the sprinters, the time trial specialists and the climbers who are sure to get opportunities next week, also the breakaway artists will have their chances, in Santo Stefano di Cadore or Salice Terme.

Mireia Benito - coming off the back of a solid fourth overall at the Vuelta a Burgos - Lore de Schepper, Belgian Champion Justine Ghekiere, Ilse Pluimers, Julie Van De Velde, Trofee Maarten Wynants winner Gladys Verhulst-Wild, and Urška Žigart, who finished sixth at La Vuelta Femenina just a few weeks ago, are the seven AG Insurance - Soudal riders prepared to take on the season’s second Grand Tour.

“The Giro is a really special race on the women’s calendar; it is our original Grand Tour and one that provides some big challenges and opportunities in equal measure. Building on the success of the Vuelta and Burgos, we are confident that Urška, Lore and Mireia can fight in the high mountains, while Gladys will go for it in the sprint stages. Our road captain, Ilse, will be integral in the team’s success across all stages as she will support and guide the riders on a regular basis. The girls have all shown great form recently, so both riders and staff are ready to give everything in order to have a strong and rewarding Giro”, explained sports director Dani Christmas.

Sarah Gigante impressed at last year’s Giro Women with a strong performance, finishing 3rd overall in the general classification, winning the QOM jersey, taking the team classification together with her teammates and climbing to two stage wins. She will unfortunately miss this year’s edition as she continues her recovery from a femur fracture, which still requires time and rehabilitation before a return to competition is possible.