This Wednesday AG Insurance-Soudal Quick-Step lines up for Dwars door Vlaanderen Women, the final dress rehearsal for the big one this Sunday in Ronde van Vlaanderen – the Tour of Flanders. It will be the season debut for New Zealand national champion Ally Wollaston on European roads. She will team up with Britt Knaven (BEL), Justine Ghekiere (BEL), Ashleigh Moolman Pasio (RSA), Mereia Benito (ESP) and Julia Borgström (SWE).
“I’m really happy to be back with the team this week,” said Ally. “I’ve had a crazy first few months of the year with a busy race schedule, but it’s come with a lot of success which I am really pleased with. I just landed in Belgium last week so it’s been a really fun day catching up with a few of the girls and staff!”
Ally’s season debut was planned in Gent-Wevelgem but she fell ill. She has rested and hopes to take her good track form with recent World Cup wins on the omnium in both Jakarta and Cairo with her to Waregem where she will show up in her New Zealand champion’s jersey.
“I feel good on the bike and am in a really good headspace at the moment – happy head = happy legs. Although I haven’t done any spring classics before, so I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a bit nervous. Positioning on the road is something I have previously struggled with, so that will be a big work on for me on Wednesday. I’m lucky I have such a supportive team and I know the girls will look out for me out there.
We have a really exciting team lining up. I’m really looking forward to contributing to the team, and hope to get a good result together.”
