Ashleigh Moolman Pasio: It's right to relegate the Giro Rosa

Ashleigh Moolman Pasio (CCC-Liv) leading the peloton at the 2020 Giro Rosa
Ashleigh Moolman Pasio (CCC-Liv) leading the peloton at the 2020 Giro Rosa (Image credit: Getty Images)

The UCI's decision to remove the Giro Rosa from the Women's WorldTour due to its organisational shortcomings, including not providing the required live television broadcast, has sparked discussion about whether the penalty was too heavy-handed, especially during a season of upheaval due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In an interview with Cyclingnews, Ashleigh Moolman Pasio, who has placed inside the top 10 overall in six editions, described a 'love-hate relationship' that she has with the event that is often referred to as the only women's Grand Tour. She believes that the Giro Rosa has made many organisational improvements over the last two years, but relegating it for not fulfilling all of the top-tier series requirements was the right decision.

Kirsten Frattini
Deputy Editor

Kirsten Frattini is the Deputy Editor of Cyclingnews, overseeing the global racing content plan.

Kirsten has a background in Kinesiology and Health Science. She has been involved in cycling from the community and grassroots level to professional cycling's biggest races, reporting on the WorldTour, Spring Classics, Tours de France, World Championships and Olympic Games.

She began her sports journalism career with Cyclingnews as a North American Correspondent in 2006. In 2018, Kirsten became Women's Editor – overseeing the content strategy, race coverage and growth of women's professional cycling – before becoming Deputy Editor in 2023.