It will be an Italian-powered Human Powered Health that we will see from tomorrow on the roads of the Giro d'Italia Women. The American team has called up all of its Italian nationality athletes for the "pink race": Giada Borghesi, Carlotta Cipressi, Barbara Malcotti, Katia Ragusa and Silvia Zanardi who will face the eight stages scheduled along with American Ruth Edwards and Spanish Iurani Blanco. Giorgia Bronzini will lead the team, whom tuttobiciweb interviewed on the eve of the race.

Giorgia, how is Human Powered Health presenting itself at the Giro d'Italia Women 2025?

"We are coming to the Giro with Malcotti as the leader for the general classification with the goal of confirming last year's result when Barbara finished in the top 15. Obviously, we hope she can improve the result, but we want her to face her Giro without too much pressure, we know she will give her best."

So you'll face the race with the Trentino rider as the "sole leader"?

"Unlike other teams, we don't have a co-leader designated for the classification, but Barbara can count on the support of her teammates who will accompany her in the best possible way."

How has her preparation for the Giro gone?

"We are satisfied with what we've done. Barbara prepared in Livigno and then returned to racing at the Italian championships. We had anticipated that after almost a month at altitude, her first race might be challenging, and indeed facing an effort in the heat was not simple. Despite this, she managed to have a good race: she attacked in the finale in the group she was in and was caught in the last meters, finishing eleventh. She comes to the Giro with a lot of desire to do well, and I'm happy about that."

If Malcotti will focus on the classification, will her teammates hunt for stages?

"Exactly, stages are another objective for Human Powered Health. We'll try to exploit breakaways especially with Ruth (Winder Edwards). Last year she nearly won in Chieti and L'Aquila, she has a lot of experience and reads the race very well. She will definitely be a protagonist!"

This year she won the Pan-American time trial championships, could she be a protagonist right away in Bergamo?

"Last year in Brescia she finished eighth, tomorrow's time trial is a bit different. We hope she does well."

And the other Italian Human Powered Health riders?

"They will also be called to enter breakaways. Certainly, they will all take turns. A slightly different situation for Silvia Zanardi, our sprinter, who in stages less suited to her will work for her teammates and will serve as a 'support point' for her teammates. Our way of racing in this Giro d'Italia Women must be proactive. We don't have a team suited to controlling the race by setting the pace at the head of the group, we must be attentive from the first kilometers, ready to seize opportunities."

Let's now review the route, what Giro d'Italia Women can we expect according to you?

"It's not an easy-to-interpret Giro, already Monday's stage could be indicative to understand how it will go. I believe that in this edition, teams must be ready to change tactical plans on the fly. Take the stage ending in Trento: on paper, after the Tonale, it's all downhill, or almost, but the point is understanding how the initial climb will be tackled and to get a picture of the situation, we'll have to wait after the summit. Generally, the route of this Giro d'Italia Women is very tough because, apart from the initial time trial and the Monselice stage, the only truly flat stage this year, I don't see 'intermediate' stages. To be clear, I understand the organizers' needs, I thank them and I'm proud of the Giro and what we're doing in Italy, but it would be nice to have more space for other stages, somewhat like the Tour, which this year will have nine stages."

Looking at the list of participants, who do you think could be the "surprises" of this Giro?

"At the Italian championship, I saw Eleonora Ciabocco perform well. I didn't expect her to be so strong, and it's nice that such young girls show their value. If she maintains the condition she showed in Boario at the Giro, I believe she could truly be a protagonist. Among possible protagonists, I include Marlen Reuser: at the Tour de Suisse, she showed she's in form, and I believe the 'super big' will have to reckon with her, it won't be easy to drop her. Finally, for the stages, let's not forget Marianne Vos. I 'fought' with her for a lifetime, I know her well, but she always manages to surprise me. I believe this Giro is too tough to allow her to fight for the general classification, but maybe she has a couple of stages in her sights and her team will work to help her prevail. Maybe she'll make her mark in Imola, on that type of course she's almost unbeatable."

To conclude, let's bring the attention back to your team. How do you judge Human Powered Health's season so far?

"We started well in Australia and UAE Tour, then in spring luck was not on our side and we had to do without Daria Pikulik, Ruth Winder Edwards and Thalita de Jong. It wasn't easy, I was an athlete and I know very well how being out due to injury weighs. But now we're starting to do well again: Lily Williams obtained placements in Belgium, Daria finished fourth in the GP Mazda Schelkens just behind Schweinberger. And more recently, Kathrin won the Austrian national championship. I'm confident for the continuation of the season. After the Giro, we'll go to the Tour de France Femmes with a lineup that will also include Barbara Malcotti, who has both stage races planned. Then we'll continue the calendar trying to be protagonists always. But now the focus is on the Giro, we start on Sunday."