Ladies Lotto Ladies prepare for tough Vuelta Femenina
With Anna Van Wersch, Dina Boels, and Lea Lin Teutenberg, Lotto–Intermarché is sending three experienced riders into the Spanish race. Annelies Nijssen, Elisabeth Ebras, Marieke Meert, and Sterre Vervloet will be riding their very first Vuelta Femenina. A strong and highly motivated squad, ready for a tough dose of climbing. “Because it really will be a very hard Vuelta,” Verbeke explains.
However, the team heads to Spain somewhat unbalanced. On the eve of departure, team leader Linda Riedmann had to pull out due to illness. “That’s obviously very unfortunate. Riedmann brings a lot of experience, and considering she finished in the top ten on one of the stages of the Setmana Ciclista Valenciana, you know that could have been possible here as well.” As a result, the team had to reshuffle its lineup, with Lea Lin Teutenberg stepping in to replace her.
“And it doesn’t make us any less motivated. Marieke Meert, for example, has specifically trained for this race and was well prepared. Unfortunately, she crashed in the Amstel Gold Race and still felt the effects in Liège–Bastogne–Liège, but there are definitely opportunities for her on this course. Annelies Nijssen is the surprise of the season for me. She’s a former athlete in her first season in the peloton and continues to impress both us and herself. Race after race, she’s becoming more of a cyclist, and that will only increase after this Vuelta. She has a very strong mentality. I also expect Dina Boels to ride a solid Vuelta. She finished it last year, and the goal is to do so again. The plan is to race aggressively.”
Achieving results will be a challenge regardless, given Lotto–Intermarché’s relatively small squad, the demanding course, and a strong field of competitors. “Elisabeth Ebras, our Estonian champion, broke her collarbone at the start of the season and was later hit by a car during training. She’s now returning to the peloton. Lea Lin Teutenberg is also coming back from injury. With Linda Riedmann ill and Romina Hinojosa- who broke her arm earlier this spring- still sidelined, it’s a bit of a puzzle. But that doesn’t mean we don’t want to show ourselves. The more hilly stages suit us. Stage one and stage five are the flattest, so on paper we should be able to do something there. Racing attractively, improving ourselves, and hopefully making an early break…”
Because Lotto–Intermarché’s red closely resembles the Vuelta leader’s jersey, the team’s Ladies will once again compete in a brand-new kit. The signature Lotto red is being replaced with bright pink for the occasion. The jersey will be unveiled this weekend on the Vuelta Femenina start podium and on the team’s social media channels. The Vuelta Femenina starts on May 3 in Marín and finishes on May 9 at the summit of the Angliru.
Picture: Cyclingmedia_agency
