The 27th edition of the Giro d'Italia Internazionale Femminile Elite, part of the new Women's World Tour has been unveiled this morning at the Auditorium of Colnago Factory in Cambiago (Milan).
Ernesto Colnago, owner of the event location and main sponsor of the Pink and White Jersey, has welcomed the big crowd who came to participate. The Race Director Giuseppe Rivolta has thanked everybody describing his own emotions of building this route, described stage by stage by the Italian Cycling National Coach Edoardo Salvoldi.
Numerous athletes have come to discover personally the new route: Elisa Longo Borghini (Blue Jersey 2014-2015), the Japanese National Champion Mayuko Hagiwara (Stage winner in Morbegno last year), the three riders of Top Girls Fassa Bortolo Asja Paladin, Soraya Paladin and Irene Bitto, accompained by the Team Manager Lucio Rigato; from Canyon - SRAM Team Barbara Guarischi (winner in Ljubljana - BTC City) and Elena Cecchini (Italian National Champion), finally the Bronze Medal in Florence 2013 Rossella Ratto.
The edition n°27 begins with a prologue in the evening of the 1st July 2016 in Gaiarine, near Treviso. In the same territory there will be the first stage, with finish in San Fior di Sotto, before being in Friuli to remember the victims of the earthquake of 40 years ago. The sprinters will fight to win the next flat stage in Lendinara passing on the Colli Euganei finishing close to the Po River. The Central part of the edition will take place in Lombardy, first with the Tour of the Iseo Lake (from Costa Volpino to Lovere) then the high mountain stage from Grosio to Tirano with the terrible Mortirolo as Cima Coppi. A long transfer to Liguria means that the Giro goes to its finish: the last high mountain stage with uphill finish at the Sanctuary of Madonna della Guardia in Alassio (start in Andora) and the hard individual Time Trial of Varazze. Last opportunity for the sprinters is in Legnano on Saturday 9th July on the route of the Men's race Coppa Bernocchi, one day before the final day of Verbania where the winner will be crowned.
Edoardo Salvoldi says: "This is a perfect and complete route for the preparation to the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, which are planned in the first days of July".
The athletes have as well demonstrated their enthusiasm and they have already in mind their programs: "We all want to win every stage" - says Elisa Longo Borghini - "It will be for sure a hard Giro and as well thinking about the General Classification". Elena Cecchini agrees and adds: "I'm happy because there is a beautiful stage at my homeplace, I do training on these roads and I'd love to win it, the goal is to conquer a place for the Olympic Games. We have a strong team and we will see which roles we will have."
Renato Di Rocco, President of the Italian Cycling Federation declared the successful two Women's World Tour races in Italy, won by the World Champion Elizabeth Armitstead: "A big crowd came to see the women races, and the World Champion has declared that winning in Italy with the Rainbow Jersey is a sensation that you feel nowhere else."
RAI will broadcast the Giro Rosa on RAITRE right after the Live of the Tour de France, with the highlights commented by Piergiorgio Severini.
This is the list of the Race Jerseys (in parenthesis the sponsors)
Pink Jersey (Colnago)
Green Jersey (BIM)
White Jersey (Colnago)
Ciclamino Jersey (Selle SMP)
Blue Jersey (Giessegi)
Le tappe del 27° Giro Rosa:
Prologo: Gaiarine 2 km
1° tappa: Gaiarine – San Fior 104 km
2° tappa: Tarcento – Montenars 111,1 km
3° tappa: Montagnana – Lendinara 120 km
4° tappa: Costa Volpino – Lovere 98,550 km
5° tappa: Grosio – Tirano 77,5 km
6° tappa: Andora – Alassio/Madonna della Guardia 118,6 km
7° tappa: Albisola Superiore – Varazze (Cronometro Individuale) 21,9 km
8° tappa: Rescaldina – Legnano 99,350 km
9° tappa: Verbania – Verbania 104,8 km