Spanish Champion Anna Sanchis will be proud to line up on the start line of Sunday’s first ever Madrid Challenge by La Vuelta at the head of the Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling team. The 27-year-old from Valencia will be resplendent in her red and yellow “Rojigualda” jersey in the 85.5km race around the historic centre of the Spanish capital. Similar to La Course by Le Tour de France did in July, the Madrid Challenge will be made up of 15 laps of the 5.8km circuit, which will be used by the men’s peloton in the final stage of the Vuelta a España later in the day.
“This race is very special because it’s on the same day and the same parcours as the final stage of the Vuelta,” Sanchis said. “I’m very excited for that. I think it’s a very good idea, and I think it’s very positive for women’s cycling.”
Having had her season interrupted by a serious collarbone injury, sustained in the second stage of the Giro d’Italia in July, Sanchis is happy to be back to full fitness. Although the course is not one made for the Spanish climber, she is determined to work hard for her teammates on the predominantly flat circuit.
“It’s not a very good parcours for me so I hope I can help my teammate Giorgia [Bronzini],” Sanchis explained. “I think she will be the leader of the team, and I hope to help her, and to go a good job. I feel good, and I hope to be able to do my job.”
Despite this, all eyes will be on the rider from Valencia as the race gets under way, as she proudly displays her Champion’s jersey on the streets of her national capital for the very first time.
“I’m very excited for that!” she exclaimed. “It’s the first time for this race, and of course I am Spanish Champion and it’s special for me to show this jersey in this race. I think it’s one of the most important races – like at the end of the Tour de France – and I’m very excited.”
With the race highly likely to finish in a sprint, the Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling team will be built around the speed of Bronzini, whose victories this season have included the Tour of Chongming Island World Cup and two stages of the recent Route de France.
“I’m looking forward to it because obviously it’s the first time that they have done this event, so we will try to show Wiggle Honda in the best way in this challenge,” Bronzini said. “Also I know that the Spanish people are really close to cycling, so I look forward to seeing all the people around the lap. I think it will be a great event. I’m really glad that I’ve found a way to do this race, and I’m really excited for it!”
With the World Championships just two weeks away, Bronzini has been training hard at altitude as she aims for a third rainbow jersey on the road.
“It will be a sort of test for me and my condition, because I have just been in the mountains on a training camp,” she explained. “Maybe I will be a little bit tired on Sunday but I will try to do my sprint in the race.
“I hope it will be good weather because it is a bit of a tricky lap with lots of sharp corners,” she added, remembering the torrential rain at La Course that led to several big crashes on the cobbles of Paris’ Champs-Elysées. “I will try to be safe of course, just before the Worlds.”
Alongside Sanchis and Bronzini will be Japanese Champion Mayuko Hagiwara, who will also be proudly displaying her national jersey in what should be one of the most high-profile races of the year. The Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling team will be completed by its two youngest riders, Amy Roberts and Anna Christian, whose attacking styles have illuminated similar events in the past, including the Prudential RideLondon Grand Prix in August.
La Madrid Challenge by La Vuelta is scheduled to be shown live on Eurosport in most of Europe, and Universal Sports in the USA, from 15:30 Central European Time.
Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling team for La Madrid Challenge by La Vuelta
Giorgia Bronzini (Italy), Anna Christian (Great Britain), Mayuko Hagiwara (Japan), Amy Roberts (Great Britain), Anna Sanchis (Spain)
