One of the longest-running women’s races, Trofeo Alfredo Binda – Comune di Cittiglio established in 1974, will be held on Sunday 21 March in Cittiglio, Italy. Our team’s roster will be Alena Amialiusik, Hannah Barnes, Tiffany Cromwell, Mikayla Harvey, Kasia Niewiadoma and Omer Shapira.

The second UCI Women’s World Tour race on the 2021 calendar stands as one of the most difficult to predict the winner. Long range solo attacks, think Emma Pooley 2011, late range solo attacks, think Kasia Niewiadoma 2018, or bunch sprints, think Marianne Vos 2019, have all taken their place on the list of former winners.

Alena describes why Trofeo Binda is one of her favourite races of the year, a close second behind Strade Bianche two weeks ago. “The hard profile, the early attacks, the number of different breakaways, the change in race situation, and a bonus that it is only 1.5 hours away from my home in Italy.”

Mikayla lives even closer, just 10km from the course and says she has been spending time to maximise the hometown advantage.

“I live in Varese so all the roads are very familiar to me. I can’t believe I get to do a World Tour race on my home roads. It’s not quite New Zealand, but Varese is my European home now!” said Mikayla.

“The course is unrelenting with no easy sections. That suits my strengths. I usually struggle with technical courses, but for Trofeo Binda I know every descent, corner and even every pot hole so I have no concerns about that on Sunday. I love the long climb up from Grantola through Cunardo and up the back road into Bedero Valcuvia. I often ride this way on my way back home after a tough training session, so it will be fun to race up instead!”

Unlike Amialiusik who has raced Trofeo Binda on eight occasions with a third place in 2014, Harvey will line up for only her second time.

“I raced it back in 2019. I loved the course, it was very challenging and I remember being in a short-lived  breakaway. Soon after, I dropped and then I didn’t even get to finish the race. Fortunately, a lot has changed since then,” said Mikayla.

With former winner Kasia alongside Alena and Mikayla in our roster for Sunday, the team is well-placed to make the race aggressive.

“Fans should get ready for some action! Our team has a really strong line up for this race, especially with Kasia who won the 2018 edition. I am ready for a suffer fest! Action can happen anywhere on a course like Trofeo Binda, but especially the fans should get ready for some fireworks on the final loops,” added Mikayla.

How to follow  

The 141km race starts at 12:10CET and can be followed on Twitter with #TrBinda. A live broadcast from 14:30 to 16:15CET is shown on RaiSport, Eurosport, TV2, L’EquipeTV, www.pmgsport.it, PMG Sport Facebook, PMG Sport Youtube, www.repubblica.it/sport, www.tuttobiciweb.it, www.cyclingsportpromotion.com/diretta.

Piccolo Trofeo Binda – Comune di Cittiglio

The eighth edition of the women’s junior race will be held earlier in the morning on Sunday 21 March. A 73.4km race forms part of the UCI Nation’s Cup and has an honour roll of previous winners such as Megan Jastrab (2019 junior road world champion), Lorena Wiebes, Marta Bastianelli (2007 elite road world champion).

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