Lizzie Deignan (née Armitstead) will line up for Boels-Dolmans in the UCI team time trial World Championships in Doha next weekend as the Dutch squad look to improve on their second-place finish in 2015.
The Brit, who will also defend her road race world title the following Saturday, is joined by a host of big names, many of who were part of the team who dominated the team time trial round of the women’s WorldTour in Vargarda in August.
Double Aviva Women’s Tour stage winner Christine Majerus, four-time USA TT champion Evelyn Stevens and European TT champion Ellen van Dijk join Deignan in the squad, alongside Chantal Blaak and Karol-Ann Canuel.
“We had eight riders that were capable of being a part of this squad,” team manager Danny Stam said. “Ultimately, I chose the six that have the most experience riding together. This group has the best combination of power, experience, technical skills and the will to win.”
Boels-Dolmans have won all three of their team time trials this season, the first coming at April’s Energiewacht Tour, the second in Vargarda and the third at the Boels Rental Tour at the end of August.
Van Dijk, who has been present on all three occasions, said: “We’ve had a lot of success the whole year, but nearly every time, there’s only one rider standing on the podium or only one rider standing on the top step.
“A team time trial result is something that the whole team can share together – not only the girls here but even the ones that are not here with us. The staff play an important role and the sponsors do, too. Every victory is a team victory, but this is the only one where you can see it so clearly.”
