Veronica Ewers is the primary large signing to the new ladies’s crew EF Training-Cannondale, set to launch with a Continental licence in 2024. The US-based outfit has since introduced 4 extra riders together with Coryn Labecki, Nina Kessler, Noemi Rüegg and Megan Armitage, together with its normal supervisor Esra Tromp.
Ewers was the one rider on the present EF Training-TIBCO-SVB crew underneath contract via 2025, nevertheless, that programme’s future is in danger for the reason that lack of long-time sponsors TIBCO and Silicon Valley Financial institution, attributable to “current financial challenges and occasions”.
“I’m very a lot nonetheless rising and creating as a rider however I think about subsequent yr I’ll be a race chief at instances, particularly in relation to the Grand Excursions. I’m hoping to even have extra alternatives to work on being a assist rider for my teammates on different days,” mentioned Ewers, who has signed a two-year contract with the brand new outfit.
Ewers joined the skilled peloton as a trainee in 2021 and has spent the earlier two-and-half seasons underneath contract with EF Training-TIBCO-SVB. Throughout that point, she has risen to change into one of many peloton’s outstanding riders at one-day and stage races, ending ninth on the Tour de France Femmes in 2022 and fourth on the Giro d’Italia Donne in July.
She was pressured to desert this yr’s version of the Tour de France Femmes following a crash on stage 6 into Blagnac.
The crew additionally introduced the signing of Rüegg and Labecki from Jumbo-Visma. Rüegg is a former cyclocross racer who turned to skilled street racing in 2020. She aimed to take the following step in her profession with EF Training-Cannondale within the Spring Classics.
“I actually just like the classics. I’m fairly a punchy rider, so these races swimsuit me very well. I prefer it when it will get hectic within the bunch and it’s important to be nicely positioned, as it’s simply going up and down all day and over the cobbles,” mentioned Rüegg, who will stick with the crew via 2025.
“You must know when it’s important to be the place. Something can occur in these races and no person is aware of how they’re going to unfold. I believe that makes it actually thrilling.”
After two years at Jumbo-Visma, Labecki will look to steer the brand new crew in one-day races in addition to alternatives on any punchy programs at stage races. Labecki is the reigning US criterium champion, one among her 73 nationwide titles. She received the general title on the Ladies’s Tour and is the one US rider to have received the Tour of Flanders.
“I might do something for my teammates. I at all times get up for my teammates. I don’t take any guff. I’ve raced for a very long time and been within the sport for a very long time so I like to share what I do know and train my fellow teammates. The opposite factor is, I’m at all times searching for the easiest way for my teammates to win. That’s at all times on my thoughts in relation to racing. I’m a giant crew participant,” mentioned Labecki, who signed for 2024.
“It doesn’t matter what the course is. So long as there’s a end line, my aim is to get there first or to get my crew there first. I really like the techniques. I really like the technique, be ready, and all the pieces that’s concerned with racing. That is what drives me each day. I have been known as a sprinter previously however I prefer to name myself a motorcycle racer.”
Like Labecki, Kessler brings greater than a decade of expertise to the crew racing for Boels-Dolmans, TIBCO-SVB and Jayco AlUla.
“I believe I’m fairly good at motivating the crew and the riders. Particularly as a result of we are going to spend a lot time collectively, you at all times have ups and downs, so that you need to be certain you’re at all times giving your teammates confidence,” mentioned Kessler, who has signed a one-year contract via 2024.
“When you have the assist of your crew and also you do no matter you’ll be able to, it’s at all times good. I need to give my teammates that confidence and the message to only chill and do what you’ll be able to.”
Armitage is the newest signing, becoming a member of the crew from Arkéa Professional Biking. From Eire, Armitage has signed a two-year contract and in that point she goals to enhance and win races.
“I need to get to the purpose the place I can win races. I need to win,” she mentioned. “I need to be on a profitable crew. And I simply need to take pleasure in myself and maintain progressing. I’ve a lot to study, having come to the game fairly late, so having a house for the following years the place I can study from different riders who’ve been within the recreation for lots, lot longer than me and study from the administrators and Esra and even the blokes on the boys’s crew will likely be fairly cool. So for me, it’s simply persevering with to enhance—and profitable!”