Liv AlUla Jayco go into the upcoming Ardennes Classics with big ambitions, led by Italian climber Monica Trinca Colonel.
The 26-year-old has had a successful start to the season with an overall podium at the UAE Tour Women and top 10s at Strade Bianche and the Giro dell’Appennino. She will take a leadership role for the Australian squad over the next week, particularly at La Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
At the Amstel Gold Race, the team will also have options in home riders Quinty Ton and Silke Smulders. Ton took an impressive ninth place at last year’s race and she arrives at this weekend following a solid cobbles campaign this spring.
For Smulders, the Dutch one-day race is the beginning of her comeback from injury after she fractured three vertebrae in a crash in February. She will provide valuable support across all three races as well as being a potential card to play in the finals.
New Zealand climber Ella Wyllie and Australian all-rounder Josie Talbot will bolster the squad over all three forthcoming races, while Nadia Gontova will come in for Flèche and Liège.
Adding to the strength for Amstel Gold Race will be Letizia Paternoster, who made her debut at the race last year, with fellow Italian Matilde Vitillo joining the squad for Flèche. The final spot for Liège-Bastogne-Liège is yet to be decided.
Liv AlUla Jayco for the Ardennes
Monica Trinca Colonel (ITA) – All three races
Silke Smulders (NED) – All three races
Ella Wyllie (NZL) – All three races
Josie Talbot (AUS) – All three races
Nadia Gontova (CAN) – Flèche & Liège
Quinty Ton (NED) – Amstel only
Letizia Paternoster (ITA) – Amstel only
Matilde Vitillo (ITA) – Flèche only
Silke Smulders
“Two months ago, I broke my back. In the beginning, it was super scary with all the uncertainty and not knowing exactly what the recovery would look like. I took it step by step and tried to stay as mobile as possible with respect to the injury. I had good help from the team and physios. And just tried to do the best I can and listen to my body. It has been very hard and only I know from how far I have come.
I am still not feeling 100% like myself, but I see these races as a big bonus and I am just really happy to be back with the team, my second family, and to start the most beautiful race of the year on home roads. There is a question mark about how I am going to be. But I think my knowledge of the roads and high motivation will be of great value for the team. I just want to enjoy being here and racing freely and helping the team as much as possible.”
Wim Stroetinga (Sport Director)
“We’re heading into the Ardennes with a different group of riders, and everyone is ready. We had a very strong team training camp at altitude, and for Flèche Wallonne and Liège we have a clear leader in Monica. She’ll be ready to fight for strong results there. For Amstel specifically, we have several options. The climbs are shorter, which allows us to use different riders in the pre-final and in the final.
In Amstel we have Quinty and Silke, who know the course inside out, and that’s a real advantage. It’s great to have Silke back, she can be proud of how she’s come through the past few months with all the setbacks and of the way she’s handled her rehabilitation. She may need a little time to find her rhythm again, but we’re confident she can already play an important role for the team.”
Race Details
Amstel Gold Race – Sunday, 19 April
Flèche Wallonne – Wednesday, 22 April
Liège-Bastogne-Liège – Sunday, 26 April
Photo: Sprint Cycling
