After three consecutive years as runners-up, six HTC Highroad riders will today aim to finally win the Vargarda World Cup team time trial in Sweden. Judith Arndt, Charlotte Becker, Emilia Fahlin, Amber Neben, Ina-Yoko Teutenberg and Ellen Van Dijk have worked hard at their technique this year, with one example being a get-together in Germany in April.
At the time, HTC Highroad directeur sportif Ronny Lauke spoke about the importance of the three days spent together doing team time trial drills.
“It was a really good workout. We saw our weaknesses, which we can work on,” he said in a VeloNation video interview. “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,”
Now, three months later, Lauke feels the women are ready to step up to the top step of the podium. “We've prepared really well for the race this year, we're motivated,” he said. “Our line-up has a lot of skilled time trial specialists and everybody's in good shape, so we're looking for the win.
“Last year most of the time we lost was in the first sixteen kilometers of the course, and that's where we've been concentrating on making sure it won't happen again. We've got our technical adviser, Lars Teutenberg, here checking out all the details, too and doing the fine tuning. It's looking good.”
Twelve months ago the Cervélo Test Team won in a time of 55 minutes 34 seconds, beating the HTC Highroad women by one minute eight seconds. The Nederland Bloeit squad was a further minute and 17 seconds back.
Lauke emphasises the importance of the 42 kilometre time trial for women’s cycling. “Nothing else compares to it, it's very tough and there is always a very strong field. The first thirty kilometers are undulating and open, the last twelve are on the same circuit as the road race with a little bit of a climb."
"You have to be sure to calculate your strength very carefully. But we're confident about our chances and if we get that little portion of luck you need to win, it could work out.”
Emilia Fahlin is one of those on the team. She also took part last year and will be highly motivated to ride well on home soil. Fahlin spoke about her history and career goals in a video interview conducted at the same April training camp, and said that winning a UCI event was one of her targets. All going to plan, she and the rest of the riders could do that today.
The same team will also compete in the Open de Suede Vargarda road race on Sunday. It too is a World Cup event, and was won last year by Cervélo’s Kirsten Wild.
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HTC-Highroad for Open de Suede Vargarda TTT/Road-Race (July 29th - 31st): Judith Arndt (Ger); Charlotte Becker (Ger); Emilia Fahlin (Swe); Amber Neben (USA); Ina-Yoko Teutenberg (Ger); Ellen Van Dijk (Ned).