Mavi Garcia (Liv AlUla Jayco) has become one of the most consistent general classification contenders at the Giro d'Italia Women and planned to fight for a spot on the final podium at the eight-day race that starts on Sunday in Brescia.
The former Spanish Champion said she was in solid form, especially after her overall victory at the Vuelta Ciclista Andalucia, and ready to tackle one of the most challenging editions of the Italian Grand Tour.
"I think I prepared very well for my seventh Giro. It is one of my favourite races and has given me great satisfaction with four top-10s in the last four editions," Garcia said.
"After the victory at the Vuelta a Andalucía at the end of May, I trained at altitude to compete at the nationals.
"I know that every year that passes, it is more and more difficult, but I will try to fight for the podium in one of the toughest Giros in recent years."
Garcia was third overall in the 2022 edition, and she has been a staple in the GC standings, finishing seventh last year, fifth in 2021, and ninth in 2020.
Garcia will be joined by Ella Wyllie, who will support Garcia in the mountains, Urška Žigart, Amber Pate, Silke Smulders and Ingvild Gåskjenn, while Ruby Roseman-Gannon will focus on the sprint stages.
"We have a pretty good and competitive team for this Giro, which presents a very hard course. The further south you go, the harder it becomes. We have Mavi and Ella, who are both good climbers and will go for GC and Ella also for the youth jersey," said the team's director, Shawn Clarke.
"We have a couple of fast finishers with Ruby and Ingvild, and there are two stages that suit both of them very well. In support, we have Urška, a fresh Slovenian champion, who is doing super well, Amber, who has grown a lot this season, and finally, Silke, who is a solid all-rounder.”
Join Cyclingnews' coverage of the 2024 Giro d'Italia Women with race reports, results, photo galleries, news and race analysis.
