21.05.2024 World-Tour, News, Race news

CANYON//SRAM RACING'S ROSTER FOR THE FORD RIDELONDON CLASSIQUE

CANYON//SRAM Racing is all set to line up in the fast and furious Ford Ride London Classique starting on Friday, 24 May. The three-day Women’s World Tour race is tipped to be a showdown of the best sprinters and rouleurs in the world. The team’s roster includes Zoe Bäckstedt, Tiffany Cromwell, Soraya Paladin, Agnieszka Skalniak-Sójka, Alice Towers, and Maike van der Duin.

The first and second stages allow the peloton to roll the dice against the predicted bunch sprints. The first stage from Saffron Walden to Colchester has the highest elevation, close to 1600m over 159km. However, the climbs come early in the race and allow the sprinters plenty of time to regroup before the finish, a 600m drag at an average of 3.4%. The second stage, with the finish undulating circuit around Maldon, gives the most opportunity for an unpredictable finish. In 2023, it was the stage that Chloé Dygert stormed to victory, notably assisted in the final kilometre by teammates Soraya, Alice and Maike, who will be back in action again this year.

The final stage is a showstopper around London’s iconic landmarks: Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, the London Eye, The Mall, and the River Thames. The peloton will whirl around the streets for a relatively short 91 km-long stage and crown the overall classification winners.

RIDER QUOTES

Alice Towers: “I’m excited to race Ford Ride London Classique this weekend. To have a World Tour race in the UK is super cool, and I feel proud to race in my home country. I can’t wait for stage three in central London. It’s fantastic to race in the capital, whizzing past the iconic landmarks and finishing in front of Buckingham Palace. I have great memories of last year when we won a stage, and I want to recreate some of this success this weekend.”

Zoe Bäckstedt: “I’m looking forward to the Ford RideLondon Classique. My expectations for now are to finish. This will be my first time racing such a big race in the UK in front of a home crowd. I’ve raced national championships and national series races, but not a World Tour stage race in the UK. I’m excited to have the support of my home country in these stages, and I think it will be special. I’ll see some family and friends at the races and cheering on the side of the road, which will be nice.”

“The first two days will be pretty challenging, with many short, sharp climbs and long stages. The last stage will be full gas with crit-style racing on The Mall and it will be super cool. I’m hoping the sunny weather in the UK will decide to stay for another week.”