Lotte Kopecky, Anna Van der Breggen, and Lorena Wiebes headline SD-Worx Giro team

SD Worx - Protime sports manager, Danny Stam, revealed their approach to the second grand tour of the year: "We are not starting with a big ambition to win the overall classification in the Giro, but when we can force a good starting position, we are not going to miss such a great opportunity. Because of this approach, a number of riders have a freer role to be able to go for stage wins."

For Lotte Kopecky, the Giro serves primarily as preparation for her main season target, the Tour de France Femmes. "Lotte Kopecky will ride the Giro d'Italia in preparation for the Tour de France Femmes. The overall classification in France is her main goal," explained Stam. "The Giro is a great race on the way to peak form in the Tour. In Italy, we will not put any pressure on Lotte to perform in the general classification."

The mountainous profile of this year's Giro presents challenges, but Stam believes Kopecky will still target specific opportunities. "There is a lot of climbing in this Giro d'Italia. Of course, she will undoubtedly choose a stage where she wants to dominate, but otherwise the aim is for her to build confidence ahead of the Tour de France Femmes."

Star sprinter Lorena Wiebes, enters the race in excellent form after her victory in the Copenhagen Sprint and will look to add to her impressive 11 victories in 2025. "Lorena Wiebes is having a great season. If there are sprint opportunities in this Giro d'Italia, then we obviously have a strong trump card in Lorena," said Stam. "With all those climbs in the Giro, it will also be a tough race for her, but knowing Lorena, she will definitely try to peak a number of times."

Anna van der Breggen, who recently secured third place overall in the general classification and a stage win at the Vuelta a España Femenina, might have slightly higher personal ambitions. "Anna van der Breggen has gained a lot of confidence with her third place and stage win in the Vuelta a España Femenina. In the Giro, she may have some cautious ambitions for the general classification, although the Giro is also preparation for the Tour de France Femmes for her," Stam noted.

Stam clarified that Van der Breggen's primary goal remains supporting Kopecky at the Tour. "Her main goal is to support Lotte as best she can in France. With a view to preparing well for the Tour, she will definitely want to test her legs in the Giro and then see how that works out for the final classification."

SD Worx - Protime's seven-rider squad is completed by Mikayla Harvey, Steffi Häberlin, and Italian riders Elena Cecchini and Barbara Guarischi, who will have the advantage of racing on home soil.

Elena Cecchini (ITA)

Barbara Guarischi (ITA)

Steffi Haberlin (CHE)

Mikayla Harvey (NZL)

Lotte Kopecky (BEL)

Anna van der Breggen (NLD)

Lorena Wiebes (NLD)