Wiggle High5 Pro Cycling will be led by former winner Emma Johansson in Sunday’s Trofeo Alfredo Binda-Comune di Cittiglio, which will be race three in the new Women’s World Tour. Johansson won the 2014 edition of the race, which was then a World Cup, as she outsprinted a group of eight riders on the uphill finishing straight. Unfortunately, Elisa Longo Borghini, who won what was an epic 2013 edition through some of the worst weather seen by the professional peloton in many years, has been forced to sit the race out through illness.
“Binda is always a nice race because it has a bit of everything,” Johansson said. “The long climb followed by a fast lap with the shorter one is something that suits us well. That the finish is slightly uphill is also a good thing.”
“Plus coming back to Italy with great coffee and pasta is always nice and by the look on weather forecast summer is on its way there too,” the Swedish Champion smiled.
Making her debut in the Trofeo Binda will be Wiggle High5 Pro Cycling’s Dani King, whose decision to totally commit to the road this year has already seen her in action at the sharp end of last month’s Strade Bianche. The Olympic Champion has been climbing with the best of her teammates so far this season, and so should find the hilly course around Cittiglio to her liking.
“I’m really looking forward to Binda,” King said. “From what I’ve heard it’s a tough course which is good for me and the team. I’m happy with my form coming out of Strade Bianche, and I’m currently in Monaco training, so hopefully that will put me in the best shape possible for Sunday’s race.”
The Wiggle High5 Pro Cycling team will be completed by former two-time road World Champion Giorgia Bronzini, whose powerful sprint is suited to the uphill Cittiglio finishing straight. Climbers Mara Abbott, Japanese Mayuko Hagiwara and Spanish Champion Anna Sanchis find the rest of the course suits their characteristics, and all three riders will be a constant threat on the hilly parcours.
Wiggle High5 Pro Cycling team for the Trofeo Alfredo Binda-Comune di Cittiglio
Mara Abbott (United States), Giorgia Bronzini (Italy), Mayuko Hagiwara (Japan), Emma Johansson(Sweden), Dani King (Great Britain), Anna Sanchis (Spain)
