Dutch prodigy snapped up by the biggest team; Aussie battler in swap for Emilia Fahlin
With more teams defining the shape of their 2014 rosters, it has been announced that 23-year-old Anna van der Breggen is to join the Rabobank-Liv/GIant team, while 22-year-old Lauren Kitchen has signed for Hitec Products. Van der Breggen is seen by many as the hottest talent in Dutch women’s cycling since future teammate Marianne Vos, and played a huge part in the World champion regaining her rainbow jersey in Limburg, Netherlands, last year.
"I'm ready for a new step in my career,” van der Breggen said. “Rabobank is the strongest team of Netherlands. Professionally managed and with several great riders. It’s the best in the World, it’s a compliment when such a team shows interest in you.”
Following one season at Flexpoint in 2009 - at the age of just 18 - van der Breggen returned to the professional ranks in 2012 with Belgian team Sengers Ladies, where she remained for this season. As arguably the team’s biggest star, she has been under a little pressure to perform every week, but hopes this will change at her new destination.
"I expect that there will be a better balance between work and races at Rabobank,” the 23-year-old explained. “I will no longer need to be on top form for all races but can make choices in consultation with the team management. I think that will benefit my performance. There are also several good time triallists in team, that's a good thing for my development in that discipline.”
On the day that Wiggle Honda revealed that Swedish champion Emilia Fahlin would be joining from Hitec Products, the Norwegian team has announced that Aussie “hard girl” Kitchen would be heading the opposite way.
"I’m really looking forward to 2014 and I hope to further my development with Hitec next season," said Kitchen. "Hitec have been around for five or six seasons now so they are very established and I am really looking forward to continuing to learn from the top riders in the team as well as looking to further myself and look for my own opportunities."
Having ridden alongside Vos herself last season, the 22-year-old from New South Wales joined the new Wiggle Honda team in 2013. Despite taking two victories herself this year, in the Ladies Komtoer, in Moergestel, and the Ronde van Oudenbosch - both in the Netherlands - Kitchen has spent most of the season working for her teammates, particularly in setting up Giorgia Bronzini for many of her 13 wins so far.
"It is also hard of course, I have had a great year with Wiggle Honda and it was really cool to be part of Rochelle [Gilmore]'s new project this season but at the same time I have to consider my future development, I will miss the girls from Wiggle," Kitchen added.