LALLIO – The Giro d'Italia Women's cycling started with a time trial that did not surprise due to the final result and the gaps inflicted by Marlene Reusser. Switzerland of the Team Movistar he left behind all the other contenders for the pink jersey and not only and a Giro Women's cycling It started without surprises, true, but it will already take the group to the first mountains today with the arrival in Aprica. Not a challenging path but one that can already lead to the first negative verdicts, a testing ground where it is difficult to think of creating large gaps.
Top 10
In yesterday's time trial, one of the protagonists who did not fail to be present in the top 10 of the day was Shirin Van Anrooij. The Dutch of Lidl Trek She showed up at the start of the Giro d'Italia Women's cycling as the leading athlete after the withdrawal of Gaia RealiniThe American team's objectives have changed, but confidence is high, given the work done.
«We focused – Van Anrooij told us on the sidelines of an event at the Trek Store in Lallio – on working at heights to best face this appointment. Personally I felt very good and I'm happy to return to the Giro Women's cycling with the right sensations. After the Tour of the Basque Country, which I ran in May, I stopped to train for the Line of Business of Italy Women's cycling».
How did the preparation go?
Everything went very well. I'm satisfied with how we worked and with the decision to stay for a three-week training camp. Once I returned from training camp, I tested myself in the national time trial and road championships. The sensations were quite good, but they were the first races so we needed to find the right rhythm again.
With what ambitions do you arrive at the Giro Women's cycling?
I arrive with an open mind. I have to trust and find the right confidence in my abilitiesI've made a step forward and I have to process this and gain confidence. It will be important to understand how I emerge from the iliac artery operation made this winter.
Do you feel like you're back on the bike in top form?
I had no problems, that's a good thing. The start of the season was not easy but I feel like I'm improving race after race.
How will Lidl-Trek deal with this? Giro Women's cycling?
With the goal of winning a stage with one of the girls at the start, including myself. I think that's a realistic goal for me too. Then I will understand day by day if it will be possible to try to take care of the general classification or notBut I don't put any pressure on myself from this point of view.
Have you seen any stages you like?
Actually, there isn't a specific one. I think the last part of the Giro Women's cycling it's really difficult, especially the last three days. The outcome of the stages will depend greatly on my position in the general classification. If I have wasted a lot of time, I might think about joining some escape., otherwise we will have to try to stay with the best.
What steps do you think we need to take to become competitive in stage races?
Last year I left for the Tour de France with the aim of finishing in the general classification, then the problem with my iliac artery slowed me down. Vuelta Femenina I didn't expect to participate and simply supported Fisher-Black and Riejanne Markus. Now to the Giro Women's cycling I'll have more space for myself and I won't have to work for a captainWithout pressure, I think I can aim high, and if I don't succeed, it will still be a positive experience. On the one hand, not having a single leader allows everyone to have more opportunities and from a certain point of view this is a good thing..
