Women’s Giro and Route de France named as two big targets
The Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling team is continuing to gain strength, with current Spanish TT champion and 2012 national road race title holder Anna Sanchis moving to the team.
The 26 year old becomes the team’s first Spanish rider, expanding a multinational team which also includes riders from Great Britain, Italy, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Japan and Sweden.
She sees the move as a clear step up and believes that it should help her to continue to develop and grow stronger.
“I’m so happy to be riding for Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling next season,” the rider from the Communidad Valenciana region said. “I’m really happy to be joining one of the best teams at world, which is so organised and professional. I look forward to riding with a group of really good riders, who will motivate me to work as hard as possible to help the team’s leaders to win a lot of races.
“After four years in Bizkaia, the team has given me everything they could possibly offer and whilst I’m very grateful that they have developed me to this level, I’m now ready for a change and to step up to the highest level.”
She thanked that previous team and also the other people she said have supported her thus far. She paid particular tribute to Jon Elorriaga and Dennis Gonzalez, two people who she said put in a lot of personal sacrifice to help their athletes.
The daughter of former professional José Salvador Sanchis, she finished a fine seventh in the Giro Donne in 2008, one year after beginning her career. This season she was sixteenth overall, and rode well in the climbing stages.
She’s strong at both climbing and time trials and has a clear idea of the events she will target. “My own objectives are the stages races like the Giro or the Route de France, I want to do the best that I can in these races.” She will also help the other team riders when required.
Adam Ryan, Wiggle’s Head of Brand Marketing, welcomed her to the team. “Anna is obviously a very talented athlete that will strengthen our team with her climbing abilities and overall work rate.
“It is also a very special signing for Wiggle as headline sponsor to be able to support a Spanish professional female cyclist. Wiggle has enjoyed serving its growing Spanish customer base for many years now and we look forward to keeping them up to date with Anna and the team’s performances throughout the season.”