She flew home for a family reunion in Reno, Nevada, and she came away with a “W.”

Diadora-Pasta Zara’s Amber Pierce soloed to victory Sunday in the single-day Tour de Nez criterium by an impressive 34-second margin.

With her Diadora teammates still in Europe, it was time for the team’s star domestique to seek out her own victory.

Amber, who won the overall Tour de Nez title in 2009,  broke away from the peloton mid-way through the race, and simply no one was able to catch up – or brave enough to try.  She steadily increased her lead and came across the finish line with her fist in the air, celebrating a hometown win and her first victory of the season.

Podium Insight recently sat down with Diadora’s star domestique, Amber Pierce, to discuss what it’s been like moving her career abroad. Check out the link below!

Amber Pierce – Living and Racing in Europe

Learn more about Fuji’s premier women’s road racing bike, the Fuji Supreme, at www.fujibikes.com or click HERE.

Team Marketing Coordinator Milay Galvez chatted with 2009 Giro Donne Champion Claudia Hausler about her 2011 Tour of Italy experience, her Fuji Supreme, and what’s up next for the 25-year-old, German climber.

Claudia warms up on her trainer before the start of the Stage 10 TT.

MILAY: How was the 2011 Giro Donne for you?

CLAUDIA: When I started the season, of course, I expected much more from me.  We started the Giro with three girls that could possibly win. But when we finally arrived, for me, it was clear that it was almost impossible to win this race. This time, the race was very, very hard for me because I was expecting so much more from myself – as everybody else was.

But as the race progressed, I felt much better and happier every day. We had almost all of the team looking out for Mara, and I was kind of free to go for the stages.  And if Mara needed my help on the course, I was always there. There were some stages where I closed gaps or where I made the time difference between Mara and Marianne Vos smaller. But in the end, the others were just stronger than we were.

We did our best. Everyone on the team gave their 100 percent for sure. I gave 100 percent to win a stage. I almost could have won a stage. I think I showed that I was a clever and strong rider. That is what I wanted to have happen, and I had a lot of fun racing.

Claudia received a lot of attention from the media throughout the race, but particularly in the final days, when she attacked on the climbs and surged ahead of her competitors in the breakaways.

MILAY: What do you think of your Fuji Supreme?

CLAUDIA: The geometry of the bike is perfect. For me, it fits very well. I like the handling, especially on the corners, where it feels very, very good. I only have good things to say about it. And about the components, I really like Rotor Q-rings. They’re the best ever! I have the rings in the second position, and I love it.

MILAY: What are you plans for the rest of the season?

CLAUDIA: At the moment, I am not sure because the team is no longer racing in Sweden. Of course, now, I am in very good form, so that is sad. I hope to race Sweden with my national team. We will see what is coming next, but all I want to do is race!

Mara Abbott:

“I feel so lucky to have been a part of this team. It was really special to come here with the goal of defending the Giro title, and even though we weren’t able to do it, the girls supported me every single step of the way like I was wearing the pink jersey. It was even more meaningful that way than if we had a jersey to defend. I was really proud to ride for this team, and I am really proud of the way every single person on the team rose to the challenges of the Giro.”

Inga Cilvinaite:

“I think, at this Giro, we really were like one united team. We had a little bit of misfortune, and in sports, you need a bit of good fortune sometimes. For me, this Giro was a big responsibility because we had big names on our team, and I was helping them to achieve our goals. It was a very good experience.”

Olga Zabelinskaya:
“I was hoping for more results. I felt better than last year, but these results are not enough. Other riders were in better form than I was, so I am disappointed. On the 8th stage, I was not happy with my performance. I was waiting for a hard climb at the end and thought I should save energy for the attack. But the last climb wasn’t that hard, and I thought, ‘Why am I not with the first group? Now, I will start preparation for the world championships in September.”

Rachel Neylan started riding professionally just 3 years ago. After dabbling in running and rowing, Rachel decided it was time for a change and raced her first professional road race in late 2008. In just a short time, the 29-year-old Australian domestique has accomplished a great deal.

Team Marketing Coordinator Milay Galvez sat down with Rachel to find out what she thought of her first Giro experience.

“It was fantastic,” said Rachel. “There’s a wonderful sense of camaraderie and team spirit when you are rooming, eating, sleeping, and racing day in and day out with seven other girls. The respect in those relationships is really something special that you develop.”

“I have learned so much from racing with a team centered around one goal and only having one focus in everything that you do,” she explained. “It has been a really good experience to be able to execute a task that I am asked to do from my director. I’ve learned how to be a valuable domestique, how to manage challenges, and how wins and success don’t come without solid team work.”

Diadora-Pasta Zara’s Eleonora Patuzzo competed in her fourth Giro Donne this year. The young Italian rider, winner of the final stage of the 2010 Giro del Trentino, worked hard for her team leaders throughout the race and managed to finish 7th in the final sprint of Stage 5.

Of the 2011 Giro Donne, Eleonora said, “It was a very good experience for me because we are a strong team with very good riders. We worked so hard for Mara, Claudia and Olga – in particular for Mara because we believe in this team. I am happy because I gave all of what I had – my one hundred percent for the team. We didn’t win, but in the end, I am happy because I gave it my all.”

Mara Abbott, atop her Fuji D-6, at the starting block of the Giro Donne's final TT stage.

In the 10th and final stage of the 2011 Giro Donne, Diadora-Pasta Zara’s Olga Zabelinskaya flew through the 16-km, rolling TT course in San Francesco al Campo in a speedy 23 minutes and 8 seconds, coming in 7th in the final stage won by HTC-Highroad’s Ina Teutenberg. Diadora’s star domestique, Amber Pierce, finished 20th in the culminating individual time trial with a time of 23 minutes, 36 seconds.

In the final General Classification won by the unbeatable, 5-stage winner Marianne Vos, Mara Abbott finished 10th, Olga Zabelinskaya 14th, and Claudia Hausler 16th. Though they set their sights on a podium finish, 3 riders in the top 20 is something the team is very proud of.

Amber Pierce is all smiles on the final day of the Giro Donne, knowing that in just a few hours, in just a few kilometers, she will have completed the most important race in women’s cycling.

Inga Cilvinaite is equally ecstatic.

The team warms up on their trainers before the start of the TT.

It was a very hot day in San Francesco al Campo. To cool down, Rachel Neylan poured cold water on herself during her warm-up.

Amber also took part, with water bottle in-hand, ready to pour.

Diadora-Pasta Zara’s fleet of Fuji bikes on the final day of the Giro Donne.

Claudia Hausler, dominant in the last two stages, gets in the zone.

Rachel checks her heart rate monitor.

Inga signs an autograph for a fan.

Claudia is ready to go!

Mara chats with Sport Director Manel before heading to the start line.

Rachel signs autographs.

Amber’s D-6 awaits its rider before the day’s TT.

Amber and Eleonora Patuzzo wait their turn at the start.

A UCI judge measures the D-6 before the start of the TT.

Eleonora at the starting block.

The countdown begins for Amber. Though not a TT specialist, Amber had a very good time.  At the finish, she realized that she still had a little energy left in the tank, and she lamented that she had not put that last little bit into the final kilometers. Note Mara, the 2010 Giro Donne Champion, in “rosa” on each side of Amber.

Always with a smile, Inga prepares to launch off the starting block.

Diadora’s best time trialist of the day, Olga Zabelinskaya, looks focused and motivated at the start.

Mara Abbott flies through the course.

Inga and Amber high five, celebrating the end of the 10-stage Women’s Tour of Italy and a job well done. Congratulations to all members of the Diadora-Pasta Zara squad. You made Fuji very proud!

Check back this week for more from the 2011 Giro Donne!

Mara before the start of Stage 9.

In the 114.8-km 9th stage from Aglie to Ceresole Reale, Marianne Vos soloed to victory on the mountaintop finish for an unbelievable 5th win in 9 stages.

Claudia Hausler yet again fought her way into the day’s break, which formed approximately 30 kilometers into the stage and built up a 2-minute lead before ascending the final 20-km climb. The 9-rider break dissolved on the challenging, lower slopes, but Claudia forged ahead – with only Swedish Champion Emma Johansson able to keep up.

But maglia rosa Marianne Vos quickly escaped from the peloton and bridged the gap to the two with only 5 kilometers to go. She was followed closely by Garmin-Cervelo’s Emma Pooley, who edged out Vos in the final 8th stage sprint and is the only rider within 5 minutes of Vos in the GC.

A chase group, including Claudia and teammate Mara Abbott, formed. But 200 meters from the finish, Vos attacked. Mara came across the line 5th, 33 seconds back of Vos, and Claudia finished 8th, 1:03 back of the unstoppable Dutch champion. Olga Zabelinskaya finished 15th.

Mara crashed in the first 5 kilometers of the stage and lost almost 4 minutes on the lead group, but her team brought her back to the peloton, so finishing 33 seconds back of the stage winner was a particularly impressive feat.

In the GC, Mara stands at 8th, Olga at 14th, and Claudia at 16th.

Sport Director Manel Lacambra reviews the important points of the day’s stage with Eleonora Patuzzo.

Soigneurs are the backbone of a cycling team. Their work is hard and non-stop. Diadora-Pasta Zara has two wonderful, very professional soigneurs in Nadia and Barbara. Their day starts before the team’s members wake up and finishes after all go to bed. Their work is all-inclusive, making sure that riders and staff have all they need to perform well in the stress of competition. Without them, no team could function, let alone succeed.  And certainly, the Diadora-Pasta Zara team’s successes in 2011 are owed in part to these two important but largely invisible team members.

Sport Director Diana Ziliute talks strategy with Mara before the start of Stage 9.

Even after 8 stages, the riders, specifically Amber Pierce (above) and Inga Cilvinaite (below), have time and energy for a good laugh. They always start and finish the day with a smile.

Perhaps it is their ability to see the bright side of things that allows them to disconnect and endure the hardest parts of their profession.

Manel reviews the day’s course with Olga Zabelinskaya.

The team rides to the start with Amber and Claudia leading the way.

Claudia waves to Team Marketing Coordinator Milay in the team car.

Olga and Inga take the lead.

Rachel Neylan chats with maglia rosa Marianne Vos at the start line.

Amber was all smiles out on the course, celebrating the almost-finished 2011 Giro Donne.

Eleonora Patuzzo climbs.

After working full-force to help Mara recuperate the 4 minutes after her crash, Amber, Inga, and Eleonora dropped back on the grueling climb. The current world road champion, Italian sprinter Giorgia Bronzini, was among the grupetto.

As the race was about to finish for these remarkably hardworking domestiques, the girls chatted and enjoyed the view.

The grupetto nears the finish.

The girls were very happy after the great accomplishment of the last 9 days. The Giro is “over” for them, as the final TT is not a difficult stage. Some tears of happiness were seen, and there were lots of laughs. Here Eleonora, Rachel, and Claudia smile for the camera.

Mara comes across the finish line of Stage 8.

In the 70-km 8^th stage of the 2011 Giro Donne, Diadora-Pasta Zara gave it their all.

Won by climber Emma Pooley of Garmin Cervelo, the extremely arduous, grueling stage, filled with challenging climbs, culminated in a chilling rain.

Mara Abbott finished 7^th in the stage, 3:16 back of Pooley and race leader Marianne Vos, who rode Pooley’s wheel all the way across the finish line, further solidifying her position at the top of the GC. Olga Zabelinskaya finished 14^th in the stage, and Claudia Hausler came across the line 19^th.

Mara remains at 10^th in the GC, now more than 10 minutes back of the dominant Vos. Olga stands at 14^th and Claudia at 18^th.

Sport Director Manel Lacambra told Team Marketing Coordinator Milay Galvez after the stage that he is very pleased with his team’s effort over the last few days, but unfortunately, the team is not in a position to win this year’s race.

“First, I have to say that I am very happy because the team has given 100% in this race,” said Manel.

“If I have to summarize what has happened at the Giro. I would say that unfortunately, the falls that Mara and other members of the team suffered during the preparation for the Giro and during the Giro compromised our fight for the GC,” he explained. “We have tried to work very hard for Mara in every moment, but she is not at her optimal condition to win this race.”

Claudia Hausler’s boyfriend, also in the Fuji family, visited the team today.

He surprised Claudia with “Linzer Torte,” which he baked himself! The team was a big fan. Here Rachel Neylan enjoys the traditional Austrian recipe.

After so many days of racing, the riders are growing tired of their protein bars. Here Amber Pierce makes a big effort to eat her pre-race snack.

Olga Zabelinskaya warms up on her trainer before the start of the stage.

Claudia gives a pre-race interview.

Claudia was in second in the break away for much of the stage, displaying an incredible level of strength and power after working so hard for her team captain this week.

Always smiling, Inga Cilvinaite pedals by the team car with a grin. Inga was in the main peloton throughout the stage.

Claudia flies through the beautiful, alpine scenery.

Mara grabs a bottle of water after the grueling stage. Mara climbed with the lead group for nearly the entire stage, but on the last kilometers of gravel road, she lost some seconds.

Claudia Hausler said after the stage, “The result wasn’t good for us, but it was great, fun racing today. I tried to stay in the breakaway, and I think I was there for 90% of the stage. And when I realized I could not win the stage, I worked for Mara as much as I could.”

Rain made the last, two unpaved kilometers muddier, and Inga, along with Amber, Rachel, and Eleonora needed some serious clean-up before the 5-hour ride to the team hotel in Turin.

Amber and Inga had their legs washed off after the stage. Amber is always in good spirits, arriving at the team truck after the wet, cold stage with a smile on her face. When Soigneur Barbara started cleaning off her legs, she joked, “I feel like I’m at the spa, having an exfoliation treatment.”

Despite the rain, eager children flocked to Mara after the stage for autographs, and she happily obliged.