Team Liv-Plantur heads to the opening race of the women’s season on February 3, the Ladies Tour of Qatar, a race which the team has experienced success at in previous editions.
The line-up for the ladies team’s opening race of the season features a young selection, with five of the six riders aged 24 or under. Amy Pieters (NED) returns to Qatar after finishing second overall, together with a stage victory in 2014.
She is joined by Lucy Garner (GBR) for any sprint opportunities, together with a strong support team for the race where riding as a unit is of high importance with the constant threat of crosswinds splitting the peloton to pieces.
With all the riders working to individually designed training plans for their different targets over the year, each rider’s preparations have been slightly different but the team is coming into this first race in good shape and ready to show off the new jersey.
“We have a strong, young team for the opening race of the season here with Amy and Lucy as leaders,” confirmed coach Hans Timmermans (NED). “Lucy’s chances could depend on the wind conditions and we will look to support her through these testing moments. Qatar is never an easy race with the crosswinds but we will look to be in the first echelons.
“The team are heading to Qatar off the back of a good training camp in Spain, where we worked specifically with the performance team to fine-tune preparations for the season and to prepare both physically and mentally for the coming races.”
RACE
Ladies Tour of Qatar (UCI 2.1)
DATE
03-06/02/2015
WEBSITE
http://www.letour.fr/ladies-tour-of-qatar/
COACH
Hans Timmermans (NED)
LINE-UP
Lucy Garner (GBR)
Willeke Knol (NED)
Floortje Mackaij (NED)
Sara Mustonen-Lichan (SWE)
Amy Pieters (NED)
Julia Soek (NED)
CYCLO-CROSS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS, TABOR, CZ
Lars van der Haar (NED) lines up for the cyclo-cross World Championships this coming weekend off the back of a recent win at the Rucphen International cyclo-cross in The Netherlands, followed by fifth place at the World Cup final in Hoogerheide.
It is the second time that van der Haar takes to the start line of the Elite World Championships race, having taken a bronze medal last year, and following a good period of preparation he will have his heart and mind set on another strong ride here in 2015.
Speaking ahead of the Worlds, van der Haar said: “Last weekend was important for me to prepare for the Worlds and to get myself in the best condition possible. Now I can just focus on that race. Lots of work has been done in training and racing and I look forward to showing this with a strong performance.”
