Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling is delighted to confirm that Audrey Cordon-Ragot will remain as part of the back and orange squad in 2016. The French Time Trial Champion was at the centre of so much of the team’s success in 2015, with appearances stretching from the Tour of Qatar in February, right through to the team’s last appearance of the season in the Team Time Trial at the World Championships in Richmond, Virginia.
As well as her first ever senior national title – where she beat World Road Race Champion Pauline Ferrand-Prevot to the blue, white and red jersey against the clock – Cordon-Ragot also took victory in the Cholet-Pays de Loire race for the second time, but it was her tireless work for her teammates that has made Audrey such a valued member of Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling.
“It has been the most successful season of my career as a teammate,” she said. “To be part of this amazing amount of victories is just an honour, and I’m really proud.”
Unfortunately, a crash in the Giro d’Italia saw the Breton rider fracture her collarbone, which meant she was forced to sit out La Course by the Tour de France, in Paris, but she returned soon afterwards to support close friend Elisa Longo Borghini’s dominant victory in La Route de France.
“I personally had, psychologically, the hardest season of my career; dealing with great results, and crashes too!” Cordon-Ragot exclaimed.
“I got lot of support from the team to get over my problems and difficulties, and I start this new season strong as I never been before. I can’t wait to fight for my team and, I hope, for my country in Rio!”
Cordon-Ragot’s selfless attitude has made her an indispensable part of both Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling, and the French National Team. In the Richmond Road Race, the 26-year-old was one of the strongest members of the main breakaway move of the race, but even then was riding in the interests of defending Champion Ferrand-Prevot.
This attitude is sure to lead to even greater success in 2015 and, the team hopes, for the popular Frenchwoman to enjoy yet more personal glory.
“Audrey is such a quiet achiever, she has won more races than people realise and she’s most certainly one of the strongest and most talented riders in the peloton,” Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling’s Owner and Team Manager Rochelle Gilmore said. “Our team of athletes and staff are so proud of everything Audrey has achieved in 2015, and we can’t wait to see what she can do in 2016.
“Audrey’s biggest asset is her willingness to sacrifice her own chances for her teammates and this is why the entire team absolutely adores her!”
Alongside Cordon-Ragot, Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling has also confirmed that current athletes Amy Roberts, Anna Christian, Olympic Champion Dani King, Japanese Champion Mayuko Hagiwara, Italians Elisa Longo Borghini and Giorgia Bronzini and Belgian Champion Jolien D’hoore will be part of the team in 2016; along with new signings, Swedish Champion Emma Johansson, Dutch all-rounder Amy Pieters and British former two-time Junior World Champion Lucy Garner.
More members of the 2016 team will be announced in the weeks ahead.
