2009 Season Review - Women: Cervelo TestTeam

The Cervélo TestTeam ended the season as the best team in the world. The women's team finished first in the UCI team ranking with 2321 points. Team Columbia High Road followed (1580) and DSB Bank (1528) placed third. The team of manager Thomas Campana had a total of 43 UCI wins, 26 second places and 18 third places. Most of the 43 UCI wins came from Dutch sprinter Kirsten Wild, British all rounder Emma Pooley, Austrian all rounder Christiane Soeder, Olympic and World Champion Time Trial Kristin Armstrong and German climber Claudia Häusler. Australian Carla Ryan kicked off the successful season on Cervelo with the Australian National title in both the time-trial and the road race.

The Cervelo TestTeam was the best team in 2009. From Left to Right: Kristin Armstrong, Emma Pooley, Sarah Düster, Christiane Soeder, Kirsten Wild and Lieselot Decroix at the team presentation of the Tour of Flanders.
Photo © 2009 Bart Hazen

The team won five of the ten world cups namely the Berner Rundfahrt, Montreal World Cup, Open de Suede Vargarda TTT, GP de Plouay and the final race Rund um die Nürnberger Altstadt. On top of that Cervelo won the team's World Cup over the Dutch teams DSB Bank (Marianne Vos) and the Red Sun Ladies Cycling Team (Emma Johanson). But the crown on the season came from Kristin Armstrong, she retired at the end of the season, by winning the time trial at the World Championships in Mendrisio.

Kirsten Wild wins the first stage in the Profile Ladies Tour. She had a total of 13 individual UCI wins in 2009
Photo © 2009 Bart Hazen

But also in stage races the team showed its potential. The team won the two toughest stage races for women the Tour de L'Aude and the Giro D'Italia. The victories in both races went to German rising star Claudia Häusler. The team was also the best in stage races as the Tour de L'Ardeche, Grande Boucle Feminine, Tour du Grand Montreal and the Tour of Qatar.

Sarah Düster took two UCI wins: Dottignies and the second race in the Trofeo Costa Etrusca
Photo © 2009 Bart Hazen

The most victories came from Dutch sprinter Kirsten Wild with 13 individual season wins. The most important were Rund um die Nürnberger Altstadt, three stages in the Profile Ladies Tour, two stages in the Giro D'Italia, three stages and the overall win in Montreal, Grote Prijs Stad Roeselare, Omloop van Borsele and the overall win in Qatar. In the UCI ranking she finished the 2009 season as second behind compatriot Marianne Vos.

A full review on the 43 UCI season wins you can find below..

The two best riders in 2009: Marianne Vos & Kirsten Wild
Photo © 2009 Bart Hazen

New signings for 2010
The Cervelo Test Team has add Britain's Sharon Laws and Elizabeth Armitstead (Lotto-Belisol) and Dutch Iris Slappendel (Team Flexpoint) to it's 2010 team. Laws and Slappendel signed a one-year deal and Armitstead a two-year deal with the team of Thomas Campana.

Sharon Laws holds a degree in biology and a master's in conservation and has worked with the British government, the United Nations and nongovernmental organizations. In 2002 she began participating in multisport events and over the next few years, while still working full-time, she took part in multiday mountain bike stage races, including the TransAlp and Cape Epic, which she won in 2004. For training she started riding on the road, and in 2008, having moved to Australia for work, she participated in the Australian national road race championships and finished 2nd. Laws moved back to the UK in 2008 to become a full-time cyclist, riding on Team Halfords. During the 2008 season, Laws finished 6th in the Tour de l'Aude and 5th in the Tour of Ardeche. She also represented Great Britain in the Olympic road race and in the World Championship road race and time trial.

New signing: Sharon Laws
Photo © 2009 Bart Hazen

In 2009 she turned her focus to mountain biking, winning the female pairs category of the Cape Epic again and representing Britain in the European Championships, but after a bad shoulder injury she returned to the road in August and finished 7th in the Tour of Ardeche. She represented Britain at the World Championships in Mendrisio, Switzerland, last month.

"I signed with Cervélo TestTeam because the team is run very professionally and has some of the best equipment in the industry. In addition the riders are committed to racing aggressively with a strong emphasis on teamwork. Participating on this team will provide me with an incredible opportunity to develop and improve significantly as a rider," stated Laws.

New signing: Iris Slappendel
Photo © 2009 Bart Hazen

"Sharon is one of the strongest climbers in the peloton, having come from a different sport into cycling and made great progress in a short time. She still needs to develop some technical skills, but she is extremely strong and will be a valuable support rider for our climbing team, especially for our GC riders Claudia Häusler (winner of the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de l'Aude), Emma Pooley (winner of the Grande Boucle) and Christiane Soeder," said Thomas Campana, Team Manager.

Iris Slappendel is a native of Ouderkerk aan de IJssel. Her strengths as a time trialist and her expertise in the classics will fit very well and provide great support for the women's team. The 24-year-old rider was the 2008 University World Champion in the time trial, won a stage in the 2006 Giro della Toscana, and was third overall in the GP Elsy Jacobs this year.

"This is a new step in my career," said Slappendel. "I am honored that the best team in the world offered me a contract for 2010. That provides me with a lot of motivation. I have some goals planned as a cyclist and I think that this team suits me the best. My goal for 2010 is to be of value to the team, and if I get the chance I will also go for my own success."

New signing: Elizabeth Armitstead
Photo © 2009 Bart Hazen

"Iris is on the team because she is a strong time trialist and team time trial specialist. We also needed a strong support rider, especially for the spring classics and to support our sprinter Kirsten Wild. Iris has a lot of potential and we believe we can help her reach her goals," said Team Manager Thomas Campana.

With the signing of Elizabeth Armitstead, another very talented young rider joins the team next year. The 20-year-old British athlete won the white jersey as the best young rider in this year's Giro d'Italia and also had a stage win in the 2009 Tour de Ardeche. She comes from the track world, where she placed first (in the team pursuit), second, and third at the 2009 World Championships. She also won the scratch race this year at the World Cup in Copenhagen.

Kristin Armstrong had a very good season, the final one in her career, with a.o. the win in the Nature Valley GP, Tour de Berne, Tour de L'Ardeche and the crown her second ITT World Title.
Photo © 2009 Bart Hazen

"I wanted to be part of the best women's team in the world," said Armitstead. "When the opportunity to join the team came along, I couldn't turn it down. I am excited to race with the riders on the team and also to be able to use the team equipment. My goal for 2010 is to continue my development and learn from the more experienced riders on the team. I would like to be a key member of a winning team."

"Elizabeth is just 20 years old and already is a world champion track rider. She had an incredible track and road season this year," said Team Manager Thomas Campana. "We saw her for the first time in the Giro d'Italia, where she won the jersey for best overall young rider, and usually the winners of these jerseys are the future champions. She has impressed us with her excellent climbing and sprinting abilities and her good race instincts. We are really delighted to have her on board for next year."

Christiane Soeder took seven UCI wins in 2009
Photo © 2009 Bart Hazen

Departures
Kristin Armstrong and Elodie Touffet are the departures of the team. The first one retires as a professional cyclist while the latter one signed a contract with the team in the beginning of the year but never rode a single race for Cervelo. The reason? It seems that Touffet was accused of doping, which was groundless. Due to this "matter" Cervelo and Elodie separated ways. The 29 year old is still looking for a team for the 2010 season.

Britain's Emma Pooley had a good season with seven wins; among them the Grande Boucle Feminine and two World Cups (Plouay and Montreal)
Photo © 2009 Bart Hazen

Kristin Armstrong, 36 years of age, has decided to retire as a professional cyclist after the 2009 season. Armstrong ended her season in style with the time trial World title in Mendrisio. Armstrong started her professional career in 2001 and rode for T-Mobile women (2001-2005), Team Lipton (2006-2007) and the Cervelo (2008-2009). During her career she won lots of races and titles among them two World Time Trial titles and the 2008 Olympic Time Trial Title. Further she became the Pan American Continental Time Trial Champion (2005), US National Cycling Champion (2004) and a three times US National Time Trial Champion (2005, 2006, 2007). Further she won three World Cups (Berne, Drenthe, Vargarda TTT) and won stage races like the Nature Valley Grand Prix (several times), Sea Otter Classic, Cascade Cycling Classic, Tour of Gila, Tour of New Zealand, Tour de L'Ardeche, Tour de Toona, Holland Ladies Tour and the Euregio Ladies Tour.

More on her impressive career can be found on her website

Kristin Armstrong and Claudia Häusler
Photo © 2009 Bart Hazen

The (provisional) 2010 roster:
1 ALBERTI Katharina 27/05/1984
2 AUBRY Emilie 16/02/1989
3 BRUINS Regina 07/10/1986
4 DECROIX Lieselot 12/05/1987
5 DIETEL Sandra 07/09/1983
6 DÜSTER Sarah 10/07/1982

Claudia Häusler third in the Fleche Wallonne was the best in the Tour de L'Aude and the Giro D'Italia
Photo © 2009 Bart Hazen

7 HÄUSLER Claudia 17/11/1985
8 POOLEY Emma 03/10/1982
9 RYAN Carla 21/09/1985
10 SCHNIDER Pascale 18/10/1984
11 SCHWAGER Patricia 06/12/1983
12 SOEDER Christiane 15/01/1975

Kirsten Wild
Photo © 2009 Bart Hazen

13 WILD Kirsten 15/10/1982
14 LAWS Sharon 07/07/1974
15 SLAPPENDEL Iris 18/02/1985
16 ARMITSTEAD Elizabeth 18/12/1988

Lieselot Decroix
Photo © 2009 Bart Hazen

Current CQ Ranking (26/09/2009 - After World Championships)
Rank Prev. Rider Team Date of birth CQ
1. (2) VOS Marianne DSB 13/05/1987 1410
2. (11) WILD Kirsten CWT 15/10/1982 875
5. (9) ARMSTRONG Kristin CWT 11/08/1973 584
9. (15) POOLEY Emma CWT 03/10/1982 468
11. (37) HÄUSLER Claudia CWT 17/11/1985 427

Pascale Schnider
Photo © 2009 Bart Hazen

19. (8) SOEDER Christiane CWT 15/01/1975 276
23. (92) DÜSTER Sarah CWT 10/07/1982 241
30. (38) BRUINS Regina CWT 07/10/1986 195
33. (111) RYAN Carla CWT 21/09/1985 170
139. (113) SCHNIDER Pascale CWT 18/10/1984 24
198. (207) SCHWAGER Patricia CWT 06/12/1983 13

The Cervelo TestTeam at the Profile Ladies Tour
Photo © 2009 Bart Hazen

246. (201) AUBRY Emilie CWT 16/02/1989 10
277. (197) DECROIX Lieselot CWT 12/05/1987 8

Katharina Alberti, Elodie Touffet and Sandra Dietel have no points..

Most Important (UCI) Victories 2009
23/09/2009: World Championships (Mendrisio) I.T.T. , Kristin Armstrong
19/09/2009: National Championships Austria (Nikitsch) I.T.T. , Christiane Soeder
13/09/2009: Rund um die Nürnberger Altstadt (CDM) , Kirsten Wild
12/09/2009: Tour Cycliste Féminin Int. Ardèche , Kristin Armstrong
9/09/2009: Tour Cycliste Féminin Int. Ardèche, Stage 3, Kristin Armstrong
9/09/2009: Tour Cycliste Féminin Int. Ardèche, Stage 2, Christiane Soeder
8/09/2009: Tour Cycliste Féminin Int. Ardèche, Stage 1, Christiane Soeder
6/09/2009: National Championships Great Britain I.T.T., Emma Pooley

Emilie Aubry
Photo © 2009 Bart Hazen

4/09/2009: Holland Ladies Tour, Stage 4, Kirsten Wild
3/09/2009: Holland Ladies Tour, Stage 3, Kirsten Wild
1/09/2009: Holland Ladies Tour, Stage 1, Kirsten Wild
29/08/2009: Multidigitaal.nl - Blauwe Stad T.T.T. , Cervelo TestTeam
27/08/2009: National Championships Netherlands I.T.T. , Regina Bruins
22/08/2009: GP de Plouay (CDM) - Bretagne, Emma Pooley
31/07/2009: Open de Suède Vargarda T.T.T. , Cervelo TestTeam
24/07/2009: Thüringen Rundfahrt der Frauen, Stage 4, Christiane Soeder
12/07/2009: Giro d'Italia Femminile, Claudia Häusler
12/07/2009: Giro d'Italia Femminile, Stage 9, Kirsten Wild
10/07/2009: Giro d'Italia Femminile, Stage 7, Claudia Häusler
3/07/2009: Giro d'Italia Femminile, Prologue, Kirsten Wild
28/06/2009: National Championships Austria R.R. , Christiane Soeder
21/06/2009: Grande Boucle Féminine Internationale, Emma Pooley
20/06/2009: Grande Boucle Féminine Internationale, Stage 3, Emma Pooley
19/06/2009: Grande Boucle Féminine Internationale, Stage 2: Christiane Soeder
18/06/2009: Grande Boucle Féminine Internationale, Stage 1 (ITT), Emma Pooley

Emma Pooley
Photo © 2009 Bart Hazen

4/06/2009: Le Tour du Grand Montréal, Kirsten Wild
3/06/2009: Le Tour du Grand Montréal, Stage 4, Kirsten Wild
3/06/2009: Le Tour du Grand Montréal, Stage 3, Regina Bruins
2/06/2009: Le Tour du Grand Montréal, Stage 2, Kirsten Wild
1/06/2009: Le Tour du Grand Montréal, Stage 1, Kirsten Wild
30/05/2009: La Coupe du Monde Cycliste Féminine de Montréal, Emma Pooley
24/05/2009: Tour de l'Aude Cycliste Féminin , Claudia Häusler
20/05/2009: Tour de l'Aude Cycliste Féminin, Stage 5, Kristin Armstrong
10/05/2009: Berner-Rundfahrt (CDM), Kristin Armstrong
1/05/2009: Grand Prix de Suisse, Christiane Soeder
26/04/2009: GP Stad Roeselare, Kirsten Wild
25/04/2009: Omloop van Borsele, Kirsten Wild
6/04/2009: Grand Prix de Dottignies, Sarah Düster
21/03/2009: Trofeo Costa Etrusca: GP Comuni Ribardella, Sarah Düster
20/03/2009: Trofeo Costa Etrusca: GP Comuni Rosignano - Livorno, Emma Pooley
10/02/2009 : Ladies Tour of Qatar, Kirsten Wild
10/01/2009: National Championships Australia (Ballarat) R.R., Carla Ryan
7/01/2009: National Championships Australia (Ballarat) I.T.T., Carla Ryan

Patricia Schwager
Photo © 2009 Bart Hazen

All (UCI) victories and podium places, click here

Links to riders websites:
Kirsten Wild
Christiane Soeder
Patricia Schwager
Pascale Schnider
Claudia Häusler
Sandra Dietel
Lieselot Decroix
Sarah Duester

Dutch Regina Bruins won the Dutch Time Trial Championships and won a stage in the Tour du Grand Montreal
Photo © 2009 Bart Hazen

Kristin Armstrong
Iris Slappendel

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