Riders to watch

Last year's winner Anna van der Breggen (NED) will not be competing to defending her title in this year's race, but her powerhouse team Boels - Dolmans will be hard to beat as they look to back 2016 winner Megan Guarnier (USA). The American finished 4th last year and won the final stage.

Mitchelton-Scott have two strong options in Annemiek Van Vleuten (NED) and Amanda Spratt (AUS), who finished 3rd and 5th respectively in last year’s tour. Van Vleuten is the current time trial world champion and also one of the best climbers in the female peloton. After 2 stage victories at last year’s Giro Rosa, she is a likely favourite for this year.

Spratt has had a number of breakthrough performances in the spring of this year as well as winning Emakumeen Bira in May. Both riders will be looking for their team to produce a good TTT result to bring them into GC contention.

Wiggle High5 rider Elisa Longo Borghini (ITA) came 2nd in last year’s race. While she hasn’t produced her usual top results yet this year, the Italian has the “home soil advantage” and will be looking to turn her season around with a dream victory here. She will be backed by a team of strong time-trialists and climbers to give her the best possible chance this year.

Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (RSA) has produced the most consistent performances of any rider this year, with numerous top-10 finishes in this year’s Classics. She has traditionally performed well in the Giro Rosa and will likely be in contention for the top step this year.

Canyon-SRAM’s Kasia Niewiadoma (POL) has placed in the top-10 for the previous three editions of the Giro Rosa. Although she has not performed at her best during the early races of the season, she is still one to watch.