Vos confident after good preparation for Giro Donne
Team Jumbo-Visma Women will participate in the Giro Donne, held from June 30 to July 9, with a competitive selection. Marianne Vos has already celebrated many successes in the Giro Donne. The 36-year-old Dutch cyclist already has 32 stage victories and will look to add to her tally this year.
The Italian stage race 2023 will start in Chianciano with a short prologue. The peloton will not hit the high mountains for the rest of the week. However, only the second stage is expected to end in a typical bunch sprint. The majority of the other stages will have challenging cols in the final. A rest day is planned for July 7, when the peloton heads to Sardinia. The final weekend will be held on the island.
Vos feels she is ready for the nine-day stage race after taking third place in the Dutch national championships last weekend. "I had a good preparation, and I am happy about that. The Giro Donne is a race I always look forward to because I have fond memories of it. I love riding in Italy. The Italians embrace the race, and there is always a nice atmosphere. All the streets are pink."
"The Giro Donne is a race I always look forward to because I have fond memories of it"
"The peloton, for example, is less nervous than the Tour peloton", Vos knows by experience. "Of course, the stakes are high, and the riding is with complete devotion, but the interaction is a bit more friendly in Italy. Nevertheless, many top riders always want to achieve great results."
The three-time world champion believes the organisers have created a varied course. "In the past, there was always a logical progression, but currently, there is just one stage that involves less than 1,000 metres of climbing. The absence of well-known climbs is noticeable, but I still like the route. It encourages breakaways and spectacle. I expect the general classification to be decided in two or three stages."
Race coach Carmen Small says Team Jumbo-Visma Women are not focusing on the GC. "The varied course of the Giro suits our team, but the general classification is not our main goal. We're going to race hard and take our chances. All the riders might surprise if we play our cards well."
The other members of Team Jumbo-Visma Women's selection for the Giro Donne are Karlijn Swinkels, Teuntje Beekhuis, Fem van Empel, Maud Oudeman, Noemi Ruëgg and Linda Riedmann. The Giro Donne will mark Van Empel and Oudeman's debut grand tour in their respective careers. Vos tries to pass on her wealth of experience. "We're bringing along some debutantes, which is fantastic. When you race a lot, it becomes routine. You can now see everything through new eyes."
