The HTC-Columbia Women's Team is set to begin its 2010 season at the Tour of Qatar next week, and are looking to build off of men's team counterpart André Greipel's success in the Santos Tour Down Under.
"We've got a good group there, it often gets really windy in Qatar but they all know how to ride hard in the gutter and line out the bunch," explained Ronny Lauke, sports director for the women's team.
"We'll be aiming for some early success just like last year. It's a very important race, and a stage win would lift the riders' confidence for the rest of the season."
While the course in Qatar is pancake flat, Lauke says the three-day stage race brings with it its own set of challenges.
"The high winds and fast speeds make Qatar very technical, the riders have got to be well-placed in the peloton and stay focused all the time.
"The heat's a big factor, too. The latest forecasts say it'll be nearly thirty degrees during the day, which is thirty degrees warmer than most of Europe.That's quite a difference."
After a successful run for the HTC-Columbia team in Qatar last year, fourth place overall and Best Young Rider Ellen Van Dijk will look to ride well again in the early season. Lauke expects Van Dijk and new recruit Chloe Hosking to feature in the field sprints.
"We did a lot of good training in Mallorca and the team has really come together as a unit. Now it's time to see how we compare with our rivals and what we can achieve."
HTC-Columbia line up for the 2010 Tour of Qatar:
Judith Arndt
Noemi Cantele
Chloe Hosking
Emilia Fahlin
Adrie Visser
Ellen Van Dijk