Elisa Balsamo, Marta Cavalli, and Elisa Longo Borghini, three of Italy's biggest stars in women's cycling, will participate in this year's Giro d'Italia Donne, race organizers announced today.

The Italian peloton has had a successful start to the season, winning two-thirds of the women's World Tour races. World champion Balsamo won the Trofeo Alfredo Binda, Brugge des Pannes, and Gent-Wevelgem in March. Trek-Segafredo teammate and Italian champion Elisa Longo Borghini won the Paris-Roubaix cobbles. Cavalli (FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope) won the Amstel Gold Race and La Fleche Wallonne.

Balsamo participated in the Giro Donne for the first time, while Cavalli and Longo Borghini returned to their past successes.

Last year, Cavalli won the Maria Azzurra, the jersey worn by the highest placed Italian in this race.

"Last year I was able to make a qualitative leap forward. I love racing in my home country and the support is great," Cavalli said.

Longo Borghini won the eighth stage of the 2020 Giro Donne and took the mountains prize in 2016; he has twice been on the overall podium, finishing second in 2017 and third in 2020, both overall titles won by the now retired Anna van der Breggen.

The 33rd Giro Donne will start on June 30 in Cagliari, Sardinia, and will remain in Sardinia for the opening three days. After a rest day, the peloton will cross the mainland to the overall finish in Padua on July 10.

In all, the peloton will cover 1,002 km in 10 stages, tackling the Alps and Dolomites. There will also be a mountain finish in Passo Maniva on stage 7.

This year, the Giro Donne returns to the Women's WorldTour, with race organizers promising two hours of live coverage each day and a €250,000 prize purse to match the prize money of the Tour de France Femmes Avec Zwift. The overall winner will receive €50,000.

In addition to the three Italian stars lining up for Cagliari, 13 of the 14 women's world teams, 11 Continental, including Valcar Travel & Service, Serratigit-WNT Pro Cycling Team, Biscaia Durango, and Cofidis Women's Team Women's teams will participate in the race.