Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling returns to the UCI Women’s World Cup this weekend, with Sunday’s Crescent Women’s World Cup race in Vårgårda, Sweden. The black and orange team will be led by former two-time road World Champion Giorgia Bronzini and Commonwealth Time Trial Champion Linda Villumsen on the rolling circuit course, but former Swedish Champion Emilia Fahlin will also be looking to perform.
Although she will no longer be wearing the blue and yellow jersey of National Champion, Fahlin is looking forward to racing on her home roads.
“I am really excited for the weekend ahead, and Sunday in particular!” Fahlin said. “I really like the Vårgårda World Cup, and that not just because it’s in my home country, but I really like the race itself. I think its a fun, fast, and very active course which makes for interesting racing, and although the course might not look too heavy all the criterium-like inner-city course and the little hill makes for tired legs in the end!
“And the bonus to be able to have some family and familiar faces around too, just adds to the already good atmosphere of the race and makes it even nicer,” she added. “I do hope the weather will be with us, just so more people will be out watching it!
Fahlin rode a strong Giro d’Italia, followed by La Course and the Sparkassen Giro, in support of her teammates, and the Swedish rider’s attacks in the RideLondon Grand Prix – along with the rest of her Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling teammates – were instrumental in Giorgia Bronzini’s victory there. After a short break from racing, the 25-year-old is ready to return on the roads of her home country.
“I’ve been feeling better and better the last few races and done some good work last week, and I’m hoping I will have some decent legs on Sunday to be there and play it out with the team!” she said.
Bronzini’s second place in the Sparkassen Giro saw her rise to fifth in the overall World Cup Classification. She only narrowly missed out on the winning move of last year’s Vårgårda road race – finishing tenth after having made the initial selection – but, after some superb performances in the hilly stages of this month’s Route de France, the Italian is looking to go several places better this time.
“I’m really excited to be going to this World Cup,” Bronzini said. “I think I am in shape for trying to do a good race.
“I would love it if Emilia and Linda can do a good race too!” she added.
Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling team for the Crescent Women World Cup, Vårgårda, Sweden (24th August 2014)
Beatrice Bartelloni (Italy)
Charlotte Becker (Germany)
Giorgia Bronzini (Italy)
Emilia Fahlin (Sweden)
Mayuko Hagiwara (Japan)
Linda Villumsen (New Zealand)
Reserve: Emily Collins (New Zealand)
