Team BikeExchange-Jayco‘s women are out to end their Belgian classics campaign on a high as they take on the gruelling Tour of Flanders.
After a strong team performance at Dwars door Vlaanderen, the squad is full of confidence for Sunday’s De Ronde, with Georgia Baker eager to get her first taste of the famous Belgian classic.
Amanda Spratt’s experience will play a vital role in the six-rider squad, alongside Nina Kessler who takes on her eighth Tour of Flanders. Basque climber Ane Santesteban comes into the line-up and gives the team further options, with fast finisher Arianna Fidanza and Alex Manly completing the team.
The 19th edition of the women’s Tour of Flanders amounts to 158.6 kilometres and takes in both ‘hellingen’ and cobbled sectors. The finale features the usual iconic duo of the Oude Kwaremont and the Paterberg, plus for the first time the legendary Koppenberg.
Team BikeExchange-Jayco Line-Up:
Georgia Baker (AUS)
Arianna Fidanza (ITA)
Nina Kessler (NED)
Alex Manly (AUS)
Ane Santesteban (ESP)
Amanda Spratt (AUS)
Georgia Baker:
“I’ve dreamt of one day racing Flanders, so to be able to have a crack at it after building some good form over the last month with the girls, we are hungry and motivated to make it our first win of the season here in Europe!
My experience in Dwars door Vlaanderen on Wednesday was very positive. You need to be mindful on the cobbles and try to be, most of the time, at the front of the race.
We have done a couple of recons now and there will a lot of key points along the route, and for sure one of them will be the Koppenberg and then the Pattenberg.”
Martin Vestby (Sport Director):
“We go into Flanders with a lot of confidence after the strong team performance in Dwars door Vlaanderen. We have a mix of youth and experience, and we are excited to see them in the finale and what result we can deliver on Sunday.
With the Koppenberg coming into the course we can expect things to kick off earlier. In the past two weeks we had almost summer temperatures and the expected cold weather can play a part in a long and hard like this.”
2022 Tour of Flanders – Race Details:
Sunday, 3rd April: Oudenaarde – Oudenaarde, 158km
Photos: Getty Sport