Team SD Worx has finalised its 2021 team. Sports director Danny Stam has managed to attract 20-year-old superstar Niamh Fisher-Black and the experienced Karol-Ann Canuel, meaning the team will kick off with fourteen riders next year. “I think we have a good mix of major champions, experienced riders and young future talents”, says Stam.
Fisher-Black’s signing of a two-year contract generated great satisfaction among the members of the technical staff. This champion from New Zealand is only 20 years old and comes to us from Équipe Paule Ka. “It’s only a matter of time before Fisher-Black establishes herself as one of the absolute world leaders on climbs”, says Stam. “She surprised us all during the Giro Rosa ascent. She has a tremendously athletic body and she impressed our riders with how she handled the tricky bits. I’m convinced she will continue to make a lot of progress in our team”, says Stam.
The New Zealander was pleasantly surprised to be approached by Team SD Worx (still Boels-Dolmans Cycling Team until 31 December 2020). “I’m still discovering my possibilities as a cyclist”, she says with great modesty. “Everyone in the peloton sees how dominant Boels-Dolmans can be on rides. I’m very proud to be part of this winning team. I think it will be an ideal learning opportunity for me.”
Fisher-Black hopes to prove herself mainly in the tougher competitions. “I’m at my best during stage races and classics with lots of climbs. I was very pleased to already be riding the Giro Rosa this year. That I made it to second place in the final stage gave me huge satisfaction. It also goes to show that I recover well from heavy exertion.”
International team
Canadian Karol-Ann Canuel is remaining loyal to the team in 2021. She has been a member of the Boels-Dolmans line-up for the past five years. “I’ve been part of the team ever since it became number one in the world”, says the 32-year-old experienced rider, with a wink. “The members of the team have really become my friends over the past few years. I find that rough terrain shows me off to the greatest advantage. I have no problem leaving the limelight to such champions as Anna van der Breggen and Chantal Blaak. It’s a special thing to be part of a team with so many wins and know you played a part in that. The team already had an international feeling to it, but with SD Worx as the new main sponsor, the mix will include even more nationalities. I welcome that.”
Team SD Worx has fourteen riders lined up for 2021. Anna van der Breggen, Chantal Blaak, Amy Pieters, Lonneke Uneken and Demi Vollering all hail from the Netherlands. They will be joined by Jolien d’Hoore (Belgium), Christine Majerus (Luxembourg), Elena Cecchini (Italy), Roxane Fournier (France), Anna Shackley (United Kingdom), Ashleigh Moolman (South Africa), Nikola Noskova (Czech Republic), Karol-Ann Canuel (Canada) and Niamh Fisher-Black (New Zealand).
About the Boels-Dolmans Cycling Team
The Boels-Dolmans Cycling Team was founded in 2011. It has been the best women’s team in the world in the UCI rankings since the end of 2015. In 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 the team won the individual world title, and in 2016 it was the world champion in team time trials. With Anna van der Breggen, the team includes an Olympic road race champion who has won almost every major women’s competition in recent years. From 2021 onwards, the team will continue as Team SD Worx.