The Giro d’Italia Girls begins with an undulating 14.2km time trial on the streets of Bergamo, which is able to set the tone for the early common classification on the very first day of the eight-day race on July 6.
All the general contenders and a handful of time trial specialists might be eyeing each the stage victory and the primary maglia rosa of the thirty sixth version of the Italian Grand Tour.
Among the standout athletes embody defending champion Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Crew ADQ), four-time general winner Anna van der Breggen and her teammate Lotte Kopecky (each SD Worx-Protime), and Marlen Reusser (Movistar), to call only some.
Cyclingnews spoke with Reusser, who has made it no secret that profitable the maglia rosa has been a significant goal for her 2025 season, racing within the colors of her new group, Movistar. The truth that it begins with a time trial solely provides to the occasion’s enchantment.
“With Movistar, from the start of the yr, we mentioned that as a result of the Giro has each a time trial and fairly onerous climbing levels, that it is, for certain, one thing we must always deal with with me. So, this was for certain from the start, the plan,” Reusser informed Cyclingnews.
Reusser is a specialist within the race towards the clock, having received the 2 particular person time trials she has began this yr, thus far; a stage on the Vuelta a Burgos and the elite girls’s title on the Swiss Nationwide Championships, and he or she is an all-rounder contender, too, having just lately received titles on the Vuelta a Burgos and Tour de Suisse.
She defined that she isn’t centered on any of her rivals, GC contenders for this opening stage, and can go full gasoline to say the very best attainable inserting.
“I feel there are lots of [riders] that may do effectively. I feel it is in no way simple. However for the time trials, I deal with myself. There is no such thing as a … zero use of serious about others as a result of it simply has no level in any respect. So, I am not serious about how the others are gonna do,” Reusser mentioned.
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The course is primarily flat, however it does supply some technical qualities, hairpin turns, and corners to maintain the time trial specialists on their toes.
Riders will race by the historic Città Alta with a slight uphill section earlier than descending to the end line at Sentierone.
The course is totally closed to public visitors, which Reusser mentioned would have felt like a ‘dream’ alternative for any bike owner, skilled or not, in a metropolis like Bergamo.
“For me, I actually just like the parcours. I am grateful as a result of I prefer it when organizers handle to shut a metropolis like Bergamo. It is a very stunning course the place we are able to carry out on, and it is a huge honour for me to have the ability to do this. What a enjoyable factor it’s to race by means of a closed metropolis parcour. If I weren’t a professional bike owner, it might be one thing I’d dream of; how good it might be with no visitors, and go full gasoline,” Reusser mentioned.
“I additionally like the kind of time trial it’s as a result of it is quick, and it has plenty of distractions. It has plenty of technical points. It is actually, actually fascinating; you’ll not be bored at any level in any respect.”
Whereas she approves of this course, she additionally admitted {that a} longer, much less technical time trial would have suited her higher and given her a bonus within the GC standings, however that it would not be practically as enjoyable.
“In fact, if it is nearly win the race, the GC and TT, then the time path, for me, needs to be a really lengthy, very onerous one with no technical corners, it is simply tremendous onerous, tremendous lengthy,” she mentioned.
“Then I may put extra time into my rivals, and there can be extra advantages for me. However once I select for the enjoyable aspect of issues, then I am actually pleased with this time trial.”
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