With Ina Teutenberg leading part of the HTC-Columbia women’s team in the Liberty classic this weekend, the rest will be in Spain for the GP Ciudad de Valladolid, the next round of the World Cup. The white, yellow and black team will be led in the race by new signing for 2010 Adrie Visser.
The 26-year-old Dutchwoman is enjoying her best start to the season since winning the Ronde Van Drenthe World Cup in 2007. She was part of a two-woman break with Lotto Ladies rider, and eventual winner, Grace Verbeke in the Ronde van Vlaanderen and last week wore her first ever leader’s jersey in the Tour de l’Aude.
"I'm feeling fine,” said Visser. “I've had ten days at home without racing, so I'm fresh but I know I've got good basic condition as well. I remember from doing this race a few years ago there are some small climbs, and the heat is a factor as well. So even if it is fairly flat, it won't just automatically be a bunch sprint."
In support of Visser is a team, any one of which could take the race herself. Former World champion Judith Arndt has won just about everything in the sport including the overall World Cup in 2008; Italian time trial champion Noemi Cantele is a two-time World Cup race winner and will be fresh after having been away from racing since the end of April.
Luise Keller is a strong climber, Ellen Van Dijk is a powerful Rouleur and, while Teutenberg may be the team’s number one sprinter right now, 19-year-old Chloe Hosking has the confidence to beat anyone.
"We've got an exceptionally strong line-up going,” confirmed HTC-Columbia team manager Ronny Lauke, “and working well together I'm sure we could get a good result. We won't be waiting for a bunch sprint, we'll be trying to shape the race from the word go.
"We're leading in the World Cup overall rankings, and we'll want to defend that, too."
HTC-Columbia for Valladolid World Cup:
Judith Arndt, Noemi Cantele, Chloe Hosking, Luise Keller, Ellen Van Dyck and Adrie Visser.