Second in the Open de Suède Vargarda T.T.T for the past three years, the HTC Highroad women’s team is determined to win the World Cup race this season and has taken measures to improve in the discipline.
That push to build on the team time trial performance saw the riders get together this week in Büttgen, Germany, working hard over two days to hone their technique and collaboration.
Directeur sportifs Ronny Lauke and Jens Zemke plus HTC Highroad technical development manager Lars Teutenberg oversaw the exercise, instructing the women on what to do and providing feedback afterwards.
“It was a really good workout. We saw our weaknesses, which we can work on. Our technical director Lars is doing a really good job to sort out those things and improve. I am really confident that that those two days will be a success,” Lauke told VeloNation in a video interview recorded on Tuesday, the first of those two days.
US pro Evelyn Stevens was one of those taking part and she explained the drill from a rider’s perspective. “It was really good. We went into two groups. Lars Teutenberg found a ten kilometre group where we did the first part flat, so you were echeloning, climbing and descending. You can have really strong riders, but it only makes a difference if it is all in sync. For me, being newer to the sport, it is really nice to practice…before I just did it in the races where it is very high pressure, so it is nice to do it in this setting.”
The riders also had the chance to spend time on their Specialized Shiv bikes, fine-tuning their position on the machines during the two days.
Improving in races such as the Open de Suède Vargarda T.T.T is one goal, but the time spent on the time trial machines will also be beneficial in terms of individual performance. The upcoming Tour of California time trial for women is a big target for many on the squad, and so the TT sessions should help improve physical performance and mental focus.
As Lauke explained, the timing was perfect to enable the sessions to take place. “It is very rare to have the opportunity to have all the girls here in Europe all at one time. The schedule is [normally] very tight, so it is quite a good moment,” he said.
VeloNation will feature more soon on this topic.