Romain Bardet (Team DSM) won stage 3 of the Vuelta a Burgos, crossing the line solo, with Domenico Pozzovivo (Team Qhubeka NextHash) (www.TeamQhubeka.com) leading the chase group home and taking 2nd place, Mikel Landa (Bahrain-Victorious) finished 3rd.

Stage 3 of the Vuelta a Burgos presented the first real test to the contenders for the general classification as the riders had to face the famous climb of Picon Blanco. The full stage covered 173 km, Picon Blanco culminating at just 18 km from the finish, followed by a technical descent to the line.

An early breakaway went well in the first kilometers of the stage, but the peloton had no problem controlling the gap, ensuring that the breakaways were caught on the climb.

Ineos-Grenadiers and EF-Education picked up the pace on the lower slopes of the climb, but it was an acceleration from Fabio Aru that really put the pressure, resulting in a refinement of the main group. Giro d’Italia winner Egan Bernal (Ineos-Grenadiers) then tried to control the pace of their protected rider Pavel Sivakov, but new attacks soon followed.

Aru and Pozzovivo rode well in tandem, following the movements until only 11 riders remained in contention 3 km from the top of the climb. It became quite tactical on the last kilometers uphill but it was Bardet who launched a revealing attack just before the summit and took a 15 ‘gap.

Pozzovivo was part of the first chase group with three other riders, Landa (Bahrain-Victorious), Nieve (Bike-Exchange) and Bouchard (AG2R Citroën), at the start of the descent. Aru followed a few seconds behind in the 2nd chase group.

Bardet came down like a rocket and extended his lead to 35 ″ over the Pozzovivo pursuit group. There was a big scare for Pozzovivo when Bouchard crashed in front of him in one of the many corners, but our Italian managed to stay upright and resumed the chase.

Bardet also slipped very close to the bottom of the descent but wasted hardly any time with an impressive and quick comeback. The Frenchman kept his gap on the line, winning a very good stage victory. Pozzovivo led the 3-rider home pursuit group to take 2nd place on the stage.

Aru would end up in the next group of chasers, just 11 ″ behind the Pozzovivo group, and sprint in 7th place on the stage. The solid performances of our Italian duo allowed Pozzovivo to climb to 3rd place in the general classification and Aru to 4th.

Domenico Pozzovivo
“Today was a stage that suited me better than the first two windy stages. On the last climb we did a good job, with Fabio it’s only Bardet who took Landa and me to the top and we know he’s very strong on the descent. I tried to avoid taking too many risks on the descent. Me, Landa and Nieve tried to get back to Bardet but he was very strong, even on the flat. Finally, I was happy to finish 2nd with a good sprint because it is not my best skill. We are now confidently awaiting our form for the last mountain stage and also for the Vuelta a Espana. “

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of the Qhubeka NextHash team.

Media contact:
Jean Smyth (communication manager)
Email: [email protected]
Mobile: +27 63 470 1710 or +31 625 739 033

About the Qhubeka NextHash team:
The Qhubeka NextHash team is a goal-driven high performance team, fighting to win on the world’s biggest stage, to inspire hope and create opportunity. Founded in 2007, Team Qhubeka NextHash (formerly NTT Pro Cycling) became the first African cycling team to win a UCI WorldTour license, in 2016.

We had our first major victory in 2013 when Gerald Ciolek won Milan-San Remo, one of the five monuments of cycling. We have participated in six Tour de France and won 7 stage victories, with Mark Cavendish wearing the coveted Yellow Jersey at the Tour de France 2016.

We are a multicultural and diverse team with bases in South Africa, the Netherlands and Italy. There are 19 nationalities represented in our World Tour and Continental Feeder team rosters. Our focus on the development of African cycling has enabled more than 55 riders from the African continent to be offered the opportunity to race on the world stage since the inception of the team.

We run to help people get ahead with cycling through our relationship with Qhubeka Charity. Through our work with Qhubeka, we have helped distribute over 30,000 bikes to communities across South Africa.

About Qhubeka:
Qhubeka is a charity that gets people moving with bikes. People are gaining bicycles through our programs, improving their access to schools, clinics and jobs.

A bicycle is a tool that helps people travel faster, farther, and carry more. In the face of extreme and persistent poverty, bikes can change lives by helping tackle socio-economic challenges at the most basic level – helping people get to where they need to go.

All images attached to the press release may be used with the respective image credit in conjunction with this release.

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Refresh

A shoulder injury may have cut short the 2021 season for Grace Brown, but there was no doubt it was the best season of the Australian rider’s career so far, but with big plans underway for the year to come, it may not stay that way for long.

It will be a new team in 2022 for the 29-year-old player who is moving away from the team she started her career with, Team BikeExchange, to join FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope. In addition, she will focus firmly on the Tour de France Women and Paris-Roubaix Women, as well as the road world championships at home and it doesn’t stop there. It may be a post-Olympic year, but there’s certainly no shortage of big goals for 2022 that Brown can afford when asked what would make next season a good one.

“I want to establish myself as one of the leaders of the peloton and have consistent results. Obviously it would be great to get some more WorldTour wins, â€said Brown. Cycling news, smiling as she continued her wishlist for 2022.

“And hopefully a Commonwealth Games medal in the time trial, preferably gold. And yes, I would say a medal at the World Championships, that would be a pretty good year, â€she added with a small laugh.

High hopes, but given how quickly the rider has progressed over her three years as a professional, it doesn’t seem unreasonable to dream big. Even with just 27 days of international racing in 2021, Brown earned her first victory in the Women’s WorldTour, followed by another, seven podiums, 15 top ten and a near-failure of the time trial podium at the Tokyo Olympics. .

An impressive record for a season cut short due to a shoulder injury suffered during the Giro d’Italia Donne. She managed to qualify for the Olympics, but it soon became apparent that her injury was not healing as it should have been and that surgery would be required. This meant there was no choice but to pause and watch from a distance – and hopefully without too many regrets – as the World Championships befitting and the very first Paris -Roubaix feminine was taking place.

“I gave myself a little time to reflect on the fact that it had been a really good year and that I was really proud of the success that I had had and that I put an end to it,†said Brown. . “It was a really great time until my injury, and then it was about saying, okay, now I just have to work on the surgical process and recover from that.

Vision and passion

Brown, 29, made a late start in cycling after giving up running, but quickly found his way into the sport and signed with Australian team GreenEdge, now known as Team BikeExchange, from 2019. In her second season as a professional in 2020, she has already started to stand out with opportunities to step into a managerial position, first due to the departure of Annemiek van Vleuten for Movistar, then with Amanda Spratt faced with problems due to iliac artery endofibrosis.

It was during this first season interrupted by a pandemic that she won her first European victory at Brabantse Pijl before reaching even higher heights in 2021. Given her growth within her national team, she joined the French team which finished eighth in the UCI ranking. this year it wasn’t exactly the expected option, but it was an option she wholeheartedly embraced.

“I spoke to other teams and in the end my instinct was that FDJ was the best fit for me, that cultural fit as well,†Brown said. “The obvious is to stay with GreenEdge, but when I’m done with my career I want a range of experiences and I think that means moving around a bit. I don’t want to be constantly moving, but I think I’ll be a more complete rider if I get out of the comfortable team environment and try something new.

At FDJ, she will join a team that appears to be gaining tremendous momentum, with an array of talented young riders developing and a few key players who cannot be ignored as a threat within the peloton. The longtime team have risen through the ranks over the past two seasons and Brown’s signing in 2022, with young Italian rider Vittoria Guazzini, is part of their plan to rise even higher.

“They had a lot of vision and passion to have me on the team and I was inspired by that and also by what they are trying to do with the team,†said Brown. “It’s a good thing to be a part of that and to be with a team that are really aiming to be on top and are coming a little behind. But yeah, that’s a nice goal they have and that’s inspired me, and I think they also really enjoyed the type of driver that I am and want that style of racing in their team.

It’s not hard to draw parallels between Brown’s attitude in the races and the decision to move on to her new team as she is a runner who looks for opportunities, will defend herself against the big names and, rather than stay seated and play the game safe or let others dictate terms, don’t be afraid to take a risk to try and win.

With these attributes, it’s easy to see why she seems to fit in well with the often-racing animation team of Futuroscope FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine, which includes Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig, Marta Cavalli, Evita Muzic, Clara Copponi and her compatriot. Australian Brodie Chapman. There she will come in as one of the leaders, who is also perfectly prepared to slip into a supporting role, and the team’s growing firepower means that attack on multiple fronts should more often become a option.

“I think with the other front runners they have on FDJ like Marta and Cecilie they are both very good climbers and I think my strengths compliment them because I’m not the same type of runner. than them, but I think we can really play against each other and get some good results. ”

Targets

Brown’s shoulder injury may have interrupted her season, but she was back on the bike and able to train from October, meaning she’s actually likely to start the season. 2022 before where it usually would be. However, while his form of training may have had time to develop, there was a lot of time between races.

His last event was the Olympic time trial in July, but luckily before heading to Europe there are a few Australian races to ease the transition as even though the international events are canceled there are still events. national in progress.

We spoke to Brown on the sunny foreshore of Geelong in December after the launch of the race that will be his first in more than five months, the Lexus of Blackburn Bay Crits. The two-day event on January 8-9, where she will race for the Lexus of Blackburn team, will be an opportunity to test her form ahead of the Australian National Road Championships January 12-16.

First place at the Australian Championships will be the time trial, which she won in 2019, but has finished second behind Sarah Gigante in the past two years. The pair were head and shoulders above their rivals in 2021 but, having faced health issues in 2021, Gigante won’t be defending his title, so Brown looks almost unbeatable. Brown has also been on the podium in road racing for the past two years, but she will be lining up under very different circumstances this year.

As part of Team BikeExchange, Australia’s only women’s world team, Brown has lined up over the past three years with the team that is generally the dominant force in the race, but this year she’s been on the line. will face alone as her only Aussie teammate Chapman won’t. back to racing in Buninyong this time. This means that a different approach is needed.

“It won’t necessarily be harder, you just have to run in a different way when you’re on your own,†Brown said. “I think I have to be a little more courageous in a way. I will only have to commit myself. Depending on how the race goes, I might have to take bigger risks.

After the national championships, attention will then turn to the Santos Festival of Cycling, with a four-day National Road Series event held from January 23-26 to replace the usual international event, which was canceled for a second year in amid the COVID-19 pandemic. During this race, she will lead a young national team, Team Garmin Australia, before returning to Europe and settling in her new team FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope.

Brown said although she doesn’t have her exact schedule yet, she could start with February’s four-stage Setmana Ciclista Valenciana as a warm-up before the cobblestone classics where her main targets will likely be Flanders, where she came third. in 2021, and the second edition of the Paris-Roubaix Femmes. So the next big thing is the Tour de France Women, a huge event for everyone, but especially for a French team, and it’s a race where Brown has said she will target stages.

This will be quickly followed by the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in early August before September offers the rare opportunity to compete in the home world championships in Wollongong, Australia. Brown said that since full routes, lap details and elevation gain details had yet to be released, it was unclear exactly what the route – which crosses the coast before to travel a street circuit and a loop with an ascent of Mount Keira – would bring.

“From the information we have, I think it will be a Classic style race. There’s that longer climb, which is going to work a bit on the attrition in the race and then I expect it to be a bit more punchy towards the end, but it depends on how it all lines up. . But based on the information I have, I think this will be a suitable course for me.

“But, we have to wait and see and also I have to juggle the time trial and road racing so that more information comes out, we can make a better plan around it.”

There may still be some uncertainty around Brown’s exact timeline and plans, especially without all the details of the world being revealed, but there is one thing there is no doubt about.

“It will be a year filled with a lot of great things,†Brown said.

Sydney restaurants, cafes and bars will be allowed to reopen once NSW hits its 70% double vaccination target, meaning the long wait for dinner at the restaurant is almost over. After months of take out dinners and home recipes keeping us connected to our favorite bars and restaurants, the real deal is so close and we can’t wait.

With the loosening of restrictions looming, a good chunk of the city’s population will be just as eager as you (and us) to head out for a Sunday lunch, Saturday brunch, or date dinner date. So we strongly recommend that you book your first outing (then your second, third etc) as it is safe to say Sydney restaurants will be very busy once we get to play.

That’s why we’ve started to bring together some of the best restaurants in Sydney that are already taking reservations for you and your vaxxed double mates. Remember that these dates are tentatively based on vaccination projections (estimated around Monday, October 18) and that you will need your double-jab vaccination certificate to enter any reception location.

As always guys, this is by no means a definitive list, and we encourage you to check out the social networks of your local favorites and try a new place, too. If you would like to be included on this list or if you know of a restaurant taking reservations, please contact our editor here.

Restaurants now accepting reservations in and around Sydney CBD

Aria

Sporting one of Sydney’s most enviable locations and a gourmet menu from new Executive Chef Tom Gorringe, Aria is once again accepting reservations starting Monday, October 18. Book here.

Arthur

This superb set menu on leafy Bourke Street in Surry Hills is perfect for date nights. Arthur is now taking reservations from Monday, October 18. Book here.

Wine Gastronomy

Missing the flavors of arancini antipasti, anchovies and zucchini flowers stuffed with ricotta? De Vine Food & Wine is now taking reservations from Tuesday, October 19. Book here.

Monopoly

Chef Brent Savage’s legendary hospitality duo and European-inspired CBD wine bar by sommelier Nick Hildebrandt are now accepting reservations starting Wednesday, October 20. Book here.

Mr. Wong

Roasted whole Chinese duck, garlic butter shrimp, crispy fried Balmain insects and a dedicated lunchtime dim sum menu – Chef Dan Hong’s Mr Wong is now taking reservations from Monday, October 11 . Book here.

NOLA Smokehouse & Bar

While you currently can’t make it to New Orleans, starting Friday, October 22, you can head to the NOLA Smokehouse & Bar in Barangaroo for a hell of a Southern cut of roast meat and a pinch of American whiskey. Book here.

Restaurants now accept reservations in Sydney’s eastern suburbs

Chinese dinner

Contemporary Cantonese restaurant China Diner officially takes reservations starting Tuesday, October 19. Book here for Bondi, Double bay or the Tramsheds.

Chiswick

Ready to serve delicious farm-to-plate treats in the vegetable patch filled with seasonal produce, Chiswick is accepting reservations from Tuesday, October 19. Book here.

Coogee Wine Room

Coogee Bay Road Restaurant and Bar is taking reservations starting Tuesday, October 19, ready to serve Mediterranean-inspired sharing plates and a few glasses from its 400+ wine list. Book here.

Drake Restaurant

If you fancy cocktails by the beach, Bondi’s Drake Eatery will be back for lunch Thursday through Sunday and dinner every night of the week. They take reservations from Monday October 18th. Book here.

Henriette

There is nothing quite like accompanying some of the best Middle Eastern inspired charcoal chickens to Sydney with a few frozen cocktails. Henrietta from Crown Street is back and taking reservations starting Monday October 18th. Book here.

North Bondi Fish

With one of the best up-close views of Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach, you’ll want to make sure you secure a spot for an after-swim cocktail and a fish taco at the North Bondi Fish, available from Monday, October 18. Book here.

Nour

Crown Street Nour brings a modern gourmet twist to classic Lebanese flavors. The beloved Surry Hills restaurant is once again offering reservations starting Tuesday, October 19. Book here.

Yellow

Boasting one of Sydney’s most impressive gourmet herbal menus, as well as an eclectic range of natural and biodynamic wines, Potts Point’s Yellow is once again accepting reservations starting Wednesday, October 20 in its gallery of converted 1950s art. Book here.

Restaurants Now Accepting Reservations in West Central Sydney

Cafe Paci

Friendly neighborhood vibe, beef tongue and sauerkraut tacos, duck rillettes and classic steak fries: Newtown’s Café Paci is officially back and accepting reservations starting Monday, October 18. Book here.

Emma’s snack bar

Homous, garlic dip, and kafta for days on end – when it’s full (which it always is), Emma’s Snack Bar is one of the liveliest spots in Sydney’s Inner West. Favorite Enmore is now taking reservations starting Tuesday, October 19. Book here.

Hartsyard

Chef and co-owner Jarrod Walsh’s all-Australian cafe menu is officially available in-house, with Hartsyard once again accepting reservations starting Monday, October 18. Book here.

Little Lagos

The Little Lagos Restaurant in Enmore Road is the undisputed home of Nigeria’s diverse cuisine in the Inner West, and they are officially accepting reservations starting Wednesday, October 13. Book here.

A red penny

Bar snacks, small plates, large plates, share menus or just a glass of wine, it’s hard to go wrong stopping at the historic Summer Hill restaurant converted into a post office. One Penny Red is now taking dinner reservations starting Monday, October 18. Book here.

Six penny

Nestled in a corner terrace, Stanmore’s Sixpenny is quietly one of the best restaurants in the country. Discover their incredible tasting menu with reservations again available from Friday October 22. Book here.

Restaurants are now accepting reservations in Western Sydney

Lilymu

Parramatta’s favorite Pan-Asian restaurant is back to serve up fresh and bold flavors once again, accepting reservations starting Tuesday, October 19. Book here.

Bar & Brasserie Ruse

Fancy dining inside and outside Parramatta Square, barrel-aged Negroni, and mud crab on toast? The Ruse Bar & Brasserie is now taking reservations from Tuesday, October 19. Book here.

CicciaBella

Handmade pasta, fresh seafood, Italian wines and the impossible choice between tiramisu or banoffee pie (tip, order both). CicciaBella resumes reservations for Parramatta Wednesday, October 20 and Bondi from Monday, October 18.

Restaurants are now accepting reservations in North Sydney and the Northern Beaches

Bert’s Bar & Brasserie

Bert’s European coastal menu is back calling you for fresh platters of oysters, crab, whole fish or lobster. You can book from Wednesday October 13. Book here.

Ormeggio on a spit

Fine Italian cuisine overlooking picturesque views of Middle Harbor and Pearl Bay – need we say more? Ormeggio At The Spit is now accepting bookings from Friday October 22. Book here.

Freshwater pilu

What is it with the northern restaurants and the spectacular views? If you’re looking for a fresh Italian lunch accompanied by sea breezes and beachside visuals, book at Pilu At Freshwater starting Monday, October 18. Book here.

Now catch up on all the other Sydney food news you missed over the past week.

Image Credit: Monopoly, Henrietta, Café Paci, Nikki To, Pilu

British fashion designer Stella McCartney has teamed up with Cannondale to create a series of limited edition bikes featuring hand-painted designs by three emerging artists from around the world.

Ed Cutis in London, Myfawnwy (Maisie Broome) in New York and Tom Tosseyn in Antwerp have all worked with McCartney on his fall / winter 2021 range and have now applied their artistic vision to three of Cannondale’s latest bikes: the SystemSix, the SuperSix EVO and EVO CX.

(Image credit: Cannondale)

The project came to fruition thanks to McCartney’s love for cycling and a shared vision with Cannondale. Billed as a “celebration of the spirit of self-expression and creativity,” the 18 hand-painted bikes feature bold graphics and distinctive colors, helping to reinterpret three of Cannondale’s most recognizable machines.

“As a longtime cyclist and as someone who uses their bike every day to commute to work, I couldn’t be more excited for my new shared trip with Cannondale,†says McCartney. “The bikes we have created embody our shared values ​​and vision – combining beauty and desirability with a sense of responsibility to the next generation”

(Image credit: Cannondale)

The bikes will not be available for sale and their production is not planned. However, the bikes will be on display at four of Stella McCartney’s flagship stores in London, New York, Shanghai and Tokyo with a chance for one lucky winner in each location to win one of the limited bikes.

(Image credit: Cannondale)

Cannondale is no stranger to interesting collaborations resulting in distinctive looking bikes. At Giro d’Italia 2020, as suppliers to the EF Racing team, their bikes were adorned with bold graphics born from the design partnership between Rapha, the team’s kit sponsor, and Palace, a skateboard brand based in London.

Contrary to tradition, the end result, a wild tie-dye inspired act, was not to everyone’s liking and resulted in the team being fined for not following official racing kit guidelines. However, the image of some of the world’s best runners competing in helmets designed to resemble cartoon ducks will be remembered for a long time.

In fact, bike makers who team up with artists are nothing new. Italian brand Cinelli continued its long-standing association with New York graffiti legend Futura with a recent clothing line inspired by the artist’s love for road racing and his background as a bicycle courier at New York in the late 1980s.

Upon returning to racing in 2009, renowned art collector Lance Armstrong rode a bicycle painted by Brooklyn-based street artist KAWS during that year’s edition of Milan-Sanremo. In a project called STAGES, the Texan continued to run on machines decorated by Damien Hirst and Shepard Fairey. The bikes were then auctioned off to raise money for Armstrong’s Cancer Charities.

Italian company Noko has unveiled a trio of new electric bikes that it says can keep going for up to 200 km (or 124 miles). It’s not the biggest line of e-bikes (the WAU bike, for example, can go up to 215 miles with its extra power pack), but Noko’s bikes will also be exceptionally light, making them much more practical for daily trips and storage space.

While the WAU tilts the scales at 22 kg before clipping its battery, Noko says its new bikes will weigh just 14.8kg.

That would make them light for any electric bike, not to mention a long range bike. For context, our current top-rated bike, the Cowboy 4, has a maximum range of 43.5 miles and weighs between 18.9kg and 19.2kg. The lightest bike on our list, the Ribble Hybrid Al e, weighs just 13.1kg and has a maximum range of 60 miles.

A light touch

As Tips for electric bikes reports, the three models in the new range of Noko are the Forza, the Tempo and the Vulcano.

Just like the Cowboy 4, the Forza and Tempo are road bikes with a carbon drive belt rather than a chain (a convenient way to reduce maintenance). The Forza has a spanning frame, while the Tempo has a straddle. Both bikes start at € 3,990 (around $ 4,500 / £ 3,400 / AU $ 6,300).

The Vulcano is a slightly more rugged case, with a drive chain and drop handlebars, not quite unlike the Ribble CGR Al E electric gravel bike. Its price starts at € 4,350 (around $ 4,900 / £ 3,700 / AU $ 6,900).

All bikes are available in a choice of colors and three sizes; a nice surprise because many e-bikes are only available with a single frame option which limits their accessibility. They are available for pre-order now for delivery next year.

Analysis: going the distance

So will Noko’s new bikes really continue for 200 km? Probably not – but that depends on the conditions and how you ride them.

In the United States, riders are sometimes disappointed to find that the maximum range shown is based on pedal assist and is much shorter than what can be achieved using the accelerator alone. Due to EU e-bike laws, the Forza, Tempo, and Vulcano will not have throttles and their motors will only engage while you pedal. If you work harder on your own and use the lower of the five assist settings, you’ll gain more autonomy.

Environmental factors are also important, and the high end will only be ideal conditions achievable. Factors like road conditions, wind, the combined weight of you and your luggage, and even your clothing choices can all impact real-world performance.

You will also need to keep the tires under optimum pressure; punctures mean more resistance on the road, which can easily be missed as the engine compensates for the drop in efficiency.

However, unless a manufacturer goes out of its way to make it clear that their numbers are based on actual performance (such as Juice bikes fact), these same limitations will still apply. Even if you can’t keep riding for 200 km on one of Noko’s new bikes, the range should still be much better than others in the same weight class.

After a few days marked by sprints, the Giro d’Italia Donne returns to the mountains for the penultimate stage on Saturday, offering the riders one last opportunity to improve their position in the general classification. Stage 9 includes more than 2,200 meters of elevation gain and three classified climbs, the “queen†stage of the longest tour of the women’s calendar ending on Monte Matajur at 1,267 meters above sea level.

Monte Matajur is a mountain in the Julian Alps on the border between Italy and Slovenia, with a peak at 1645 meters above sea level. However, the paved road ends at Rifugio Pelizzo at 1294 meters where stage 9 ends after a climb of 13.9 kilometers. The average incline is 7.7 percent, but the climb is very irregular.

The first two kilometers are not particularly steep, but are followed by one kilometer with an average of nine percent. The sixth mile of the climb is even steeper than the 10.2% before the grade drops to 6-9%. The last four kilometers are the most difficult, almost continuously above nine percent and often above ten percent. The last mile is 11%.

Maglia rosa Anna van der Breggen (Team SD Worx) is definitely out of reach, and so are probably the other podiums, currently occupied by Van der Breggen teammates Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio at 2:55 minutes behind and Demi Vollering at 3:07 minutes.

But while there is nearly three minutes difference between Vollering and Lizzie Deignan, fourth in Trek-Segafredo, at 5:56 a.m., less than two minutes separate Deignan from Marta Cavalli (11th) (FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope), who is 7:52 minutes behind the race leader.

This means that the top ten and even the top five are still up for grabs. Riders from the home country will also compete for the prestigious blue jersey for the best Italian rider. Erica Magnaldi (Ceratizit-WNT), sixth overall at 6:39 minutes, Tatiana Guderzo d’Alé BTC Ljubljana is ninth overall at 7:28 minutes, Cavalli and Gaia Realini, 20 years old (Isolmant-Premac-Vittoria), who is riding his first Giro Donne and finishing 12th overall at 8:27 minutes, all will try to get rid of their compatriots on the difficult climb.

Glory of the Monte Matajur stage

Despite all the ambitions of the GC, a stage victory on such a difficult climb carries prestige in itself, and with a huge cushion in GC, Van der Breggen does not need to save even more time.

The two-time world champion is well known for helping her teammates reward them for their support, for example she was crucial for Chantal van den Broek-Blaak’s victory in the 2020 Tour of Flanders and Demi Vollering’s victory in Liège-Bastogne this year. -Cork.

Moolman-Pasio is an excellent climber who does not have many chances to win in the women’s calendar, however. The 35-year-old South African has yet to win a Women’s WorldTour race, and it’s conceivable that the team will hatch a plan to send her to the road to win the stage, still leaving Van der Breggen a broad support in the form of Vollering and Niamh Fisher-Black, who is tenth overall at 7:50 minutes.

SD Worx could even try to send Fisher-Black, the best youngster in the race, on a breakaway in the second category climb to Stregna, 41 kilometers from the finish, either as a springboard for Moolman-Pasio, or to leave the the young New Zealander herself competes for the stage victory.

Italian champion Elisa Longo Borghini (Trek-Segafredo) is one of the few riders who can thwart Team SD Worx’s plans. She has recovered well from a bad day on stage 2, starting in a breakaway with Moolman-Pasio on stage 6 then finishing second in stage 7, and will be eager to be the first Italian winner of stage of the 2021 edition.

There are also a handful of other capable climbers who won’t want to leave empty-handed from the Giro d’Italia Donne; Amanda Spratt (Team BikeExchange), Clara Koppenburg (Rally Cycling) and Mikayla Harvey (Canyon-SRAM) are just a few riders who have the potential to rise to the top with stage victory.

There is also the green jersey for the best climber yet to be won. Lucinda Brand (Trek-Segafredo) currently leads the mountain standings with 32 points after collecting points in the breakaways of stages 3 and 7. Elise Chabbey (Canyon-SRAM) is second with 20 points, followed by Liane Lippert (Team DSM) with 18 points.

Brand is 24 minutes behind in the overall standings, and an attack might just be the best form of defense for her – entering a breakaway before Stregna’s climb would allow her to pick up another seven mountain points and not have to s worry about the first category final climb which brings 13 points to the winner of the stage.

Chabbey could try the same, of course, with the added advantage that she also sits fifth overall at 6:27 minutes, just 31 seconds behind teammate Brand Deignan.

Whatever the course of the stage, it is certain that the penultimate stage of the Giro Donne will be another exciting finish at the top of Monte Matajur.