Italian puncheur Giada Borghesi has signed with Human Powered Health Cycling effective immediately.
“Moving to the WorldTour is a dream come true,” she said. “I am proud to be part of Human Powered Health. I immediately felt a welcoming, calm and professional atmosphere and I can’t wait to get started with my team and teammates.
The 21-year-old from Cles in northern Italy transfers from BTC City Ljubljana Zhiraf Ambedo and will race at the Giro d’Italia Women, starting July 7.
“I thank BTC City Ljubljana Zhiraf Ambedo for this part of the season together,” she said of her previous team. It was short but important for my career.”
2024 has been a breakthrough year for Borghesi. She has already amassed impressive results for an under-23 rider including a stage win at the Giro Mediterraneo Rosa, fourth at La Classique Morbihan, sixth at Grand Prix du Morbihan, fourth Grand Prix Féminin de Chambéry, third on stage 3 of Tour Féminin International des Pyrénées and a top ten at Durango – Durango.
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“I am grateful because I was allowed to participate in international competitions abroad which allowed me to demonstrate my value in competitions with a high level of athletes,” she says. “Thanks to the sporting director Gorazd Penko for the professionalism and support and to the sporting director Pietro Cesari, team manager Roberto Baldoni, the masseur Federico and all the staff and riders.”
Team Manager Kenny Latomme believes in the youthful generation that is breaking into the top level of the sport and has his eyes on the future.
“We saw Giada getting good results this year on lots of different parcours, so she is a punchy racer,” he says. “New vibes always give the team a boost. We had a lot of injuries this year so we decided to take another rider to help. Joining in the middle of the year helps Giada acclimatize so she gets to know the team and equipment and this is a big advantage for her development.”
Borghesi will first line up in team colors at the Giro d’Italia opening day time-trial in Brescia.
“Giro d’Italia represents infinite love. For an Italian, competing on the roads of the Giro d’Italia is a privilege and an honor,” she explains. “I am so grateful for this opportunity from Human Powered Health to grow and improve. I can’t wait to experience the atmosphere of the ride and test myself against the highest level of athletes.”
Borghesi is also an accomplished gravel and cyclocross racer and these off-road skills translate to on the road.
“Cycling can be dangerous so you need to be very technically prepared,” she says. I believe that cyclocross and gravel improve the athlete a lot in this regard. Cyclocross prepares for short and intense physical efforts, while gravel prepares you for endurance races.”
Living in the mountains, naturally, Giada enjoys hiking, relaxing in nature and firing up a barbeque in her free time. In the off-season she enjoys playing sports she did as a child, namely tennis and athletics and due to being surrounded by mountains, she makes sure to escape on a beach holiday. Although she admits she does very little sunbathing, she instead prefers beach volleyball and water activities.
