Bizkaia-Durango team faces a hunt for €20,000 to be able to afford race
With the men’s Giro d’Italia now over, the organisers of the women’s version – the Giro Rosa – have presented the five jerseys that will be fought over in the race that starts on June 30th. Like the men’s Giro, the biggest prize will be the Maglia Rosa – sponsored by Derma Fresh skin cream – while the young riders’ jersey will be white – sponsored by Algida ice cream – but the colours of the other jerseys will differ, in that they have stuck with those of previous years.
The mountains jersey will be green – sponsored by Sagualla, who makes feminine hygiene products – as it was in the men’s Giro until last year, while the points jersey will be cyclamen – sponsored by saddle maker Selle Italia – which it was in the men’s Giro until it turned red in 2011. In addition to the four usual jerseys, the Giro Rosa also continues the Giro Donne tradition of an extra, blue jersey – sponsored by Dama sportswear – for the best Italian rider in the general classification.
All jerseys will carry the distinctive heart logo of the Marina Romoli Onlus, the not-for-profit organisation set up by injured rider Marina Romoli. June 1st will mark the third anniversary of Romoli’s tragic collision with a car while out training, which has left the promising young rider in a wheelchair ever since.
“Like in the last editions Marina will be the official Giro Rosa godmother and, for the first time, “the heart” of Marina will be both on the heart of the best riders and on the jerseys of the race staff, explained race director Giuseppe Rivolta. “With great pride we will bring her message not only around Italy but also outside the national borders thanks to the foreign media participating into the event.
“Special thanks go to the prestigious companies that support the 2013 Giro Rosa,” Rivolta added. “We will repay them with our commitment and our professionalism.”
Spanish crisis continues as invited Bizkaia-Durango faces funding shortfall
The Giro Rosa announced the teams invited to the 2013 edition earlier this month, but one of those teams, Spanish squad Bizkaia-Durango, may not be able to attend due to a financial shortfall. The crisis in Spanish cycling – which has seen several races disappear in recent years, including the Valladolid World Cup – means that national champion Anna Sanchis (pictured, second right) may not be able to ride.
Sanchis last rode the Giro in 2008, when she finished seventh overall, after spending time in the white jersey. With the team looking for what would seem a drop in the ocean for the men’s branch of the sport, however, she may not be able to make her return this year.
“It seemed that finally, five years later, I could return to the Giro d’Italia this time,” said Sanchis. “Even with the number of teams who want to participate my team, Bizkaia-Durango, was invited. All the girls are very excited about the race, but this time the problem is economic.”
Bizkaia-Durango last took part in the Giro in 2011, when Australian Shara Gillow won the second stage and held the Maglia Rosa for a day. Without a financial input in the next month, however, the number one Spanish team may not be there in 2013.
“The total cost varies between 18,000 and 20,000 euros, even with cutting costs, and we urgently need financial and material support to be there on the 30th,” Sanchis explained. So we are calling on sponsors, both public and private, in order to fulfil our dream.”