Women’s tour at the start from Chianciano Terme. Van Vleuten challenges Longo Borghini

930 km for the 34th edition of the Giro d’Italia womenstarting on Friday 30 June from Chianciano Terme. Five Italian regions will be crossed. It starts with a 4.4km individual time trial in Chianciano Terme which will award the first pink jersey. The caravan will remain in the province of Florence for the first stage in line which could smile at the attackers. Emilia Romagna will instead host the third and fourth stages that couldn’t be more different from each other: Modena will welcome the sprinters, Borgo Val di Taro the climbers. We then move on to Piedmont with two rather moving stages, while Liguria will host the last stage on the continent. After a day of rest to allow the caravan to transfer, the race will restart from Sardinia where, in Olbia, the final pink jersey will be awarded. Challenge between the world champion, the Dutch Annemiek Van Vleutenwinner of the three major stage races in 2022 and the Vuelta 2023, and Elisa Longo Borghini. Marta Cavalli, Letizia Paternoster, Marianne Vos are also at the start.

The stages:
1st stage – 30 June: Chianciano Terme (FI) – Chianciano Terme (FI), 4.4 km (individual time trial)
The 2023 edition of the Giro d’Italia women opens with a very fast time trial of just 4.4 km around Chianciano Terme and which is very reminiscent of last year’s prologue in Sardinia. On a totally flat track there will be room for the experts in time trials, but also for the explosive athletes.
2nd stage – 1 July: Bagno a Ripoli (FI) – Marradi (FI), 102.1 km
For the first stage online, we start again from Tuscany with a day in the Florentine area. After the first 70 practically flat kilometres, the climb begins towards the Colla pass (2nd category gpm) which will award the first green jersey. Then a rapid descent that will lead to the finish line.
3rd stage – 2 July: Formigine (MO)- Modena (MO), 118.2 km
For the first day in Emilia-Romagna a fraction without particular difficulties. The only roughness is the 3rd category climb of Villabianca- Marano but which is located 70 km from the finish line. Barring unforeseen events, it will be flown to Modena.
4th stage – 3 July: Fidenza (PR) – Borgo Val di Taro (PR), 134.1 km
The longest stage of the women’s Giro d’Italia runs through the province of Parma. A clearly divided fraction in two that could smile to the attackers, after a first stage almost flat, at the eightieth kilometer it starts to climb. The ascent of Bardi, Passo Montevacà and Strela, all three in the 3rd category, will be tackled in order. The last brow is 14 km from the finish line.
5th stage – 4 July: Salassa (TO)- Ceres (TO), 103.3 km

The first Piedmontese day of the Giro Donne includes an adrenaline-pumping stage with three gpm including the Passo del Lupo which with its 1407 m is also the Coppi peak of this edition. The last climb is 10 km from the finish, but the final kilometers are also slightly uphill. Female climbers will not be able to hide.

6th stage – 5 July: Canelli (AT) – Canelli (AT), 104.4 km

Canelli hosts the first real uphill finish of the Giro donne 2023. After an almost flat first part of the stage, the climb begins after 60 km towards the 3rd category gpm of Castino, then the Calosso climb and finally right on top of Canelli the goal of the day is placed.

7th stage – 6 July: Albenga (SV) – Alassio (SV), 109.1 km

The only Ligurian stage of the women’s tour has an interesting track that could offer surprises. The menu of the day includes 4 gpm which will especially enliven the end of the fraction, in order the athletes will face the climbs of Passo del Ginestro, the Vineyard, that of Garlenda and finally the arrival on the slope right in Alassio. A stage very suitable for female climbers, but given the imminent rest day everyone will try to attack.

DAY OF REST

8th stage – 8 July: Nuoro (SS) – Sassari (SS), 125.7 km

The Women’s Tour arrives in Sardinia for the grand finale. You start from Nuoro and pedal up to Sassari crossing the ups and downs of the Sardinian hinterland. There is only one official gpm, but the finish is also slightly uphill, a fraction that is very suitable for fast long distance riders.

9th stage – 9 July: Sassari (SS) – Olbia (SS) – 126.85 km

Olbia hosts the grand finale of the pink race with a grand finish on the sea. From the departure from Sassari 2 gpm of 3rd category will be able to worry the athletes even if by now the games for the general should be closed. Beware of the attackers who will be able to find conquered territory by surprising the group.