There was lots of media buzz round Tour de France champion Demi Vollering through the spring racing block after stories of a €1 million contract supply, her potential departure from SD Worx-Protime, and public statements from group supervisor Erwin Janssen concerning the negotiation course of between the group and Vollering’s agent.
Hypothesis about Vollering’s future at SD Worx-Protime has led to some curiosity about whether or not it already has, or would possibly turn out to be, a distraction throughout races and if it might probably have an effect on the group’s total efficiency on the upcoming Ardennes Classics.
Janssen put many inquiries to relaxation, insisting that the breakdown in contract negotiations between SD Worx-Protime and Vollering wouldn’t have an effect on the group’s race in help of her all through 2024.
SD Worx-Protime has been probably the most dominant group on the Girls’s WorldTour since its inception in 2016, successful seven total sequence titles in eight seasons. The group additionally employs extremely skilled athletes, and over time, they’ve proven their capability to work effectively collectively tactically and cohesively, even even if the roster contains a number of successful playing cards to play at any given race.
Throughout the Ardennes Classics, Vollering will line up because the defending champion at Amstel Gold Race on April 14, Flèche Wallonne on April 17 and Liège-Bastogne-Liège on April 21. Final 12 months, she had her best-ever season dominating the three races earlier than happening to win the general title on the Tour de France.
However whereas Vollering is undoubtedly in pursuit of repeat victories in all three occasions, and future contract apart, she may be considerably of a wildcard for SD Worx-Protime. At this level within the season final 12 months, she had already secured two victories and two runner-ups earlier than the Ardennes Classics.
Though she has had sturdy performances at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad (sixth) and Strade Bianche (third), Tour of Flanders (eighth), and Brabantse Pijl (2nd), she has but to win a race this season. Nevertheless, because of her consistency on the worldwide calendar, she is at the moment main the UCI World Rating.
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Taking a barely totally different strategy to her preparations, she took time in between the Spring Classics to attend an altitude coaching camp. This was a part of her longer-term plan to peak for the Ardennes Classics in April and Tour de France Femmes in August.
Though curiosity stays about SD Worx-Protime’s total cohesion in mild of Vollering’s potential departure on the finish of the season and the way the group will deal with that out on the highway, solely time will inform whether or not SD Worx-Protime will go all-in for Vollering for an additional Ardennes Classics triple crown or if they’ll decide to help a number of riders throughout all three races.
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SD Worx with choices
Vollering captured the biking world’s consideration together with her three victories through the Ardennes Classics final 12 months, however that isn’t to say that SD Worx-Protime will need or must focus their technique solely on Vollering this time round.
In truth, capturing victory in any respect the Ardennes Classics—Amstel Gold Race, Flèche Wallonne, and Liège-Bastogne-Liège—in a single season is a uncommon feat achieved by solely 4 riders in historical past: Davide Rebellin in 2004, Philippe Gilbert in 2011, Anna van der Breggen in 2017, and Vollering in 2023.
Though it could be exceptional for the group to win back-to-back Ardennes triple crowns, they’ll have a number of playing cards to play in any respect three occasions and can possible make tactical choices one race at a time.
World Champion Lotte Kopecky will compete at each Amstel Gold Race and Liège-Bastogne-Liège. She arrives at this block contemporary off a victory at Paris-Roubaix. She completed second to Vollering in her first try on the Amstel Gold Race final 12 months and could possibly be the group’s finest likelihood at a victory this 12 months.
As well as, SD Worx will subject riders like Lorena Wiebes and Mischa Bredewold on the Amstel Gold Race and Liège-Bastogne-Liège, whereas Niamh Fisher-Black, who was third total at Setmana Valenciana, and Anna Shackley will likely be at Flèche Wallonne, giving the group a number of riders to look at in all three occasions.
Elisa Longo Borghini’s all-in strategy to the Ardennes
Elisa Longo Borghini and Lidl-Trek have mapped out a plan that features the Italian Champion targetting the Ardennes Classics.
Whereas she has efficiently competed in these occasions in earlier years and is at all times a contender to look at, she has not but gained the Amstel Gold Race, Flèche Wallonne or Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
Her historical past on the Ardennes Classics has proven her potential for victory, even when it has not been a essential goal in earlier seasons. She has completed fifth and eighth at Amstel Gold Race, thrice on the rostrum at Flèche Wallonne, and twice on the rostrum at Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
Given her current victories on the Tour of Flanders and Brabantse Pijl, this might, the truth is, be her 12 months to shine.
Many questioned her choice to not race Paris-Roubaix Femmes final weekend, particularly after her unbeatable experience at Flanders. Nevertheless, this choice will present how dedicated she is to the Ardennes Classics.
Ardennes preparation at altitude
Altitude camps have performed a consider many riders’ preparation forward of main blocks through the season, notably forward of larger stage races such because the Giro d’Italia and Tour de France.
Nevertheless, a number of riders have opted to organize for the Ardennes Classics and different long-term season targets by coaching at excessive altitude, together with triple crown winner Demi Vollering (SD Worx-Protime), Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (AG Insurance coverage-Soudal) and former Amstel Gold and Flèche Wallonne winner Marta Cavalli (FDJ-SUEZ).
Vollering opted to journey to altitude for coaching in March after Strade Bianche and earlier than cobbled Classics Dwars door Vlaanderen and Tour of Flanders. She mentioned that taking the break from racing was necessary, not solely to construct health, to achieve motivation forward of larger occasions.
“I went by way of altitude coaching in Sierra Nevada and was capable of practice effectively with Blanka Vas. I like to slot in altitude coaching throughout this era. I already did that in my first 12 months with Group SD Worx-Protime, so that is the fourth time I’ve used this methodology. On this coaching stage you may work in your endurance for an additional interval and I discover that I used to be capable of take one other additional step,” Vollering mentioned.
Moolman-Pasio opted for a prolonged break and high-altitude coaching camp as a substitute of competing on the cobbled Classics and maybe will arrive more energizing than her rivals as she contests the Ardennes Classics.
“Consider it or not, after a few years within the saddle, that is the primary time I’ve devoted myself to a correct altitude block in preparation for the Ardennes Classics. I am desirous to see how this new strategy impacts my efficiency on the highway,” she mentioned.
Cavalli has solely competed in a single race thus far this season, Trofeo Alfredo Binda, and can subsequent line up at Flèche Wallonne to start the subsequent section of her racing block. She frolicked coaching at Mount Teide, a preferred coaching spot on Tenerife.
“Three good weeks on the prime of Teide are handed, it’s time to go residence, get well and begin the actual season! Evita Muzic and me have survived and we additionally had good occasions. Thanks FDJ-SUEZ and & Teide Altitude Coaching for the chance to coach in one of the simplest ways potential.”
Large-open racing
Many predicted that SD Worx-Protime would dominate the season after their success final 12 months, which noticed them win a whopping 62 races in 2023. Ten of these have been gained earlier than the Ardennes Classics.
The group has gained 14 races thus far this 12 months, and in comparison with final 12 months, it has added extra wins on the UAE Tour and Setmana Valenciana to the combo.
That mentioned, many have considered the top-tier racing to be far more wide-open this 12 months.
SD Worx did not compete within the Australian summer season season of racing that noticed Sarah Gigante (AG Insurance coverage-Soudal Group) and Rosita Reijnhout (Visma-Lease a Bike) win the Tour Down Below and Cadel Evans Highway Race, respectively.
Marianne Vos (Visma-Lease a Bike) gained Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Professional Collection Dwars door Vlaanderen, whereas Lidl-Trek’s Elisa Balsamo gained Trofeo Alfredo Binda and Brugge-De Panne and Longo Borghini gained Tour of Flanders and Professional Collection Brabantse Pijl.
The riders racing into the later phases of the top-level races and the combo of riders standing on the podiums this season bodes effectively for highly-anticipated and wide-open racing on the Ardennes Classics.
