Team SD Worx goes to Giro Donne for stage wins

Team SD Worx goes to Giro Donne for stage wins

"Our riders can ride without pressure"

29/06/2022

Team SD Worx will be at the start of the Giro Donne with a young, promising team: Blanka Vas, Niamh Fisher-Black, Lonneke Uneken, Elena Cecchini and Lotte Kopecky. Anna Shackley will miss the Giro due to a Covid infection, she will be replaced by Christine Majerus. Whereas the team has played a dominant role in the Giro in previous years, the aim now is mainly to win a stage and gain experience. "Everyone will get his chance to win a stage in this Giro. We can race with an open mind," says sport director Lars Boom.

Linked race Giro Donne - Linked cyclists Blanka Vas Lonneke Uneken Christine Majerus Niamh Fisher-Black Elena Cecchini Lotte Kopecky - Gekoppelde ploegleiders: Lars Boom Danny Stam

Last year, Team SD Worx performed a dazzling feat in the Giro Donne. With Anna van der Breggen, Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio and Demi Vollering, Team SD Worx took the entire podium, allowing Van der Breggen to win the Giro for the fourth time. Boom: "Our team has ridden the Giro very dominantly in recent years and has achieved many successes. However, this year it will not be a given to go for the final win. We are here with a number of young girls for whom it is the first big tour. For them it will be a journey of discovery without pressure. It can be very liberating to be able to race without pressure."

The selection

Lotte Kopecky
Boom: "Lotte is our leader in this Giro. With her, we want to go for a stage win. There are several opportunities. It starts already in the prologue and also the first two stages in line may end in a sprint. In addition, she rides the Giro with a view to the Tour. Therefore she can go in relaxed. She does not have to ride a classification. I think she also just wants to ride the double to experience what it is like to ride two long races in a row. If you have the Giro in your legs and you come out well rested, you might be able to do something extra towards the Tour de France."

Niamh Fisher-Black
Boom: "Niamh is one of the girls who can start the race with an open mind. She can discover what her possibilities are uphill. If she has a bad day, that's okay. This fits her development as a rider. If the Giro becomes even tougher in the coming years, then this will be her course even more.

Lonneke Uneken 
Boom: "The Giro also offers us the chance to perfect our sprint train. The more you do something like that, the better you get at it. We have the right people with us in Italy. Lotte is very fast, but Lonneke Uneken can also do well in sprints. We have to develop that further. With Lotte Kopecky, Lonneke Uneken, Blanka Vas, Christine Majerus and Elena Cecchini we have four ideal riders to set up a sprint train."

Christine Majerus

Boom: "Christine is a beacon of experience. She has already ridden several grand tours. She can share that experience with the younger girls. In addition, the presence of Christine is a strengthening for our sprint train."

Blanka Vas

Boom: "For Blanka Vas this is the first big tour. For every young rider it is good to have the first longer race in the legs and to see how the body reacts after 10 days of racing. Blanka is a super talented and versatile rider. She can try to win uphill, but she can also be important in the sprint."

Elena Cecchini

Boom: "It is a home race and I can see Elena is really looking forward to this Giro Dnne. She is a valuable rider who has the ambition to win a stage in her own country. She always gives her all for the team, while sometimes she should think about her own chances more often. In the Giro, she can choose a stage where she can try to go for the win. In addition, her role as road captain is to share her experience with the young girls."

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