Pre-Race Rider Quotes: Ford RideLondon Classique

2024 Ford RideLondon Classique – stage 1 is 152km from Saffron Walden to Colchester – here are some pre-race rider quotes with Lizzie Deignan, Lotte Kopecky, Charlotte Kool, Lorena Wiebes

Pre-Race Rider Quotes: Ford RideLondon Classique

TODAY: 2024 Ford RideLondon Classique – stage 1 —- Today’s opening stage is 152KM from Saffron Walden to Colchester. Stage 2 is 143km starting and finishing in Maldon while Stage 3 is a 91km circuit race in central London, starting and finishing on The Mall in front of Buckingham Palace. Here are some quotes from star riders pre-race:

Lizzie Deignan (GBR, Lidl-Trek): On her recovery from the broken arm sustained at the Tour of Flanders at the end of March. “I went to the Vuelta Femenina hoping to pick up some form again having broken my arm at Flanders, and we’re six weeks out from that now, so I know that I’m still on a bit of a trajectory and I just hope that each day I feel a little bit stronger and I’m as ready as I can be. I’m able to sprint out of the saddle again now, which is something I was nervous about being able to do, so my arm’s fully functioning.”

On team tactics for the 2024 Ford RideLondon Classique – “We have got a good, dynamic team here and we’ll take opportunities and hope to be able to help Clara (Copponi) in her sprint as well. DSM and SD Worx – Protime have got the fastest sprinters in the race and a really deep field in terms of talent in their team so definitely those two teams will be ones to keep an eye on.”

On looking forward to the next three days of racing. — “Riding last year’s Ford RideLondon Classique was really special for me because I finished on the podium and it was completely unexpected having just come back from seven months out after having my son. I’d gone to the race hoping to improve form – and I came away with a podium, so I was really proud of that performance.

“London is just such a special and iconic route. I’ve said to some of the younger riders on the team ‘make sure you appreciate it, it’s obviously important to be focused on the race, but also take a minute to look around and take in where you are’. The fact we’re racing through closed roads in such an incredible city is a privilege.”
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Lotte Kopecky (world champion) (BEL, Team SD Worx – Protime)
“I have had a break after the Spring Classics and I’ve had a good training camp so I’m excited to be racing again. The first two stages have challenging courses that are uphill so I am looking forward to them.
“I think some teams are eager to try and make some hard racing, to go in breaks, which is fine for me, but also some other teams – like DSM and Lidl-Trek – are more-so going for bunch sprints, which is also fine for us because we have Lorena Wiebes, so I think it can be an exciting few days.”
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Charlotte Kool (Sprinter) (NED, Team DSM Firmenich-Postal), the 2023 Ford RideLondon Classique champion — “I’m feeling really good, and I’m really excited for tomorrow. This is definitely one of my favourite races which fits me really well. So, after the Classics season and the Vuelta, I’m really looking forward to this race and I can’t wait to just sprint – I haven’t done many this year, so I hope we can finally sprint!
“I think I showed last year that I’m capable of being good in all three of the stages here. Even though I crashed in the finale of the second stage last year, I was still there with the front group even on the climb into the finish. This year the field is a bit different but I don’t think it will change too much, it’s just on who decides to have a good race. I’m really proud of the team we’ve brought here, it’s a crazy strong team, and I think with this team we can do anything.”
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Lorena Wiebes (NED, Team SD Worx – Protime), the 2022 Ford RideLondon Classique champion — “I’m really looking forward to this race. I have good memories from winning here in 2022 [and winning all three stages]. I’m looking forward to racing in the city centre of London for Stage Three and finishing on The Mall as we didn’t get the chance to do that in 2022. I won on The Mall in 2019 but that was through a disqualification of another rider (Kirsten Wild) so it’s nice to be back. The race normally ends up with a sprint on the three stages and I like that. The first two stages are up and down, twisting and turning and with two uphill stage finishes and I think I can really deliver my power through there.”

RIDER LIST HERE: