August 26/14 12:22 pm - Optum Women Head to Europe

Posted by Editoress on 08/26/14
 

The Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies women's squad heads to Europe this week for a final month of racing heading into the Team Time Trial at the World Championships in Ponferrada, Spain, at the end of September.

The squad consists of Canadians Leah Kirchmann and Annie Ewart, plus Americans Brianna Walle, Jade Wilcoxson, Janel Holcomb and Lauren Hall.  Denise Ramsden is reserve after being recently struck with bronchitis.

Annie Ewart

Leah Kirchmann

The project will start with GP Plouay in France, the first World Cup that Optum will compete in as a trade team.  The team and riders (on national projects) have had considerable success in Europe this season, winning top team and a top-10 at the the Women's Tour (UK), Kirchmann's third at La Course and Lauren Hall's win at Ghent-Wevelgem.

This is the team that has been picked for the TTT at Worlds, and recently completed at ten day training camp in Colorado.  After the TTT, a number of the riders are expected to race for their national squads at the Worlds.