IN PICTURES: TROFEO ALFREDO BINDA
Spectacular images from the Italian one-day women’s race held in the beautiful landscape of Tuscany
This year was the third time I had photographed the Trofeo Alfredo Binda – but the first time I had done so in such abysmal weather. It started wet, stayed wet and got even worse as Kasia Niewiadoma crossed the finish line alone. Cittiglio, where the race finished, is not a big place at all and I thought the weather would keep fans away. But I was happy to see the finishing straight line up with fans as the afternoon wore on.
It’s a bit callous to say, but I prefer shooting in bad weather. Over the years I’ve collected the experience and the gear to make the best of it. For the riders, four hours in rain is probably less fun. But it does bring an extra dimension to photos: the shots are grittier and the riders’ emotions are closer to the surface. Viewers gets a far better understanding of just how hard this sport really is.
The women’s races do not have the same revolving set of iconic climbs that the men’s calendar does. There is not an equivalent to the Stelvio or the Sisteron cliffs in the Women’s World Tour. I think there is some advantage to that, and every year I’ve gone to Trofeo Alfredo Binda fresh and exciting locations have presented themselves. It is a blessing to shoot races that take place in the Italian lakes, regardless of the season.
Niewiadoma was a great winner. After so many near misses in the big one-day races, this was a good win for her and the team. The fascinating thing about photographing Niewiadoma is that she is obviously fantastically successful but has a very open and happy attitude as well.