Marlen Reusser will not start, as she is still suffering from a concussion after a fall in the sixth stage of the Tour de France Femmes. “Marlen’s absence is a setback for our team time trial in Vårgårda, as a time trial specialist she could have helped our team, but we don’t want to take any risks with her,” says sport director Lars Boom. “Despite this setback, with the current selection we can certainly go to the team time trial with ambition. It is in any case a strong block, which can work in various fields. With the versatility of this team, a lot is possible in the road race on Sunday.”
Traditionally, the peloton gets some gravel roads under their wheels. This is the first time the Vårgårda race has been held since Covid and the course has been thoroughly rebuilt. This year the gravel sections are all in the first thirty kilometres. The ‘Sterrato sections’ are: Stockabo (3.5 km), Korpas (2.3 km) and Kvinnestad (3.1 km). The peloton will then complete eight 11-kilometre local laps around the Hägrunga slope (1.1 km at 4%). “It will be important to make the race hard, so the sprinters will hopefully have a hard time. A fast explosive type has an advantage here. With this selection we have a chance.”