Giro dell'Emilia Internazionale Donne Elite 2026: Preview and Favourites

Giro dell'Emilia Internazionale Donne Elite: top women's cycling in Casalecchio di Reno On Saturday 3 October 2026, the women's elite calendar lights up in Emilia-Romagna: the Giro dell'Emilia Internazionale Donne Elite takes place in Casalecchio di Reno (Bologna). A highly anticipated race that once again attracts some of the most interesting riders on the international scene. The protagonists expected at the start There are 14 verified entrants for this edition, representing five teams. The standout names are Cat Ferguson (Movistar Team) and Amanda Spratt (Lidl - Trek), two top-tier athletes. Also at the start are Anouska Koster (Uno-X Mobility), the large AG Insurance - Soudal Team block — with Anya Louw, Nicole Steigenga, Fauve Bastiaenssen, Nina Lavenu and Sarah Gigante — and the strong Cofidis Women Team contingent, fielding Julie Bego, Ema Comte, Mijntje Geurts, Victorie Guilman, Nikola Nosková and Nadia Quagliotto. The favourites' season: this year's results The brightest name in the field is Cat Ferguson: the Movistar rider won the Navarra Women's Elite Classic (a road race victory), finished 6th at the Dwars door Vlaanderen Women, 12th at Milano-Sanremo Donne and 19th at the Ronde van Vlaanderen Women. A complete profile, able to hold on short climbs and close in a sprint. Behind her, Nicole Steigenga (AG Insurance - Soudal) took a road race victory at La Picto en Nouvelle-Aquitaine and was 9th at the GP Lucien Van Impe, 7th at the Argenta Classic - Deurne, 9th at the Dwars door de Westhoek and 3rd in a stage of the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya Femenina (a stage placing, not a general classification result). For Cofidis, Nadia Quagliotto has shown growing form: 5th at the Pointe du Raz Ladies Classic, 8th at the Tout commence en Finistère Ladies Classic, 2nd in a stage of the Premondiale Giro di Toscana Int.le Femminile - Memorial Michela Fanini (a stage placing, not a race victory), 7th in a stage of the Volta a Portugal Feminina and 8th at the Italian Road Championships Women Elite/Under 23. Her teammate Ema Comte was 3rd at the Alpes Gresivaudan Classic, 4th in a stage of the CIC-Tour Féminin des Pyrénées, 3rd in a stage of the Bretagne Ladies Tour and 6th at the Durango Durango Emakumeen Saria. Among the outsiders, Julie Bego (Cofidis) took 4th at the Alpes Gresivaudan Classic and two 8th places in stages of the Faun Tour Femmes, while Nikola Nosková (Cofidis) caught the eye with 7th at the Durango Durango Emakumeen Saria. The experienced Amanda Spratt (Lidl - Trek) collected climbing placings: 9th in a stage of the Faun Tour Femmes and 7th in two stages of the Vuelta a Burgos Féminas (stage placings, not general classification results). Anouska Koster (Uno-X Mobility) was 15th at the Trofeo Oro in Euro - Women's Bike Race. The Cofidis Women Team lines up with six riders, the largest block in the verified startlist — source: pre-race analysis Giro dell'Emilia Internazionale Donne Elite 2026. The favourites for victory Cat Ferguson (Movistar Team) starts as the top favourite: her victory at the Navarra Women's Elite Classic and her placings in the northern classics make her the most complete card on a rolling finale like the one in Emilia. Nicole Steigenga (AG Insurance - Soudal Team) is the most accredited rival: she knows how to win (La Picto en Nouvelle-Aquitaine) and will have the support of a large team, useful for controlling the race. Nadia Quagliotto (Cofidis Women Team) is the best Italian card: her recent form and knowledge of the terrain can make the difference. Watch out too for Ema Comte (Cofidis), consistent on rolling courses, and the experience of Amanda Spratt (Lidl - Trek), dangerous if the race hardens. With Cofidis and AG Insurance - Soudal fielding deep rosters, team tactics will be decisive: Movistar and Lidl - Trek, with only one leader each, will have to manage the marking without help. The most likely scenario? A selection on the final ramps and a reduced sprint between Ferguson and Steigenga, with Quagliotto ready to pounce.