Team Jayco AlUla has named its ‘complete’ squad for the 2023 edition of the Giro d’Italia Internazionale Femminile, starting on Friday 30th June in Chianciano.
Basque rider Ane Santesteban will lead the the well-rounded seven-rider team in the general classification fight alongside a young and hungry support group, eager to take every opportunity in Italy.
Italian sprinter Letizia Paternoster will start her first ever Giro d’Italia on home roads. The 23-year-old is excited to take her chance in the fast finishes throughout the nine days of stage racing.
Australian all-rounder Ruby Roseman-Gannon and Norwegian climber Ingvild Gåskjenn will also make their Giro debuts, with the duo set to be key players across the varied terrain.
Letizia Paternoster said, “For the first time in my career, I will be at the start of the women’s Giro d’Italia. There are still a few days to go, but I am already very excited about the idea. I think I have prepared well, including a training period at high altitude in Livigno and I feel I have good conditioning and for sure very high morale! Looking at this year’s course, I saw that it won’t be easy for us sprinters, but there will certainly be opportunities.”
The first Maglia Rosa of the 2023 edition will be decided with a short and flat prologue. The team will line up for the opening day in Chianciano with fond memories of taking the pink jersey on day one in 2022.
Georgia Baker took second place that day, and the Australian will be back in action on Italian roads, looking for another strong start in her second Giro Donne.
Brent Copeland – General Manager – said, “Once again the time has come for the women’s Giro d’Italia. We still have in mind last year’s successful edition with the first pink jersey in Cagliari and victory on the Queen Stage.
We will be at the start with a tested and well-balanced team that will certainly be able to achieve results on Italian roads. Our thanks go as always to all our sponsors and partners and particularly to our team owner Gerry Ryan, for the extraordinary support he continuously shows towards the team.”
The opening road stages feature a number of categorised climbs where in-form Slovenian time trial champion Urška Žigart will look to show her prowess on the ascents. Nina Kessler will provide vital experience, with the Dutch rider able to give valuable knowledge to her young and hungry teammates.
Martin Vestby – Sport Director – added, “We are really excited about the Giro this year and our riders are looking forward to an interesting course with stages that can give opportunities to multiple rider types.
Ane Santesteban, who has a lot of experience having raced the Giro Donne nine times already, will be our GC hope with a strong team supporting her ambitions. We have seen some strong performances in the recent races and there are multiple options for stage results that suit our complete team.”
Team Jayco AlUla at the 2023 Giro d’Italia Donne:
Georgia Baker (AUS) – 2nd appearance
Ingvild Gåskjenn (NOR) – 1st appearance
Nina Kessler (NED) – 4th appearance
Letizia Paternoster (ITA) – 1st appearance
Ruby Roseman-Gannon (AUS) – 1st appearance
Ane Santesteban (ESP) – 10th appearance
Urška Žigart (SLO) – 4th appearance
Team Jayco AlUla’s Team Stats:
Youngest rider: Letizia Paternoster (23)
Oldest rider: Nina Kessler (34)
Giro Donne debutants: Gåskjenn, Roseman-Gannon & Paternoster (3x)
Most Giro d’Italia appearances: Ane Santesteban (9x)
