Team BikeExchange-Jayco women turn their attention to the next phase of one-day racing in northern Europe, with the hilly Amstel Gold Race on Sunday, as they look to race on the offensive and take their first European victory of the season.
With an aggressive racing style in mind, the Australian outfit recruits its climbing prowess for the relentlessly hilly event, in the shape of former podium finisher Amanda Spratt and Ane Santesteban. Giving the team a strong support base and an option, should the 128.5km event come down to a fast finish, will be all-rounders Georgia Williams, Chelsie Tan Wei Shi, Alex Manly and Arianna Fidanza.
The eighth edition of the women’s event returns to a traditional route with no less than 19 climbs, including four ascents of the famous Cauberg as the peloton tackle three local finishing laps around Valkenberg. The iconic Dutch race traditionally opens up the Ardennes week of racing, however, due to French elections, Amstel Gold Race and Paris-Roubaix have switched places on the calendar for the first time in history.
Team BikeExchange-Jayco Line-up:
Arianna Fidanza (ITA)
Alex Manly (AUS)
Ane Santesteban (ESP)
Amanda Spratt (AUS)
Chelsie Tan Wei Shi (SIN)
Georgia Williams (NZL)
Amanda Spratt:
“I have great memories from Amstel after finishing 3rd in 2018. This year we go back to the traditional beginning of the course before finishing with the loops around the Cauberg. I like the toughness of the course and know we will have several key moments to be in the front. I expect it to be an aggressive race where having numbers at the front will be important and I think the team we have on the start line are capable of being there.
So far, I think everyone has shown they are strong but with a bit more luck and positioning in key moments, we can be offensive and in the important moves. The last couple of years have come to the final Cauberg but I think with how aggressive the racing has been this year there is a possibility of a different scenario.
I feel like every race has been an improvement for me. After talking to the doctors, I’ve had to realise that I still have some way to go before I am back in my top form, so patience is key but it’s promising for me to see improvements. I really killed myself at Flanders to the point where my legs literally had no power left in them so I am hoping after some easy days my body can soak it all in and I can lift another level for Amstel.
Either way it’s a race that I am passionate about and love so I think you can always bring your ‘A Game’ and suffer that little bit more. I can’t wait to see what we can do as a team.”
Alejandro Gonzales-Tablas – Sport Director:
“The team has been riding really well together in Belgium, they’ve missed a bit of luck in getting a top result but the team we have for Amstel is strong and well suited to the hilly races like Amstel Gold. Hopefully on Sunday we can be well represented at the front, race aggressively to get into the key moves and if the riders are in the right moves we have a good chance of getting a top result.”
2022 Amstel Gold Race details:
Sunday, 10th April: Maastricht to Valkenburg, 128.5km
Photo: Getty Images
