GS Mendelspeck at the Giro

The Bolzano women's team Mendelspeck, led by President Barbara Moser, received a UCI Continental license for the first time at the beginning of the season, thus taking the step from a purely amateur team to professional cycling. The invitation to the women's Giro d'Italia was a great honor for the small Bolzano club, which will compete against highly decorated professionals from the World Tour teams during the ten-day tour.

The GS Mendelspeck is taking part in its first major tour with six riders. These include the three South Tyroleans Eva-Maria Gatscher, Alessia Missiaggia and Francesca Pisciali, who already have Giro experience. For the young team, their first Giro participation will be primarily about gaining experience. At the same time, it is a unique opportunity to get into the international showcase.

The Mendelspeck team before the start of the Giro Donne in Cagliari.

For the sporting director Renato Pirrone from Steinmannwald, promotion to the Continental level was the logical path: “After more than a decade of activity in the youth sector and several good results among the juniors, it was time to take the next big step. By taking part in the Giro-Donne we have achieved our first goal.” Giro Donne starts with a time trial The Giro started on Thursday in Cagliari with a short prologue over 4,7 kilometers. The American Kristen Faulkner from Team BikeExchange-Jayco lived up to her role as favorite and won in a time of 5:45 minutes ahead of her teammate Georgia Baker and the Italian road world champion Elisa Balsamo (Team Trek-Segafredo). For Faulkner, who was in top form, it was the greatest success of her career. On the first stage from Villasimius to Tortoli she can put on the pink jersey.

Francesca Pisciali placed 103rd as Team Mendelspeck's best rider. It was foreseeable that the smallest team in the field would not yet be able to stand up to the 14 World Tour teams: “Taking on the best teams in the world is a challenge for us small Continentals -Teams are always difficult, these teams have a much higher budget and play in a completely different league. The focus is on developing our athletes in the best possible way and showing ourselves at our best,” explains sports director Pirrone.

Eva-Maria Gatscher started her first Giro Donne.

Team Mendelspeck's goal is to get as many riders as possible across the finish line at the end of the tour in Padova. Pirrone hopes that one or two drivers will be able to put themselves in the spotlight. Eva-Maria Gatscher could succeed, she is a lateral entrant into road cycling and achieved her first top 15 placement in a UCI race in the Czech Republic a few weeks ago. It was only three years ago that the 25-year-old from Bolzano switched from motocross to cycling after a serious shoulder injury. She had the talent and the necessary will to do so. Their strengths lie particularly in the mountains on longer climbs, which are not missing from the Giro Donne 2022.

The highlight for the South Tyrolean team will certainly be the penultimate stage from Eppan to St. Lorenzo Dorsino. Where the riders have to overcome the three passes Fai della Paganella, Passo Duron and Passo Durone, which are also the highest point of the Giro (Cima Coppi). In addition to the six riders, taking part in the Giro Donne will also be a new challenge for the entire support team from Team Mendelspeck.

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GS Mendelspeck at the Giro

The female counterpart to the male Giro d'Italia, the Giro Donne, started on Thursday. The Bolzano team GS Mendelspeck also received an invitation to the most important women's stage race for the first time; 6 women took part in the prologue in Cagliari.

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