More bad news for Italian women’s racing, as Pasta Zara, one of the major race sponsors, pulls out. It’s awful they’re pulling back from races, but I hope they’re sticking with the team at least…
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"Ornovazzo, hometown of @elisalongob gave free drinks in the bars during the World Championship Road race.
— Karl Lima (@Karl_Lima_Hitec) October 25, 2012
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Nice! Bet there was a LOT of demand as Longo Borghini bridged over to the final break group!
Giada Borgato wins the Italian Road National Championship on her Fuji Supreme (by FujiBicycles)
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"Won’t see a start line until domani, but competition has begun. @yokoteute wore her football jersey to dinner: Germany vs Italy tonight!
— Amber Pierce (Rais) (@ambermalika) June 28, 2012
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Nice! Bet that resulted in some banter!
Anna Zita Maria Stricker wins the Junior Italian Road Race Champs 2012 - via Campionato Italiano Donne Juniores 2012: Stavolta la Stricker fa proprio strike! - Batte la Covrig, Arzuffi sfortunatissima | Cicloweb
Click through for Italian race report
1. Anna Zita Maria Stricker (Ita) Vecchia Fontana, 2:30:32
2. Ana Maria Covriq (Ita) Canavesi-Cicli Florin Despar, s.t.
3. Miriam Romei (Ita) Lievore Detersivi-Artuso Legnami-Breganze, + 01:36
4. Arianna Fidanza (Ita) Eurotarget TX Active Still Bike, + 02:52
5. Veronica Cornolti (Ita) Footon Servetto-RPM Cicli, s.t.
6. Michela Pavin (Ita) Vecchia Fontana, s.t.
7. Gloria Boldrini Ita) Lievore Detersivi-Artuso Legnami-Breganze, s.t.
8. Nicole de Santo (Ita) Vecchia Fontana, s.t.
9. Ilaria Sanguineti (Ita) Valcar-PDM, s.t.
10. Asja Paladin (Ita) Vecchia Fontana, s.t.
Women’s Italian Road Race Champs 2012
Settimana Tricolore 2012 - Giorno 5 - Pergine Valsugana (TN) - Una giornata al femminile (by ValsuganaBike)
1. Giada Borgato (Ita) Diadora-Pasta Zara, 3:37:06
2. Silvia Valsecchi (Ita) Be Pink, + 01:04
3. Marta Bastianelli (Ita) GS Fiamme Azzurre, + 02:47
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The 23-year-old had considered giving up racing just a few months ago, having had little success in her career to date.
“After five years in the elite I did not have any results,” she explained “I had gone through a bad period; I was sick, then had a big crash, I really wanted to give it all up, I wondered how I could find a job, not having even gone to college because I was racing my bike.
“My family has been very supportive, have convinced me to stick it out, and now I can say that it was worth it,” she added.
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Giada Borgato solos to a surprise Italian road race title
Lovely little post-race interview with the new Italian road champion - I bet she’s glad she decided to stick around in cycling!
Giada Borgato campionessa Italiana Donne Elite (by bicibg)
Giada Borgato wins the Italian National Road Race 2012 - video with race highlights and the podium
1. Giada Borgato (Ita) Diadora-Pasta Zara, 3:37:06
2. Silvia Valsecchi (Ita) Be Pink, + 01:04
3. Marta Bastianelli (Ita) GS Fiamme Azzurre, + 02:47
Giada Borgato, the new Italian women’s Road Race Champion!
1. Giada Borgato (Ita) Diadora-Pasta Zara, 3:37:06
2. Silvia Valsecchi (Ita) Be Pink, + 01:04
3. Marta Bastianelli (Ita) GS Fiamme Azzurre, + 02:47
4. Valentina Caretta (Ita) MCipollini-Giambenini, + 02:48
5. Monia Baccaille (Ita) GS Fiamme Azzurre, + 05:30
6. Valentina Scandolara (Ita) SC Michela Fanini Rox, s.t.
7. Barbara Guarischi (Ita) Fassa Bortolo-Servetto, s.t.
8. Alessandra d”Ettorre (Ita) Gruppo Sportivo Forestale, s.t.
9. Marta Tagiaferro (Ita) GS Fiamme Azzurre, s.t.
10. Chiara Vannucci (Ita) Verso l’Iride Maccari Spumanti, + 05:31
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I’ve been looking at some of the difficult decisions countries will have to make when they pick their women’s teams for the Olympic road race, and it most cases there will be polemica ahoy! But then we come to Italy, where it’s going to be easy - the four-woman team writes itself. The selectors must be rubbing their hands with glee, because not only does this have to be the easiest decision out there, it’s also one of the teams that will start as a joint favourite, along with Germany and the Netherlands.
The Italian national teams are something very special. Although their riders are spread around the peloton, when they come together, they can work together like no one else. A win for any of them is seen as a win for all, and they use the most perfect opportunistic tactics, combining solo attacks with beautiful team-work, all of which is why they have won the Road World Championships for the last three years. And it’s the current and 2010 World Champion we’ll start with.
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Olympic Dreams, Italian style! - Podium Cafe
My theories on who the Italian team for the Olympic Road Race should be - Giorgia Bronzini, Noemi Cantele, Tatiana Guderzo and Monia Baccaille. Click through to find out more about them, and see if you agree!
Cicloweb article on Italian juniors to watch out for - Michela Pavin, Anna Zita Maria Stricker, Arianna Fidanza, Michela Balducci, Veronica Cornolti and Lisa Gamba
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” The cycling culture is part of Italy. In last year’s Italian national championships there were over 200 riders competing in the 15-16 year old women category. The US Nationals had 23 riders finish.
“Can you imagine if we had 200 American junior women race?” Tanner pondered. “What would the market be…and what would the development be? It makes you stop and think. The purchasing power in the American household comes from women. Why aren’t we investing in women cycling? I keep hearing that it will never work, that we won’t get the sponsors, but we have a group that want to break down the barriers.”
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JETCycling – Junior Women Development Team to Race in Italy this Summer | podiuminsight.com
Great article on JETCycling & how it’s helping 15-16 year old American riders to race in Europe this summer - Milliegoat Tanner, Laurel Rathbun, Marta Morris & Claire Van Ekdom
