CANYON//SRAM Racing bring back Alena Amialiusik to strengthen its line-up for the UCI Team Time Trial World Championships in Innsbruck, Austria on Sunday 23 September. Amialiusik, who broke her shoulder in July, will have her first race back this weekend. Joining Amialiusik will be Alice Barnes, Hannah Barnes, Elena Cecchini, Lisa Klein and Trixi Worrack for a formidable team.

The 54.5km point to point race from Ötztal to Innsbruck, is a little reminiscent of the 2013 course in Florence, flat. Most of the 152m of total elevation come within the first kilometres followed by a gradual downward tilt all the way to the host city.

The team boasts five riders who have medalled in the team time trial at world championships since its re-introduction in 2012. Amialiusik (Bronze 2014, Gold 2015, Silver 2016), Hannah Barnes (Silver 2016), Cecchini (Silver 2016), Klein (Bronze 2017), and Worrack (Gold 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, Silver 2016). The least experienced, but arguably one of the most exciting, is Alice Barnes. Read what Alice Barnes and the other riders are saying about Sunday’s race for the rainbow.

Alice Barnes: “This will be my first TTT at World Championships. I’m racing it in a team full of experienced riders. With all of the other five girls having won medals in this discipline at worlds, it makes me very nervous but also super excited to see what we can do. We have had some good training and made huge improvements so I know we can put a good ride together on Sunday.”

Alena Amialiusik: “It’s an honour for me to have my first race back at the world championships. The team have a lot of faith in me and I’ll be doing my best to repay that on Sunday. I always think how deep I have gone in the team time trial at past world championships. There’s so much pain. Sunday, I’m probably going to reach again a new level, but I’m somehow excited for it.”

Elena Cecchini: “I would love to be on the podium on Sunday. It’s with this team that I started to like this discipline. Although it’s the hardest, I am grateful to be on the start line and I will give my best.”

Hannah Barnes: “The team time trial means a lot. It’s always the most nervous I get all year because I want to be at my very best and do my best so the team can have the best result. It’s the only opportunity you get when the whole team can step onto the podium together, and there’s no other feeling like that.”

Lisa Klein: “It’s the last big highlight of the season. I believe we are well prepared. I am looking forward to the race and I like the course. Our recent TTT camp gave me a lot of positive thoughts and motivation. We’re ready for Sunday!”

Trixi Worrack: “The TTT is the most painful thing on earth, yet I still think it’s the best discipline. It has always meant a lot to me. Even more so this year, because it looks like it’s the last time they will do a trade team TTT, and it’s special to do it with CANYON//SRAM Racing. I really hope the race will be a great result for us. I am really motivated and I believe that we will achieve something nice on Sunday.”

The first team will start at 10:10 CEST on Sunday 23 September and the racing action can be followed on Twitter with #InnsbruckTirol2018 as well as live broadcasts on Eurosport, NOS, Sporza, FloSports and NBC Sports.

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