Team BikeExchange-Jayco women head to Italy tomorrow for one-day racing action with two short events, Giro dell’Emilia on Saturday and Tre Valli Varesine on Tuesday, led by a strong climbing duo of Amanda Spratt and Urška Zigart.
Returning to Europe following the recent UCI Road World Championship in Australia, the pair will be hoping to carry good form and will be joined by local Italian rider Arianna Fidanza, who gives a strong option should either races come down to a fast finish. Australian rider Jess Allen will line-up in the first event, Giro dell’Emilia before Ane Santesteban comes in for Tre Valli Varesine, giving the team another option for the hilly but short event. Dutch domestique Nina Kessler rounds out the team, lining-up for the two races.
At just 89km in length, both events are expected to be explosive and raced aggressively, with Giro dell’Emilia a flat route but with a very tough final two kilometre finish heading up to the San Luca sanctuary in Bologna. The latter race, Tre Valli Varesine, is only in its second edition for the women’s peloton and is a testing hilly course suited to the climbers, which should benefit the Australian outfit’s characteristics.
Team BikeExchange-Jayco Line-Up:
Jessica Allen (AUS) *Giro dell’Emilia only
Arianna Fidanza (ITA)
Nina Kessler (NED)
Ane Santesteban (ESP) *Tre Valli Varesine only
Amanda Spratt (AUS)
Chelsie Tan Wei Shi (SGP)
Urska Zigart (SLO)
Amanda Spratt
“I’ve raced Emilia before but Tre Valli Varesine will be a new race for me. My main personal goal will be to have fun and really enjoy my final one-day races with this team. I know it’s pretty crazy to race Emilia two days after arriving back from Australia, so it will be a total lottery how the legs are there and I will see how the body feels. It usually always comes down to the final tough climb so the legs won’t lie there and we will fight all the way to the line and see what the outcome is.
Tre Valli will feel like racing on home roads and I know the final circuit very well after living so many years there and with our team base being nearby. I think there will be good opportunities there for the whole team and a harder race should suit us well. Both races are very short for us (less than 90kms) so we will need to make the most of every opportunity.”
Andrew Smith – Sport Director
“Giro dell’Emilia is a short, fast and potentially aggressive race with a real sting in the final. We will approach the race with an open and adaptable plan, mainly looking to give either Spratty or Urška an opportunity in the final. We have a strong team and remain open for others to take their chances under the right circumstances.
The short, hilly nature of the Tre Valli Varesine course gives us an opportunity to use the versatility of our team to give us options. We aim to give Ane Santesteban some freedom, whilst supporting Arianna Fidanza in a situation where there is a bunch finish.”
Giro dell’Emilia Race Details:
Saturday, 1st October, Carpi – Bologna, 89km
Tre Valli Varesine Race Details:
Tuesday, 4th October, Busto Arsizio – Varese, 89km
Photo: Getty Images
