WOMEN’S RACING
ALSO MAKING THEIR MARK...
CLASSIC ANNEMIEK!
If there was a prize for consistency, Annemiek van Vleuten would be a worthy winner. With
a 2019 scorecard including a win at Strade Bianche back in February, the Mitchelton-
Scott rider capped off her Classics campaign with a storming victory at Liège-Bastogne-
Liège. Attacking the peloton over La Redoute, Annemiek’s solo effort over the closing
30km earned her the top step of the podium in Liege. Floortje Mackaij (Team Sunweb) took
second and Demi Vollering (Parkhotel Valkenburg) third.
“I couldn’t control what the others were doing so I decided to just commit and go,” said
an elated Annemiek post-race. “To finish off the spring with another win and three second
places after my knee injury – all I can say is that I’m super happy!”
NEW TEAMS ON THE BLOCK
The 2019 season has seen the
emergence of some new teams in the
women’s pro peloton.
After months of speculation, August
2018 saw the announcement of the new
Trek-Segafredo Women’s Team. Led
by the returning Lizzie Deignan (below),
the formation of the squad kept with the
trend of men’s World Teams adding a
women’s programme to their arsenal. And like the other squads under the
Trek umbrella, the team is owned by the bicycle brand.
Then there is CCC-Liv. While effectively the former WaowDeals
Pro Cycling team under new sponsorship, the orange-clad squad is
similar to that of Trek-Segafredo, Team Sunweb and some others in
that it is an extension of a male WorldTour squad. Led by Marianne
Vos and South Africa’s own Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio, CCC-Liv is
directly linked to top-tier men’s CCC Team, both team kits being
dominated by the striking orange of the Polish shoe manufacturer.
30 | TO U R
D E F R A NC E 2019
While spotty television
coverage of women’s
racing is a contentious
issue, at least one rider
is making the very
most of the limited
screen time. At just 23
years of age, Cecile
Uttrup Ludwig is a
precocious climbing
talent with steadily
improving results.
The Bigla Pro Cycling
rider is also becoming
one of the sport’s
darlings with her
upbeat and hilarious
post-race interviews.
Like at the Ronde
Van Vlaanderen for
instance. After placing
a strong third, Cecile
had commentators
and fans mesmerised
with her blow-by-
blow account of the
race. “You can just
feel the passion of the
fans cheering from
the side of the road,”
enthused Cecile,
complete with hand
gestures, imitations
and motorbike noises
to boot!
INTERVIEWEE
PAR
EXCELLENCE