After the strong six-rider line up for WiggleHIGH5 was announced earlier this week, we hear from two of their star riders, Jolien d’Hoore, and Elisa Longo Borghini. Find out how they are feeling in the lead up to this year’s OVO Energy Women’s Tour.

Jolien d’Hoore, a Women’s Tour Stage Winner in 2015, reflecting on her past experience of the race;

I’ve done it now two times. Last year was a bit harder for me than two years ago, but it’s really fun racing and there are a lot of crowds and a good atmosphere. The courses are always really tough, but that makes it good racing as well. I always look forward to racing in the UK. In Yorkshire it was incredible; so many people were cheering for us, and I think it will be the same for the Women’s Tour I think.”

d’Hoore winning Stage 2 in the 2015 edition of the race.

When asked what she’s looking forward to in particular and how she thinks her team will perform, d’Hoore replied;

We have to see. We also have Giorgia there, so we are there with two sprinters. I’m especially looking forward to the first stage; the finish is in Kettering, and we had the finish there also last year. I know how it is, and I think it can be a sprint with a big group. So I’m just looking forward to the first stage, and then we’ll see how it’ll go with the team.”

 

Elisa Longo Borghini, who came third in the General Classification in last year’s edition of the race gives us her thoughts on the OVO Energy Women’s Tour route.

I’m really looking forward to the Women’s Tour because it looks like a great race. It looks very hard as well, and also spectacular with the finish in London. I’m very curious to see how it will be, and how the race will be held. It’s also very nice to race in the UK, because the crowd is very cheerful, and it’s very nice to be there.”

Lizzie Armitstead Deignan Ashleigh Moolman Pasio Elisa Longo Borghini

Longo Borghini came third in the 2016 GC.

Finally I’m healthy again, because I’ve been through some bad weeks; from Amstel on. I took one week off, then I started building up again. I feel fine now, and hopefully I can be in good shape for the Women’s Tour. I will try to work very well with my team, and I’m pretty sure we can achieve good results

Commenting on whether she thinks her team, WiggleHIGH5 have got what it takes to be successful in this year’s OVO Energy Women’s Tour, Elisa commented:

Jolien will be there, and there are some stages where she can be strong. Giorgia will be very active as always; we also have Audrey and Emilia there, and they are super strong. Claudia looks very good, because I’ve been in altitude with her, and she was very strong. So I’m very confident in the team.”

Wiggle HIGH5 on the podium last year collecting the overall team prize.

The provisional rider list for this year’s OVO Energy Women’s Tour sees all three former champions of the UCI Women’s WorldTour event; Lizzie Deignan (Boels Dolmans), Lisa Brennauer (Canyon//SRAM) and Marianne Vos (WM3 Pro Cycling).

Other top riders named to be racing are Dani King (Cylance Pro Cycling), Lucinda Brand (Team Sunweb) and Katie Archibald (Team WNT).

The OVO Energy Women’s Tour will begin in Northamptonshire on Wednesday June 7, with the opening stage between Daventry and Kettering and also include stages in Warwickshire and Derbyshire, finishing in central London on Sunday 11 June.  All 15 of the world’s top teams will be taking place, plus British squads Team WNT and Drops.

A one-hour highlights programme of every stage will be broadcast daily on ITV4 and Eurosport and available on demand via the ITV Hub and Eurosport Player. The OVO Energy Women’s Tour is a part of the UCI Women’s WorldTour, comprising 20 events around the world in 10 different countries.