Nguyễn Thị Thật (in red) will compete at the Giro d'Italia Donne under the jersey of Israel-Premier Tech Roland of Switzerland from June 30-July 9. Photo of Thai Cycling Association

HÀ NỘI — Vietnamese cyclist Nguyễn Thị Thật will take part in the Giro d'Italia Donne, one of three world-leading tournaments for women, starting on June 30.

The Asian champion, after successfully defending her title two weeks ago in Thailand, flew to Europe to join her team Israel-Premier Tech Roland of Switzerland for the event.

The tournament will host 24 teams with seven members each. Among them, 15 are at the UCI World Team level. 

This year marks the 34th edition of the Giro d’Italia Donne and its route will, once again, cater to the most powerful riders. There is an opening time trial, relentlessly steep pitches, and the mountainous terrain that the event is so well known for incorporating. 

In the 2023 season, cyclists will take part in nine stages across 928km.

In the first stage, they will compete in the individual time trial of 4.4km in Chianciano.

The main feature will be the Passo (Pian) del Lupo, which is marked as the highest peak of the race, on stage 5. There are also several other hilly stages that could make their mark on the overall classification. The final stage will be on July 9.

Dutch Annemiek van Vleuten of Movistar was the 2022 Giro d'Italia overall winner. She also won in 2018 and 2019.

In the world ranking, the SEA Games champion Thật places at No 101. She is the Asian No 2, behind Yanina Kuskova of Uzbekistan.

Thật is the first Vietnamese athlete to qualify for the Paris Olympics in 2024. She is also the first Vietnamese cyclist to have a chance at an Olympic Games. VNS