Canyon//SRAM Generation in Balmaseda, Spain

CANYON//SRAM Generation returns to the Spanish Cup series today at Balmasedako Emakumeen Saria in Balmaseda, Spain. The teamโ€™s roster is Ricarda Bauernfeind, Agua Marina Espinola Salinas, Valentine Nzayisenga and Llori Sharpe.

Yesterday, the team did a course reconnaissance and Llori believes it suits the strengths of the team. With eight climbs in total for the 91.9km course, it is set to be a tough race.

โ€œThe course itself isnโ€™t extremely hard, but knowing the strength of the peloton, I wonโ€™t be saying that on race day!โ€

Llori continues, โ€œThe first climb is relatively manageable, but the second climb, which is about 4km long, is where youโ€™ll see breaks and different groups being formed as itโ€™s longer and a bit steeper. The course also features some descents that arenโ€™t too technical, but being in the Basque country and with a high chance of rain, weโ€™ll need to be fully alert. I do like the course and I think it definitely favours the strengths of our CANYON//SRAM Generation team. I always get anxious on race day, but I canโ€™t wait to get be at that start line!โ€

โ€œHaving had a few Spanish Cup races under my belt, you get a good sense of the teams and their riding styles, so for sure, the stronger ones will do their very best to make the race as hard as possible. My goal as per usual is to give this race my all and to represent myself and the team well!โ€ adds Llori.

Teammate Ricarda, who was fourth at last weekendโ€™s Grand Prix Fรฉminin de Chambรฉry, also anticipates a hard race.

โ€œWith the hilly loop and rain, I think it will be a hard race. Hopefully, we can build a group with two or more of our team to have some cards to play in the last part of the race. My teammates and I are getting stronger from race to race so everyone can be in this group.  It would be nice if we can work together as a team to get another good result,โ€ says Ricarda.

HOW TO FOLLOW

The race start is 16:00CEST today and is set to finish around 18:30CEST. The action can be followed on Twitter with #CopaEspaรฑaFemCofidis

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Mathew Mitchell
Mathew Mitchellhttp://procyclinguk.com
My name is Mathew Mitchell, 30-something from Staffordshire, UK. Over the last few years, I've got more and more into cycling, from the first innocent Sportive events to Audaxes, Go-Races, British Cycling racing, Time Trials and now Cyclocross.

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