Hailing from CANYON//SRAM Generation, the development team to the World Tour Team, Ricarda Bauernfeind’s journey in cycling has been nothing short of inspiring. Giving the pro side of cycling away to complete her university studies, Ricarda returned to the pro ranks in 2022 with a clear stamp that she was destined for bigger things.

Given the opportunity to join the World Tour Team, CANYON//SRAM Racing in 2023, the young German rider had a phenomenal season. Ricarda placed in the top ten overall in no less than four World Tour stage races, including the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift. On stage five Ricarda took a stunning stage victory with a 40km-long solo attack, proving she is one of cycling’s rising stars.

Ricarda says, “In 2021, I read about the new development team, CANYON//SRAM Generation. I saw it as an opportunity to get back into racing in bigger races on the road and to see how I could progress. I had coached myself and used Zwift as my main training tool. Joining the development team in 2022 was the best decision I made. I learned how to race in a bigger peloton and to try things without the pressure. I was encouraged to be brave and try new tactics in a race. As a team, we learned how to be professional cyclists and how everyone can grow and learn different things from each other.”

“The stage win at the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift last year was very special. I was feeling tired that morning and I had sent a message to my parents saying the same. When I heard my name to go on the attack I was really thinking that I won’t get far before being caught and dropped because I didn’t feel like I had such good legs. But if you never try, you never know. So I went. I kept thinking to myself that your mind is stronger than your body. It’s a quote I love.”

“My goals this year are to qualify for Paris Olympics and to learn as much as possible as a rider. I still have a lot of things to develop and I’m looking forward to doing that with CANYON//SRAM Racing.”