23.05.2022 Continental, News, Race news

CANYON//SRAM GENERATION AT LOTTO THÜRINGEN LADIES TOUR

CANYON//SRAM Generation will start one of its most exciting challenges at tomorrow’s LOTTO Thüringen Ladies Tour in Germany. The team’s roster for the six-day stage race is Ricarda Bauernfeind, Agua Marina Espinola Salinas, Aliaa Mansor, Antonia Niedermaier, Valentine Nzayisenga and Llori Sharpe.

The UCI ProSeries stage race is one of the team’s season highlights and it has been working steadily towards the race. Starting first with national level races in Spain, CANYON//SRAM Generation added UCI 1.1 and 2.1 to its program to allow the riders time to develop in a range of races. The team is excited to start its second-ever stage race.

Agua Marina says, “I think we all feel recharged after two weeks of no racing. We’re motivated to have a strong performance and show everything we have learned and improved since the start of the season.”

The German stage race has been a favourite of CANYON//SRAM Racing as it’s close to its service course, but with the Women’s WorldTeam racing at the Women’s World Tour RideLondon Classique, the opportunity was quickly taken by CANYON//SRAM Generation.

The six stages are varied with elevation gains ranging from 1300m to 2100m and most include a larger and smaller circuit around the host cities.

“I expect a more demanding level than what we were used to, but I believe we are ready for that. My personal goals are to be more active and search for breakaways. As a team, I’d like us to aim high and try to put two riders into the top 20 on the general classification. We can fight for stages when we have a good eye for a breakaway,” added Agua Marina.

LOTTO Thüringen Ladies Tour will see Aliaa return to the team after representing Malaysia at the recent Southeast Asia Games. It will also be the first race of 2022 for Antonia who has also been concentrating on finishing her final school exams this year.

Ricarda, who enjoyed a general classification podium at Vuelta Andalucia earlier this month, is rebuilding her form after a short illness but looks forward to the stage race. It will be the second time Ricarda has raced LOTTO Thüringen Ladies Tour.

“I’m excited to race with my CANYON//SRAM Generation teammates in Germany, I’m looking forward to it!” says Ricarda.

“I had to take some time off after getting sick following Vuelta Andalucia, but I’m back in training and slowly regaining shape. I’ll give my best this week and we will support each other in the stages as best we can.”

CANYON//SRAM Racing rider Maud Oudeman will also race the tour, with the Dutch national team.