One of the few Cervélo TestTeam survivors feels that new-look team can be just as powerful
Iris Slappendel is one of only five riders from the 14-strong 2010 Cervélo TestTeam line up to be joining the new Garmin-Cervélo team. Along with Britons Emma Pooley, Lizzie Armitstead and Sharon Laws, as well as Australian Carla Ryan, Slappendel forms the nucleus of what should still be a team to be reckoned with in virtually every race it enters in 2011.
“Yes, it’s a pretty different team than last season,” the Dutchwoman confirmed to Velonation today, “but I am very positive about this team. The girls that stayed from last year had a word to say about the new riders who would join the team. I think because of this the team is maybe a bit more balanced with more matching characters.”
One of two superteams in the women’s sport in 2010, along with HTC-Columbia, Cervélo was the favourite in virtually every race. Largely through Pooley and Dutch sprinter Kirsten Wild, the team won more races than any other team last year; this did have its downside though, Slappendel says.
“Last season I really enjoyed being part of the best women’s team,” said the 25-year-old, “but this also meant that we always had to carry the race on our shoulders. Everybody was looking at us, which gave us responsibility and pressure. I think the 2011 team can still be the best team, but without a super-sprinter like Kirsten Wild we can have more of an ‘underdog’ role in the race. I think for my own this can be an advantage.”
With less pressure on Garmin-Cervélo to control the race then, the Dutch rouleur/time triallist hopes that there will be more opportunities for results in 2011.
“My first main focus is on the spring classics where I hope to be able to take some chances for a good result,” she explained. “With [Noemi] Cantele, [Trine] Schmidt, [Alex] Rhodes and [Lizzie] Armitstead we still have a good classics team.
“Of course with Emma Pooley we still have the best TT-rider and climber in the team,” she added, “so we still have a super team for the stage races. So my conclusion is that we will have a strong team and I can’t wait the season to start!”