|
Trek-Segafredo clocked the fastest time in every time check and crossed the line in 43 minutes and 53 seconds (48.675 km/h) to claim victory in the UCI Women’s WorldTour team time trial in Sweden. Canyon SRAM, 25 seconds slower, finished in second with Team Sunweb rounding out the podium for the 35.6-kilometer course.
The Trek-Segafredo team was comprised of European time trial Champion Ellen van Dijk, Elisa Longo Borghini, Trixi Worrack, Tayler Wiles, Ruth Winder, and Audrey Cordon-Ragot.
“It’s such a great discipline, and I love it so much because everyone on the team is happy, also the staff. It’s really a win of everyone, not just the riders. We do it all together. It’s actually a shame that this is the only time we can really do this, but it’s a good morale boost for everyone in the team. It’s just great to celebrate all this together – good vibes!” said Ellen van Dijk.
Van Dijk, who recently defended her European Championships time trial title, has been plagued by a painful back, but the former TT World Champion said it was not a problem today.
“My back was feeling good, and I felt good in the race today. Now, of course, afterward, it’s a bit more painful after the adrenaline is gone. It’s a bit stiff, but I will make a good recovery, and hopefully tomorrow it will be fine again. I will have to see – at the European’s [Championships] road race it was really bad, but I have good hopes that tomorrow it will be better again.”
The 35.6-kilometer course saw a tailwind for the first half and a strong headwind for the return leg, but Trek-Segafredo continued to build on their early lead, from eight seconds at the first intermediate time check, to 17 at the second, and 25 by the finish. It was a dominant performance from the team in a discipline that is not raced often in women’s cycling, and also no longer an event at the UCI World Championships for trade teams.
Van Dijk: “It’s really great to win here. It was the first time that all of us rode together as a team here. We came here two days ago, and the first time we did the training it felt good right from the beginning, so we went into the race today with positive vibes, and really going for it. We knew the podium was possible, and if we did really well, the win.
“It was very exciting, and we started out pretty fast, but we could actually keep it. The way back was much harder than the way out, we had a headwind there, and I think we lost some speed, which is normal. But I think the other teams lost more speed even.”
Lizzie Deignan will take the start for the road race Sunday, replacing Tayler Wiles who has been enjoying an incredible season. Wiles will line up again in the Tour of Norway that begins August 22nd.
|
