Canada's Isabella Holmgren 'nervous but excited' as she steps into co-leadership role at Giro d'Italia Women after last year's breakthrough top 10

Canadian cyclist Isabella Holmgren is stepping into a co-leadership role at the Giro d’Italia Women with Lidl-Trek, following a breakthrough performance last year when she finished seventh overall. At just 21 years old, Holmgren has quickly established herself as a promising general classification contender, having also won the Tour de l’Avenir Femmes shortly after her debut Giro. This season, she shares the team’s GC ambitions with Niamh Fisher-Black, aiming to challenge the race favourites and build on Lidl-Trek’s strong start, which includes three stage wins and the pink jersey held by Elisa Balsamo. Holmgren approaches the race with a blend of nervousness and excitement, drawing confidence from her experience last year and the support of a strong, well-rounded team. She acknowledges the value of having a year’s knowledge of the race and the guidance of more experienced teammates, which will help her navigate the demanding stages ahead. While external expectations have grown following her previous results, Holmgren remains focused on performing well without adding undue pressure on herself, emphasising a flexible approach to the race depending on how events unfold. Lidl-Trek’s strategy involves a two-pronged attack on the general classification, with Holmgren and Fisher-Black working together to maximise their chances against top rivals such as Demi Vollering and Elisa Longo Borghini. Both riders are currently level on time, but the upcoming uphill time trial on stage 4 is expected to be a decisive moment in shaping the GC battle. Holmgren, who excels in uphill time trials and technical descents, is optimistic about her prospects in this stage and the challenging mountain circuits that follow, which will test the team’s climbing strength and tactical acumen. Looking ahead, the Giro represents Holmgren’s main road objective for the season before she transitions to mountain biking in the summer and targets a potential selection for the Road World Championships in Canada. Despite the intensity and length of the race, she is confident that her form will improve as the event progresses. With Lidl-Trek currently controlling the race and boasting a deep roster of support riders, Holmgren is well placed to build on her promising trajectory and make a significant impact in one of women’s cycling’s most prestigious stage races.