The women's road racing thread 2015

[Jonhard]

The prevalence of guest riders and mixed teams in smaller UCI women's races is one of the reasons cited by Matrix Fitness for not pursuing UCI/World Tour status... small teams can't compete in small races (and win points) because big team riders like Leth or Eileen Roe turn up and take points.

 

[Jonhard]

Loren Rowney's off to Orica, no surprise but perhaps suggests the post-Velocio phoenix team will be more German in its make-up. Annemiek v. Vleuten also rumoured to be leaving Bigla for Orica, who clearly have some spare pennies with Emma J moving on.

edit: Tayler Wiles also rumoured to be leaving Velocio for Orica. Presumably Orica will have a number of riders on a track-heavy programme for 2016 so have room for some road specialists.

 

[Jonhard]

Re:

Actually, given that they're losing Emma J, Orica probably have a fair bit of cap room they can use. Certainly a couple of the bigger names on the Velocio roster could end up there. I just hope the top level doesn't lose Delzenne, her backstory is great, and given that it seems Wiggle aren't likely to keep Audrey Cordon on ( ) it does mean that beyond PFP the French presence at the top of the sport will take a huge dent.

Delzenne is going to Lotto Soudal, along with Sofi de Vuyst from Lensworld. No news on Cordon that I'm aware of.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I have heard rumours Cordon will be kept on, which is good. Also pleased at Orica picking up some international names, on the basis that it was rumoured the majority of the funding for the women's team was from AIS rather than Orica and therefore they would be looking for more Australian success rather than the 2015 team which is of course mostly working for Emma J, so there was some concern that losing Emma would be the end for Orica as an international roster. Not to disparage the Aussies on the team (and in other teams) but obviously with the likes of Wiggle and Rabo becoming superteams, the more competition we can have the better.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Re: Re:

Actually, given that they're losing Emma J, Orica probably have a fair bit of cap room they can use. Certainly a couple of the bigger names on the Velocio roster could end up there. I just hope the top level doesn't lose Delzenne, her backstory is great, and given that it seems Wiggle aren't likely to keep Audrey Cordon on ( ) it does mean that beyond PFP the French presence at the top of the sport will take a huge dent.

Delzenne is going to Lotto Soudal, along with Sofi de Vuyst from Lensworld. No news on Cordon that I'm aware of.

Also apparently Claudia Lichtenberg. Which leaves a big gap in Liv's roster unless they're scaling back or they really want to focus on Stultiens and Mackaij.

 

[Jonhard]

I'm a believer when it comes to Floortje, she's got what it takes imo. But she's not even 20 yet.

I hope Cordon gets kept on. She couldn't have done much better this year, popular and solid dom and got a decent win.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Well, that's why I wonder as losing Lichtenberg gives them no real major names with experience; Floortje and Stultiens are both very talented but I'd say too inexperienced to lead a team especially against teams as stacked as Rabo or Wiggle, so either they're scaling back or they have somebody in the works to bring in and take the pressure off them for results.

 

[Jonhard]

Well, they didn't win much last year and Floortje got three of them, including that amazingly windy Gent Wevelgem. But I have to agree, they need riders for 2016.

It would be an odd time for an established women's team to scale back, given the new WT and all... but needs must, perhaps.

 

[Jonhard]

Liv seem to have announced some signings now… Carlee Taylor makes the move from Lotto Soudal, Leah Kirchmann from Optum and two Dutch youngsters I don’t know from Parkhotel Valkenburg. Kirchmann should be good for some results though, and Carlee Taylor’s a decent climber/GC rider. They've also announced a load of renewals (Stuiltens, Mustonen, Mackaij, Soek, Stijns and Weaver).

Willeke Knol, however, has joined Claudia Lichtenberg in leaving for Lotto.

Also, Italian Elena Cecchini is leaving Lotto according to cyclingfever, destination unknown. Italian champ and a good sprinter, she could surely get a decent place somewhere if she wants.

 

[Jonhard]

Dragging this one up to note that two new UCI teams have more or less finished recruiting:

A new Belgian team, Lares-Waowdeals, has been picking up riders and now has 11 on the roster for 2016. Mostly young Belgians unknown to me, but they have signed the fairly experienced Dutch girl Monique van de Ree and also picked up Elieen Roe from Wiggle Honda.

Podium Ambition, aka Pearl Izumi – Sports Tours Int’l, are going UCI and have added strength. They’ve still got Sarah Storey (who set the team up with husband Barney), Katie Archibald and Jo Rowsell but have added to that, notably with Sharon Laws from Bigla and Grace Garner, Lucy’s very promising younger sister.

While we’re here, Rochelle Gilmore has confirmed Wiggle Honda’s line-up is complete-ish in an interview with Aussie site cyclingtips.com.au. They have 16 for 2016 and room for one more, but will only hire if the right rider comes up. The rider list has not been announced yet but confirmed outs include Roe and Emilia Fahlin and ins include Emma J, Amy Pieters and Lucy Garner.

No news yet on 2016 for Elena Cecchini. With D’Hoore focusing on the omnium in Rio, might the Italian thrive under the wing of DS-in-waiting Giorgia Bronzini?

/speculation

 

[Jonhard]

Back to the top for a few bits of news:

Elena Cecchini seems to be going to Canyon. Hannah Barnes definitely is, after two years with UHC.

Surprisingly at least to me, a new US team has appeared, Cylance. They’ve picked up Shelly Olds, Vale Scandolara, Rosella Ratto, Alison Tetrick and Doris Schweizer among other less well-known names. They’ll race a mixture of European and US stuff.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Scandolara and Ratto on the same team?! Awesome.

 

[postmanhat]

Hayley Simmonds has signed for UHC.

Interesting back story as she used to be a rower at Cambridge University. Stopped that, put on loads of weight and took up cycling to try and shed it. Was a surprise winner of this years TT at the British Nationals and goes full-time pro at the age of 27, after completing her PHD

 

[Jonhard]

Re:

Hayley Simmonds has signed for UHC.

Interesting back story as she used to be a rower at Cambridge University. Stopped that, put on loads of weight and took up cycling to try and shed it. Was a surprise winner of this years TT at the British Nationals and goes full-time pro at the age of 27, after completing her PHD

UHC worked out well for Hannah Barnes, and might be a better bet than hairing around Belgium in .2 races. They've signed Iris Slappendel too, top road captain type, and are hoping for some more European racing.

Nikki Harris to Boels is interesting too. She's a high class crosser and they're a great team.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Re: Re:

Hayley Simmonds has signed for UHC.

Interesting back story as she used to be a rower at Cambridge University. Stopped that, put on loads of weight and took up cycling to try and shed it. Was a surprise winner of this years TT at the British Nationals and goes full-time pro at the age of 27, after completing her PHD

UHC worked out well for Hannah Barnes, and might be a better bet than hairing around Belgium in .2 races. They've signed Iris Slappendel too, top road captain type, and are hoping for some more European racing.

Nikki Harris to Boels is interesting too. She's a high class crosser and they're a great team.

Hopefully Harris does well. I always like to see how good cyclocross riders match up on the road.

Agreed about UHC being a good place to learn the ropes, although it will presumably be harder for a TTer to get noticed there than it was for Barnes, given the diet of endless crits US based riders get.

 

[Jonhard]

Well, UHC have got Villumsen who's known to TT a bit, but they were 6th at the Richmond TT too - not shabby. Could be a goal for them in 2016? Either way, I think a rider like Hayley Simmonds may benefit from learning on wide US roads for a while rather than getting elbowed by six foot Dutch women. She seems to have a place in the hearts of GB cycling but doesn't seem like one for the Rio team to me. Mind you, after the Richmond selection anything is possible.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I don't know, so many of the major races on the calendar are about narrow roads that doing the big wide open American crit & circuit race diet doesn't really seem ideally suited to her skillset, but we'll see. Certainly the Worlds TTT seems like an aim for them, especially given we have a pan-flat Worlds course where strong engines will be the real decider and there are very few technical tests. This should be one for a rouleur specialist team.

I do think UHC need to get a Giro invite this year, mind.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

At the very least she'll get a lot of practice at setting up Rivera and co. Leadout work isn't very glamorous but it's a nearly obligatory skill for a TT specialist to have. I agree though that it won't do much for any ambitions she has to be a "hardwoman" classics rider, the other obvious role for a TTer.

Also agreed about the Giro invite. They seem to have the set up and the riders to make a bit of an impression.

 

[RedheadDane]

Re:

Well, UHC have got Villumsen who's known to TT a bit, but they were 6th at the Richmond TT too - not shabby. Could be a goal for them in 2016? Either way, I think a rider like Hayley Simmonds may benefit from learning on wide US roads for a while rather than getting elbowed by six foot Dutch women. She seems to have a place in the hearts of GB cycling but doesn't seem like one for the Rio team to me. Mind you, after the Richmond selection anything is possible.

I would say she indeed is known to TT a bit.

 

[Jonhard]

An ill-advised attempt at comic understatement... my memory is not what it was but I can still remember September

 

[postmanhat]

Re: Re:

Hayley Simmonds has signed for UHC.

Interesting back story as she used to be a rower at Cambridge University. Stopped that, put on loads of weight and took up cycling to try and shed it. Was a surprise winner of this years TT at the British Nationals and goes full-time pro at the age of 27, after completing her PHD

UHC worked out well for Hannah Barnes, and might be a better bet than hairing around Belgium in .2 races. They've signed Iris Slappendel too, top road captain type, and are hoping for some more European racing.

Nikki Harris to Boels is interesting too. She's a high class crosser and they're a great team.

Hopefully Harris does well. I always like to see how good cyclocross riders match up on the road.

Agreed about UHC being a good place to learn the ropes, although it will presumably be harder for a TTer to get noticed there than it was for Barnes, given the diet of endless crits US based riders get.

Cheers. Didn't realise Nikki Harris come from Draycott, which is a suburb of Derby. Always nice to have a local to root for. Apparently her main aim is to get into the Olympics road team so will be supporting Armistead at Boels with that in mind. And having a crack at the classics

 

[lemon cheese cake]

Re: Re:

Hayley Simmonds has signed for UHC.

Interesting back story as she used to be a rower at Cambridge University. Stopped that, put on loads of weight and took up cycling to try and shed it. Was a surprise winner of this years TT at the British Nationals and goes full-time pro at the age of 27, after completing her PHD

UHC worked out well for Hannah Barnes, and might be a better bet than hairing around Belgium in .2 races. They've signed Iris Slappendel too, top road captain type, and are hoping for some more European racing.

Nikki Harris to Boels is interesting too. She's a high class crosser and they're a great team.

Hopefully Harris does well. I always like to see how good cyclocross riders match up on the road.

Agreed about UHC being a good place to learn the ropes, although it will presumably be harder for a TTer to get noticed there than it was for Barnes, given the diet of endless crits US based riders get.

Cheers. Didn't realise Nikki Harris come from Draycott, which is a suburb of Derby. Always nice to have a local to root for. Apparently her main aim is to get into the Olympics road team so will be supporting Armistead at Boels with that in mind. And having a crack at the classics

See whether she becomes a Zdenek Stybar of the womens peloton. Funny thing is, they both rode for Telenet Fidea, and the teams they will ride for in 2016 both will use Specialized!

 

[Jonhard]

A few small bits of news:

Wiggle Honda have confirmed they’ve retained GB youngsters Amy Roberts and Anna Christian. It’ll be the fourth year at Wiggle for Roberts, who’s still not 21 yet but has earned respect for her big engine and work rate. She will apparently get some opportunities for herself in 2016. Anna Christian, also 20, is the youngest on the team and one for the future.

No formal announcement, but the Spanish champion’s jersey of Anna Sanchis is also in evidence at Wiggle’s training camp in Calpe and looks like staying for 2016.

Also, Amy Cure is leaving Lotto Soudal for pastures as yet unknown. She’s on the Aus team pursuit squad so that will be a priority until Rio’s out of the way at least… Orica would make sense.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Emma Pooley is doing a sort-of return for the TT at Rio, and Shane Sutton wants her to domestique for Armitstead (typically one-eyed view, as usual) in the road race as well. So we will see Emma as a road cyclist in 2016 and the sport is instantly improved.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Re:

Emma Pooley is doing a sort-of return for the TT at Rio, and Shane Sutton wants her to domestique for Armitstead (typically one-eyed view, as usual) in the road race as well. So we will see Emma as a road cyclist in 2016 and the sport is instantly improved.

How is it one eyed? Clearly, nobody would suggest that a Pooley who is fully dedicated to the sport and on top of her game should be a domestique for anybody, but she didn't race in 2015, raced a half season in 2014 and raced for a non-UCI team in 2013. Presumably she doesn't intend to race a serious calendar in 2016 either. It will be five years since she was on a top team, riding a full calendar and two and a half years since she last showed top tier form in a big bike race.

I realise that she hasn't been sitting on the couch eating burgers for all that time, and is still in excellent condition. But triathlons and marathons aren't the same thing. If she was to have a full season back on the road and showed that she still has her old form that would be different, obviously. A comeback focused around the ITT is a better bet - her form as a triathlete should carry over more easily.