Katarzyna Niewiadoma may have her best shot at winning the Giro d'Italia Internazionale Femminile this year after organisers announced the inclusion of the iconic Monte Zoncolan at the finish of the penultimate ninth stage. The Polish all-rounder will co-lead Canyon-SRAM French teammate Pauline Ferrand-Prévot during the 10-day race set to start in Verbania on Friday.
"I'm looking forward to the Giro Rosa and to see how my body is going to react during those 10 hard days," Niewiadoma told Cyclingnews. "I'm proud of myself and I'm happy about all of the work that I have done in the last few weeks. I have no specific expectations or goals. I just want to ride my best and fight for our team to represent my team in a marvellous way."
Niewiadoma, 23, has been among the favourites to win the title since the start of her professional career six years ago, and admits that the pressure for her to perform at such a young age can be daunting ahead of the biggest stage race in women's cycling.
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"I get stressed from the Giro Rosa," Niewiadoma told Cyclingnews in a phone interview earlier this season. When she was planning out her season goals. "I always target a good result there and put pressure on myself to do something great."
Niewiadoma placed 11th in her first attempt at the Giro Rosa in 2014. She then placed fifth in 2015, seventh in 2016 and she was sixth last year, and she has twice won the youth classification. Although she has never won a stage, she has consistently placed near the top of the results on the decisive queen stages.
She said that competing for the overall classification against the top women in the world is as much of a mental game as it is a physical one.
"Everyone will be super worried about the Zoncolan"
You can read more at Cyclingnews.com
via Cyclingnews Latest Interviews and Features http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/giro-rosa-niewiadoma-to-take-her-best-shot-at-victory
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