UCI Women’s WorldTour 2018 Update

photo credits @ UCI

– What happened? –

After a busy and exciting start to the year, the UCI Women’s WorldTour takes a well-earned rest. The action has not stopped, however, with the women’s professional peloton continuing to race worldwide.

After last week’s Tour of Chongming Island UCI Women’s World Tour, racing in China continued, with the three-stage Tour of Zhoushan Island. Two top-three finishes ensured Spanish Champion Sheila Gutiérrez (Cylance Pro Cycling) won the general classification, with Charlotte Becker (Hitec Products-Birk Sport) taking second place to back up her win at Chongming Island.

In Europe, the week’s biggest event was the Tour de Yorkshire Womens Race, which was won by Megan Guarnier (Boels Dolmans Cyclingteam). The former American Champion attacked a small group on the second stage’s summit finish to take the first win of her season ahead of Alena Amialiusik (Canyon//SRAM Racing).

Over in Belgium, former UCI World Champion Marta Bastianelli (Alé-Cipollini) took victory at the Trofee Maarten Wynants, a success which continues a rich vein of form: she also won the UCI Women’s WorldTour race at Gent-Wevelgem in March.

– What’s next? –

Amgen Tour of California Women’s Race empowered with SRAM (USA) – Thursday, May 17-19

– Focus on Letizia Paternoster –

Letizia Paternoster, 18, has made a stunning start to her elite racing career, surprising many last week at Festival Elsy Jacobs in Luxembourg.

The Astana Women’s Team rider not only won a very tough second and final stage, but also the general classification thanks to excellent performances also in the prologue and first road stage.
The young Italian beat local champion Christine Majerus (Boels Dolmans Cyclingteam) and American rider Alexis Ryan (Canyon//SRAM Racing) into 2nd and 3rd overall.

One of several hugely talented Italians graduating from the junior ranks, Paternoster finished 5th in the Juniors race at the 2016 UCI Road World Championships, and third in last year’s equivalent event in Bergen.

Luxembourg was not her first elite win, as the week before she won GP della Liberazione PINK in Rome.