Former U.S. pro road champion Ruth Edwards will lead the Human Powered Health Cycling team for the eight-day Giro d'Italia women's race beginning Sunday, July 7.

The U.S.-based women's World Tour squad will feature four Italian riders, including Giada Borgesi, who signed a new contract this week with BTC City Ljubljana Girif Ambedo. She is registered along with compatriots Silvia Zanardi, Katia Ragusa, and Barbara Marcotti, with Marcotti being the highest placed rider at last year's Giro, finishing 19th overall.

Borghesi is a versatile under-23 rider who finished third overall at the Giro Mediterraneo Rosa, third in the third stage of the Tour Féminine Internationale des Pyrenees, and fourth at La Classique Morbihan in the U23 category at the Italian national cyclocross competition. He was 2nd in the U23 category at the Italian national cyclo-cross championships. He also has two wins in gravel this season, including the Italian Championships two days ago.

"This year we have seen Giada perform well on a variety of courses," said team manager Kenny Latome. We had a lot of injuries this year," said team manager Kenny Latome. We had a lot of injuries this year, so we decided to add another rider.

The 21-year-old Borgesi will start with Human Powered Health in the first stage of the individual time trial in Brescia, just two hours from her hometown of Cre in northern Italy.

"Moving to the World Tour is a dream come true. I am grateful for the opportunity to participate in international competitions abroad and prove my worth in competitions with high level athletes"

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"For Italians, it is a privilege and an honor to run on the roads of the Giro d'Italia. I am very grateful for this opportunity from Human Powered Health to grow and improve"

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The seven riders will consist of veteran Romy Kasper (Germany) and 22-year-old Linda Zanetti, who recently defended her Swiss under-23 road racing title. The team will support Edwards, who is in great form after winning the overall at the Internationale LOTTO Thüringen Ladies Tour.