Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling is sending its strongest possible team to the long-awaited inaugural Women’s Tour, in Great Britain, which starts in the beautiful town of Oundle, Northamptonshire, on Wednesday. As the top British team in the women’s peloton, the black and orange squad includes some of the biggest names in British cycling, and will be hunting for stage victories as well as the five-day race’s general classification.
“It’s finally here!” exclaimed Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling team manager Rochelle Gilmore. “Tomorrow we will all meet together in the UK at the race hotel and it all becomes a reality. A world class UCI 2.1 category race in the UK, our team’s home country. I’m not usually nervous, especially when all my athletes are on top form however it’s probably a good sign.
“We’re in shape to perform well so we’ll be putting pressure on ourselves,” Gilmore added. “Our six athletes will take the start line in good health and injury free so they’ve already ticked the first box…. And are ready for day one. I shouldn’t be nervous, a couple of our Wiggle Honda athletes have won a home Olympic Games Gold so they know, and respond well to pressure.”
The six-rider team will include two of Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling’s Olympic champions; Dani King and Laura Trott. For two time London 2012 Gold Medallist Laura Trott, stage four will be an extra special day as it begins in her home town of Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, and finishes in Welwyn Garden City, where she and elder sister Emma began their racing careers.
“I am really excited about riding the Women’s Tour,” Trott said. “To have such a major race in the UK is amazing and a great way to show people how far women’s road cycling has come.
“I am obviously most excited about the stage that goes through my hometown,” she added.
The Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling team will be led by its most experienced riders, in Italian Giorgia Bronzini, and Danish-born New Zealander Linda Villumsen. As one of the fastest sprinters in the World, former two-time road World Champion Bronzini will be a big favourite for many of the stage finishes, while 2014 Route de France winner and perennial World Time Trial Championship medallist, Linda Villumsen, will be one of the names to watch for the race’s overall victory.
“I’m really excited about the race for sure,” said Bronzini. “A lot of the stages will be up and down, up and down, and I hope that Linda can have the same form that she showed in Flèche Wallonne. I will help her to stay in the front, so, maybe her and I will be a good mix for the finishes.
“I’m hoping for Linda that she can be on the final podium in the general classification,” she continued. “I would like to give her a hand because I think there will be many more opportunities for myself.”
“I want to be in good shape for the team, and also for the British riders, Dani and Laura,” Bronzini added.
Unfortunately, a recent illness means that Wiggle Honda will be forced to start without one of its Olympic Champions, as World Individual Pursuit Champion Joanna Rowsell has been forced to withdraw from the inaugural Women’s Tour.
“I have been ill with ‘flu and having followed the doctor’s advice I have been withdrawn from the race,” said Rowsell. “I am obviously very disappointed not to be riding as I had been really looking forward to being part of the event in it’s first year.
“I know the organisers have worked very hard to make it happen and I’m sure it will be a fantastic event,” the British time trial champion added. “I will of course be following the event online and looking forward to watching the TV coverage which is a massive step forward for women’s cycling.”
Rowsell’s place in the team will be taken by Australian Peta Mullens, with the final spot being filled by former German champion Charlotte Becker.
Please feel free to use Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling’s Women’s Tour Promo video in your coverage, found on the team’s YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling line up for the Women’s Tour (2.1) 7th-11th May 2014
Charlotte Becker (Germany)
Giorgia Bronzini (Italy)
Dani King (Great Britain)
Peta Mullens (Australia)
Laura Trott (Great Britain)
Linda Villumsen (New Zealand)
