AG Insurance - Soudal Quick-Step to the World Championships!

A large contingent of AG Insurance - Soudal Quick Step riders are set for the cycling World Championships, which begin in Glasgow this week, with 16 of our riders representing 11 different national teams, across multiple disciplines. 

Things kick off when Kiwi Ally Wollaston takes to the boards of the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome on Saturday (5th August), as part of the New Zealand team pursuit squad. Ally will also participate in the Madison and the Omnium over the coming days, before then switching her focus to the road race. 

Outside of the velodrome, attentions first turn to the junior road race, which will be held on Saterday. Taking place on the undulating and technical circuit that the elite races will finish on, the juniors cover 70km in total. Impressively, seven of our nine junior riders are representing their countries in the race. Luca Vierstraete, Fee Knaven, Laia Bosch Ballus, Nela Kankovska, Ella Heremans, Lore De Schepper and Nora Linton will all take part. 

Thursday 10^th will be our next appointment and will see our riders race against the clock, with the time trials taking place around the town of Stirling. Lotta Henttala and Febe Jooris will representing Finland and Belgium respectively in the Elite race, over a course of 36.2km, with Luca Vierstraete, Fee Knaven, Nora Linton and Nella Kankovska taking part in the under-19 race, over a distance of 13.4km. 

Proceedings are rounded off by the Elite and U23 road races, which take place on Sunday 13th, with both races held as part of the same event. Starting in Balloch, on the banks of the beautiful Loch Lomond, a 154km route heads initially east and then south, towards the centre of Glasgow. There they will hit a testing circuit consisting of over 40 corners and a number of short and sharp climbs and descents, that is sure to test even the strongest riders. Taking part in the U23 race will be Marthe Goossens, Ally Wollaston, Julia Borgström and Noëlle Rüetschi with Ashleigh Moolman Pasio, Justine Ghekiere, Romy Kasper and Lotta Henttala battling for the elite title.

Speaking of the forthcoming championships, AG Insurance Soudal Quick-Step Team Manager Natascha Den Ouden said, ‘I am very proud to see how our riders have developed and are still developing in our project. With so many riders from our U19 team at the Worlds, it shows how good our scouting programme is. Our Elite and U23 riders are ready to compete and show the best version of themselves on this grand stage. I wish all our riders the best of luck and also advise them to take advantage of another opportunity to learn and grow.’