All four of Wiggle High5 Pro Cycling’s British riders will line up for the start of this Saturday’s Tour de Yorkshire race, between Otley and Doncaster, keen to experience the first elite race of the year on British roads. Olympic Champion Dani King will lead Welsh rider Amy Roberts, Manxwoman Anna Christian and former double junior World Champion Lucy Garner as the compatriots race together for the first ever time.
Having committed to her first full season on the road, King has excelled in some of the toughest races in Europe so far this year. The 25-yea-old’s support has helped put teammates Emma Johansson and Elisa Longo Borghini onto and close to the podium numerous times already this year. The Englishwoman has managed to hold on to take some strong results for herself, with top-20 finishes in Strade Bianche, the Trofeo Binda and the Pajot Hills Classic, as well as 25th place in la Flèche Wallonne.
“I can’t wait to race tour of Yorkshire,” King said. “I always love racing in the UK – there’s always amazing support on the roads!
“It’s great that the UK is leading the way in terms of equal prize money for the women,” King added, “and I think that’s a huge step forward that this is now starting to happen. It’s always great to race with my Wiggle High5 team mates and I just hope the snow stays away come race day!”
Amy Roberts has also seen her road programme increase in 2016, as she steadily learns to apply her outstanding talent to the European peloton. The 21-year-old has been indispensable throughout the spring, and now can’t wait to show some of her power on British roads.
“I’m really looking forward to racing this Saturday in the Tour de Yorkshire,” Roberts said. “It’ll be great to race on some British roads and also in front of a British crowd which you can always rely on being amazing. The team has been her since Thursday, so this means we can check out the course, and then rest up and get ready for Saturday.”
As one of Britain’s outstanding climbing talents, Anna Christian should also be one to watch as the race heads over some of hills that make cycling in Yorkshire so special.
“I’m really looking forward to this weekend’s Tour of Yorkshire,” Christian said. “With the rise of cycling in the UK, we always see the British crowds come out in force to support, which creates an amazing atmosphere. It’ll be great to make the most of it with my Wiggle High5 team mates and get racing again on British roads!”
The four British riders will be accompanied by French Time Trial Champion Audrey Cordon-Ragot, whose aggressive style saw her come so close to winning the final stage of the Aviva Women’s Tour on the last occasion she raced in the UK. Japanese and Asian Champion Mayuko Hagiwara completes the team, with her climbing talent also making her one to watch on the hills in her first experience of racing in the UK since London 2012.
Wiggle High5 Pro Cycling Team for the Tour de Yorkshire
Anna Christian (Great Britain), Audrey Cordon-Ragot (France), Lucy Garner (Great Britain), Mayuko Hagiwara (Japan), Dani King (Great Britain), Amy Roberts (Great Britain)
