CANYON//SRAM Racing return to Italy for the third race of the Women’s WorldTour with Trofeo Alfredo Binda in Cittiglio on Sunday 20 March. After finishing fifth in 2015, Alena Amialiusik describes the round three battle as one of her favourites on the calendar. 

The race has a new departure point in the town of Gavirate but quickly rejoins its usual large starting loop that races over the first QOM in Cunardo. The peloton will finish with four circuits of 17.8 kilometres, each time going over the Orino climb to make up 123.3 kilometres in total. Stand alone the Orino climb would be too short for the pure climbers to do much damage. But after four ascents at the end of the WorldTour race, it proves to be the decisive moment for the select group that will challenge for the victory. 

The race is named after Alfredo Binda and finishes in his home town of Cittiglio. The Italian rider of the 1920’s and 1930’s was nicknamed Campionissimo (champion of champions) after he won no less than five times the Giro d’Italia, three world championships and a comprehensive list of other classics. Binda could do it all; time trial, hill climb and sprint even though not classed as an out-and-out sprinter. They are the same strengths that the winner of the Women’s Trofeo Alfredo Binda on Sunday will require and it is no coincidence the route demands these attributes.

Former time trial world champion Emma Pooley has won this race two times and on both occasions solo. In 2015 current road world champion Lizzie Armistead won from a small bunch sprint with Amialiusik finishing fifth from that group. Amialiusik describes the race as one of her favourites on the calendar. “It’s so close to my home and training roads in Italy, I really enjoy racing here at Cittiglio. Last year OH!!! I made so many mistakes and in the final I was still fifth. I hope this year with my team supporting me I will be more patient and smart. We are racing so well together so I think there is no problem for someone from our team to have a nice result on Saturday.”

Amialiusik is joined by Elena Cecchini, Trixi Worrack, Alexis Ryan, Lisa Brennauer, and Tiff Cromwell for a strong roster for CANYON//SRAM Racing.

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