The countdown to the 2022 season has begun as Trek-Segafredo gathers at its December training camp
Season Debut
The men’s team will race for the first time on January 30th on two fronts: in France at GP Marseillaise and in Argentina at Vuelta San Juan. The women’s debut will be in Spain at Setmana Valenciana, February 17th to 20th.
The first to pin their numbers will be Giulio Ciccone and Bauke Mollema at Volta Valenciana, and Mads Pedersen at Etoile de Besseges. Same as 2021, Jasper Stuyven will debut in his home country at the end of February at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.
For Lizzie Deignan, Elisa Longo Borghini and World Champion Elisa Balsamo, their first appearance will be at Setmana Valenciana. Same for European Champion Ellen Van Dijk while Lucinda Brand debuts at the Trofeo Binda after a period of recovery from cyclocross.
Bauke Mollema captured the first win of 2021 in Stage 1 at the Tour des Alpes Maritimes et du Var.
The Classics
The programme for the Classics remains almost unchanged from tradition: Pedersen and Stuyven will be the leaders for the cobbled races, arriving after racing Paris-Nice. And, of course, Stuyven will be at the start of Milano-Sanremo, proudly displaying bib number one. Ciccone and Mollema will focus their attention on the Ardennes, racing Fleche Wallonne and Liege- Bastogne-Liege.
The women’s programme will follow the usual tradition, notably with the inclusion of Elisa Balsamo. In the cobbled Classics and Strade Bianche, Deignan, Longo Borghini, Van Dijk and Balsamo will form a competitive quartet, adding Brand for Ronde van Vlaanderen and Paris-Roubaix.
For the second edition of L’Enfer du Nord, Longo Borghini (3rd in 2021) will be missing, a decision to allow her to aim for her best in the Ardennes Classics. Deignan will provide a 1-2 punch in Liege-Bastogne-Liege.
Third last year, Elisa Longo Borghini will forego Paris-Roubaix in 2022.
The Grand Tours
At the Giro d’Italia, Trek-Segafredo will entrust the leadership to Giulio Ciccone and Bauke Mollema. Both will primarily target stages instead of fighting for the GC.
In the Tour de France, the goal will again be to hunt stages. Pedersen, obviously, is motivated for the Grand Depart in Denmark and will work together with Stuyven. Mollema and Ciccone will lead the team in the mountains.
The overall strategy for the Vuelta a España will be determined as the season unfolds. However, after promising performances in the previous two editions of the race, Juan Pedro López hopes to be on the start line of his home Grand Tour once again.
Giulio Ciccone will take on a bigger leadership role in 2022.
Women’s Key Stage Races
For the first edition of the Tour de France Femmes, Deignan, Longo Borghini, Van Dijk, and Cordon-Ragot will make up the team along with world champion Balsamo, who will do double duty with the Giro d’Italia Femminile.
While we wait for the details about the 2022 Giro route, we do know that Brand will be part of our roster alongside newcomer Leah Thomas.
And finally, looking ahead to the Women’s Tour of Britain, Deignan and Longo Borghini have confirmed their presence.