Trek Segafredo 2022 Roster Preview

2021 Season Summary

Lucinda Brand took the first success of the season, winning the World CX Championships in January. Ellen van Dijk then took the win at a wet, windy Healthy Ageing Tour. Helped by the conditions and a road bike only time trial. Next up was Elisa Longo Borghini who won Trofeo Alfredo Binda with an impressive solo break. Brand and Deignan won in Thuringen and Tour de Suisse. Another solo break from Longo Borghini saw her win GP de Plouay.

Then Van Dijk began ticking off the time trial victories. She became European Champion and then World Champion against tough competition in Marlen Reusser. Chloe Hosking made a welcome return to the top step of the podium in Norway and Ardeche after struggling with COVID earlier on in the year. The year finished with the highest-profile victory. Lizzie Deignan’s huge solo win at the inaugural Paris Roubaix Femmes, battling the mud, will pass into legend.

2021 World Ranking: 2nd
2021 WorldTour Ranking: 2nd

Star Riders

Lucinda Brand

Elisa Longo Borghini (Credit: Luc Claessen/Getty Images)

Riders to Watch in 2022

There are the obvious stars of the team in Lizzie Deignan, Elisa Longo Borghini and Ellen van Dijk. The CX world champion Lucinda Brand will come off another long CX season but showed she can still ride all year and peak at the right time for wins. Signed from Movistar, Leah Thomas will provide some more climbing help, possibly an area the team was lacking compared to SD Worx. An American on the American team should see her get chances.

The sprinters are where Trek Segafredo really have a march on their rivals. New signing Elisa Balsamo brings the world champion’s rainbow bands to the team and will share the bulk of the opportunities with elite sprinter Chloe Hosking. Behind them there’s an intriguing battle too. Amalie Dideriksen hasn’t quite turned into the dominant sprinter it looked like she might be when she became world champion herself back in 2016. With no Olympics, she can give this season her all. Letizia Paternoster is in the same boat, the Olympics has been a distraction from her road duties in both 2020 and 2021. It’s easy to forget but in 2019, Paternoster was shaping up to be a huge sprint talent with the results to match.

Transfer Thoughts

The retirements of Ruth Winder and Trixi Worrack left some big holes to fill in the team. Winder was seeming at the peak of her powers, carving out a new role as a spring classics rider after winning Brabantse Pijl. The decision wasn’t an easy one but she’s still playing a role in the cycling world. Winder was elected to the UCI’s Athletes’ Commission for 4 years and is a mentor for young riders with The Cyclists’ Alliance. Trixi Worrack was one of the most experienced riders in the peloton and the team’s road captain. Audrey Cordon-Ragot has been groomed for that role and will step into it fully from 2022.

The signing of Leah Thomas gives Trek-Segafredo a bit more of an option during hilly races. Deignan and Longo Borghini certainly have their days but are often just a double act at the crunch point of races. Thomas will be able to help shift races in their favour against the might of SD Worx. Elisa Balsamo is obviously as a good get as the reigning world champion. Almost the same age as Lorena Wiebes, the pair have been great rivals to watch race against each other. The interesting part will how Balsamo adapts from using a traditional long lead-out train at Valcar to a bit more of an ad-hoc style at Trek Segafredo.