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  The final warm up race for the Giro Rosa other than the National Championships for European riders is the Giro del Trentino Alto Adige - Südtirol. In the past has been a hard stage race offering riders a real test ahead of the only Grand Tour on the calendar. This year it has been reduced to just a one day race. While it will still provide an opportunity to find form it will not test riders as it has in the past.

2013 Review

Evelyn Stevens won last year but with the race very different including a TTT it doesn't reflect what we may see this year. A look at the recent Durango-Durango Emakumeen Saria and Emakumeen Euskal Bira presents a better insight. Although with that said many of the dominant riders there are not riding here. No Vos, Johansson, Armitstead, Ferrand-Prevot, Daams or Longo Borghini leaving a wide open field.

The Course


Profile

The first 80km of the 108km course are mostly flat. There is some undulation but nothing that should really trouble anyone. The first and only real obstacle in the race starts at around the 81km mark. The approximately 10km climb to Bivio will be where the first main selection is made. Expect lots of attacks to come on the climb. A long 10km descent follows before about 2km of flat. The race finishes in Mezzolombardo with a 3km uphill drag to the line.

The Contenders

Elena Cecchini

On paper Elena Cecchini is a sprinter but she has perhaps impressed me the most this year of everyone. Finished 8th in Qatar then went to Track Worlds before a string of top 20 results in the early season classics. Finished 5th at the Winston-Salem Cycling Classic, before winning the criterium. 10th at The Women's Tour after top 10 in four of the five stages. Went to China and impressed there with 6th at the Tour of Chongming Island before a stunning 2nd at the World Cup. Added 15th at the much hillier Tour of Zhoushan Island. Took a break before again posting good results last week in Spain. 21st at Durango-Durango Emakumeen Saria and an impressive 17th at Emakumeen Euskal Bira. Has shown she can climb and if she makes it over the climb watch out in the finish. She did finish 19th up the Mur at Flèche Wallonne Féminine.

Amanda Spratt

Spratt broke her collarbone at Ronde van Vlaanderen but since returning has shown good form. Took 17th in her first race back at Boels Rental Hills Classic, before 25th over the weekend at Emakumeen Euskal Bira. Was disappointed to miss selection for the Commonwealth Games and with the Giro Rosa fast approaching expect a good ride. Can climb and has a fast sprint.

Carlee Taylor

Normally rides in the support of her teammates as we saw at the Worlds last year from Cromwell and Australian Nationals for Elvin. Taylor is strong on the climbs and without Johansson in the race Taylor may be given room to chase a result for herself.

Katrin Garfoot

Signed with Orica-AIS for the rest of the season. Not a name many may be overly familiar with. Only came to the sport in the past 5 years but dominated the Australian domestic NRS series last year. Spent the early season with the Jayco-AIS National team. As soon as the races started to climb Garfoot showed her talent. Finished 16th at Flèche Wallonne and top 5 on every stage at Gracia Orlova to take 2nd overall. In her final race for the first part of her season finished 4th at Tour of Zhoushan Island and won the Mountains Classification. Strong on the climbs and has a quick finish from a small group. Might take a few races to get her legs back but don't discount her standing on the podium here.

Fabiana Luperini

Had been quiet all year until racing started in Spain last year. Finished 17th at Durango-Durango Emakumeen Saria and 7th at Emakumeen Euskal Bira with top 10 finishes on three stages. A very strong climber and former winner of the Giro Rosa. At 40 is in the final part of her career but after being removed from the Giro last year (bike under weight) will be hoping to use this race as a final warm up.

Rossella Ratto

After a quiet early season Ratto bounced back with a stage win and 3rd overall at The Women's Tour. Was the Best Young Rider and 4th at Auensteiner- Radsporttage before finally making her mark last week. 10th and 11th at Durango-Durango Emakumeen Saria and Emakumeen Euskal Bira respectively. Finished 12th at the Giro Rosa last year and is still only 20.

Linda Villumsen

Villumsen is a very strong climber but is often inconsistent. Won the race back in 2012 thanks to her strong time trial performance. Hasn't raced much in Europe though her best result is 8th at La Flèche Wallonne Féminine. If she is in a small group at the finish will be very dangerous and expect her to attack.

Natalia Boyarskaya

Won a stage and finished 14th overall at Gracia Orlova. Won two stages and the overall at the Tour of Adygeya for the second year in a row in the Middle of May. Comes in after finishing 8th at the Frauen Grand Prix Gippingen on the weekend.

Eugenia Bujak

The 24 year old from Poland has had a strong past two months. Her run started with 3rd at Winston-Salem Cycling Classic before three stages podiums and another 3rd overall at Gracia Orlova. Took 2nd over the weekend at Frauen Grand Prix Gippingen behind solo winner and countrywoman Katarzyna Niewiadoma.

Yevgenia Vysotska

The 38 year old hasn't raced much this year. Just 9 UCI race days and of that has only finished Gracia Orlova. Finished 13th overall but the field wasn't particularly strong. Has finished top 10 twice at what is now known as the Giro Rosa including 9th last year.

Other names to watch: Valentina Carretta, Katazyna Sosna, Francesca Cauz, Lara Vieceli, Sari Saarelainen, Tatiana Antoshina, Gracie Elvin, Valentina Scandolara, Sabrina Stultiens and Martina Ritter.
 
 
         
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