Barbara Malcotti secured a top-ten finish at the Giro d’Italia, climbing up to eighth place overall on the 134 km final stage from Forlí to Imola.
The result stands as the best Grand Tour general classification performance in program history.
“I’m really happy, I can’t believe it, and I’m really glad to be the second Italian on GC,” Malcotti said afterwards. “For me, this is a good opportunity. “I had really good feelings in this Giro, the best that I ever had. I still need to learn some things and believe that I can follow and attack, but step by step, I’m getting there both mentally and physically.”
The 25-year-old held her own on a brutish final stage that packed in 2,369 meters of climbing. Following the other GC contenders throughout, the attritional parcours wore down the group until only the favorites remained to battle for victory on the historic Imola F1 circuit.
Malcotti secured her final position thanks to battling performances throughout the stage race, finishing sixth on two occasions and tenth on another. She was quick to thank the whole teams effort in delivering the result.
“It’s about more than just me; everyone did a great job,” she said. “Starting from the DS’s and then the mechanics who always prepared our bike and fixed everything. Soigneurs who prepared the bottles went to the feeds and massaged us… Plus, put all the heavy suitcases in the hotel rooms,” she jokes.
Teammates Yurani Blanco, Giada Borghesi, Carlotta Cipressi, Ruth Edwards, Katia Ragusa, and Silvia Zanardi were also by her side.
“The athletes were all committed to the goal, and they protected me,” she explains. “I have seen them working for me and I wanted to pay them back, so I just had to finish off the work.”
The team ended the week with Malcotti scoring eighth overall, sixth on stages 4 and 6, and tenth on stage 6. Ragusa also performed admirably on stage 5, finishing ninth after a 110 km long breakaway. Cipressi also rounded out her debut Grand Tour with tenth in the final young riders classification.
Human Powered Health now heads to France for the La Périgord Ladies and La Picto – Charentaise one-day races, followed by the biggest race on the cycling calendar, Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift from July 26 to August 3.
Giro d’Italia final General Classification
1 LONGO BORGHINI Elisa – UAE Team ADQ 24:37:03
2 REUSSER Marlen – Movistar Team 0:18
3 GIGANTE Sarah – AG Insurance – Soudal Team 1:11
4 ROOIJAKKERS Pauliena – Fenix-Deceuninck 2:55
5 NIEDERMAIER Antonia – CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto 3:07
6 VAN DER BREGGEN Anna – Team SD Worx – Protime 3:32
7 HOLMGREN Isabella – Lidl – Trek 3:54
8 MALCOTTI Barbara – Human Powered Health 4:44
9 ŽIGART Urška – AG Insurance – Soudal Team 4:56
10 AALERUD Katrine – Uno-X Mobility 5:19
