'I will be trying to do my best on the sprint stages' – Cat Ferguson eyes Grand Tour breakthrough on Giro d'Italia debut

British cyclist Cat Ferguson is set to make her debut at the Giro d’Italia Women this weekend, aiming to secure her first Grand Tour stage win in the sprint finishes. At just 20 years old and in her second season with Movistar, Ferguson will lead the Spanish team on the flat stages, while her teammate Marlen Reusser focuses on the general classification. The nine-stage race represents the longest event of Ferguson’s young career, following her Grand Tour debut at last year’s seven-day Vuelta Femenina, where she achieved two top-10 stage finishes. Ferguson has identified the sprint stages as her key opportunities, particularly stages one, two, and six, which are expected to conclude with bunch sprints. She faces stiff competition from some of the sport’s leading sprinters, including Lorena Wiebes, Elisa Balsamo, Ally Wollaston, and Chiara Consonni. In preparation, Ferguson spent the past month training in Andorra, focusing on fundamentals and refining her approach to longer stage races, especially in terms of nutrition and recovery, lessons she learned during her “baptism of fire” at the Vuelta Femenina. The young rider’s 2026 season has already seen notable successes, including a win at the Trofeo Llucmajor and a stage victory at the Setmana Valenciana, along with a strong fourth place at the cobbled Classic Omloop Nieuwsblad. However, she has also faced setbacks, such as withdrawing from Paris-Roubaix due to food poisoning and expressing some disappointment with her 21st place at In Flanders Fields. Ferguson acknowledges that mastering the Classics requires more than physical ability, highlighting the importance of race positioning as an area she continues to develop. Looking ahead, Ferguson hopes to carry her current form into the Giro and beyond, with her sights set on making her Tour de France Femmes debut in August. She is included on Movistar’s long list for the Tour, with final selection dependent on her performance and fitness in the lead-up to the race. Ferguson views the team’s selection process as a motivating factor, fostering healthy competition within the squad to ensure the strongest possible lineup. The Giro d’Italia Women commences on Saturday 30 May in Cesenatico and concludes on 7 June in Saluzzo. Ferguson’s participation marks a significant step in her burgeoning career, as she seeks to establish herself among the elite sprinters in women’s professional cycling. Fans and followers can expect an exciting contest as she takes on the challenges of her first Grand Tour at this level.