European racing this week
- By Andrew Hood
- Published Jun. 30, 2009
Besides that little ol’ race starting Saturday in France, there’s not a whole lot on the menu in terms of racing this week.
Butting heads against the biggest race of the year isn’t ideal marketing strategy (though there is plenty of racing throughout July on European roads).
Save for a race in Poland and the Giro d’Italia Feminine, everyone else is letting the Tour de France take center stage.
19th Course de Solidarnosc et des Champions Olympiques
(Pol, 2.1)
Wednesday to Sunday, July 1-5
This five-day race across Poland attracts second-tier teams, with heavy representation from eastern Europe.
The 19th edition of the race starts in Jastrzebie-Zdroj and ends in Lodz, covering some 929km.
There was no start list on the race Web page, but one can only assume that two-time defending champion Lukasz Bodnar will be lining up to attempt the hat-trick.
WEB: http://www.wyscig.com.pl/
20th Giro d’Italia Feminine (Ita)
Friday to July 12
The women’s edition of the Giro d’Italia is now the longest and most challenging stage race in Europe.
The 20th edition of the race begins Friday in Tuscany and crosses Marche, Abruzzo, Molise, Puglia and ends July 12 in Campania.
With nine stages and a prologue, the 918km course presents a difficult challenge to test the all-round abilities of stage racers.
In an interesting twist, the 2009 edition opens Friday evening with a 2.5km prologue held completely under the lights in Scarperia.
Stage 1 features a typical Italian hilltop finish while the 13.5km second stage gives the time trial specialists a chance to grab the jersey. Stage 3 serves up challenging climbs that should go a long way toward crowning the overall victor. The remainder of the courses are a mix of varied climbs, hilltop finishes and rolling terrain that should keep the peloton on its toes right to the end.
Since its inception in 1988, no American has won, though Amber Neben came close last year, finishing second to Fabiana Luperini.
Italians won seven of the first nine editions of the race, with Luperini winning four-straight from 1995-98. Surprisingly, the aging climber came back guns a-blazin’ last year to win her fifth crown.
Some 18 teams are lining up, including arch-rivals Cervélo and Columbia-Highroad. The USA national team also brings a squad in what should be a competitive week of racing.
Andrew Hood
Hood cut his journalistic teeth at Colorado dailies before the web boom opened the door to European cycling in the mid-1990s. Hood's covered every Tour since 1996 and has been VeloNews' European correspondent since 2002. He lives in Leon, Spain, when he's not chasing bike races.