03.07.2019 World-Tour, News, Race news

Giro Rosa Iccrea

We will start the longest stage race of the season, Giro Rosa Iccrea, on Friday 5 July in Cassano Spinola, Italy. The team’s roster will be Alena Amialiusik, Hannah Barnes, Tiffany Cromwell, Kasia Niewiadoma, Alexis Ryan and Israeli road champion, Omer Shapira.

The Giro Rosa Iccrea crosses four regions of Italy over ten days: Piedmont, Lombardy, Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia. Starting with an 18km team time trial, the race has a mountain summit finish on Passo Gavia, seven other road stages, and an uphill individual time trial. The UCI Women’s WorldTour race is touted to be one of the toughest editions in its 30-year history.

Which stage the riders look forward the most to?

Alena Amialiusik: “Every stage of the Giro Rosa this year seems to be interesting and very hard. I am looking forward to the uphill ITT on stage 6. I really like this climb and I enjoy that it’s only you and your bike playing a game with time. We do it also after five stages already in the legs, so I’m really excited for this day!”

Hannah Barnes: “Stage 7 because I didn’t get that far last year! (Hannah broke her collarbone during stage 6 in the 2018 Giro Rosa). It looks like a stage that has a bit of everything, and it’s far enough into the race that there could be an opportunity for a break to stay away.”

Tiffany Cromwell: “The 11th stage because it’ll all be over then, I’ll be back in my own bed, having a home-cooked breakfast, after what’s hopefully been a very successful Giro Rosa! But seriously, I’m looking forward to stage 4. It’s one of the less hilly stages, but sounds quite technical, especially the finale. It’s a stage that suits my strengths so I’m looking forward to that one.”

Kasia Niewiadoma: “Stage number 7! It reminds me of an Ardennes classic race, with a lot of short, punchy, steep climbs. It’s the terrain that I feel the most comfortable racing on!”

Alexis Ryan: “I’m especially looking forward to stages 2 and 4! They’re both fairly difficult and very technical, which plays to my strengths. In general, I’m really excited to race with the team again. This Giro looks brutal, but we have a fun and motivating team that will make the most of it.”

Omer Shapira: “The Gavia stage! I think stage 5 is going to be very challenging, and a special day. I have raced these mountain-top finishes just a few times in my career. The last time was up Mt Baldy in Amgen Tour of California empowered with SRAM. That, was the best race day of my career so far! I’m curious to see what I can do this time and how deep I can go.”