Putting our best foot forward!
Introducing the seven Lidl-Trek riders heading to Rotterdam for this year’s Tour de France Femmes (12 – 18 August):
Elisa Balsamo (ITA, 26): third participation
Lucinda Brand (NED, 35): second participation
Lizzie Deignan (GBR, 35): second participation
Gaia Realini (ITA, 23): first participation
Amanda Spratt (AUS, 36): third participation, 10th on the General Classification in 2023
Shirin van Anrooij (NED, 22): second participation, winner of the white jersey 🤍 for the Best Young Rider in 2022
Ellen van Dijk (NED, 37): second participation
What did our Sport Director, Jeroen Blijlevens say about the rider roster?
We are coming into the Tour de France Femmes off the back of a huge win for the Team at the Giro d'Italia Women and I think that has given everyone a lot of confidence and motivation for the race ahead. Lidl-Trek always line-up at the start of a race with big goals and the ambition, as well as ability, to win. However, for the last two year's luck has not been on the Team's side and they have not got the results they maybe should have. We want that to change this year!
Lucinda Brand, Amanda Spratt, Gaia Realini and Shirin van Anrooij are all heading to Rotterdam after a solid block of training at altitude camp in Andorra while Elisa Balsamo, Lizzie Deignan and Ellen van Dijk are all coming here off the back of the Olympics. Despite these different paths, we are confident that everyone is in the best shape possible for the challenge that lies ahead at the Tour de France Femmes.
Gaia and Shirin will both have the opportunity to see what they can do on the General Classification and we have some really strong support for them. Elisa will, naturally, be our leader for sprints while, Lucinda, Lizzie, Spratty, and Ellen bring a wealth of experience to our line-up. Overall, we have a really well-balanced team with a group of riders that all have the strength to win in different ways and everyone is excited about the challenge ahead.
