World Cycling Championships 2014 Ponferrada: Favourites Road Race - women

Marianne Vos
Thrice World Champion, Olympic Champion, three tiems winner of Giro Donne (most important stage race for women), four times winner of La Fleche Wallone – and those are only road races, Vos is a monster at Cyclo-cross as well. Last two (road) editions she soloed to the rainbow jersey and to be true – it’s a more than likely 2014 scenario. Strong as steel and surrounded by the best team in women cycling, the Dutch.

Emma Johansson
Swedish rider living in Belgium, runner-up in 2013 and Champion of her country in both the ITT and road race. Recently she was the best in the closing stage of Holland Ladies Tour.

Evelyn Steven
31-year old American was the best in the Holland Ladies Tour overall. Is on occasions an absolute Vos-beater – she bested the World Champion several times in the Giro Donne and in 2012 she outclimbed the Dutch ‘win-it-all’ at the steep Mur de Huy, thus winning La Fleche Wallone.

Pauline Ferrand-Prevot
French rider, 22 years old, extremely talented. She rides for the Rabo-Liv squad of Vos, but in today’s country line-up they are rivals. Ferrand-Prevot is Champion of her country in both the ITT and road race. This spring she won La Fleche Wallone.

Katarzyna Niewiadoma
Another one of Vos’ team-mates at Rabo-Liv. Only 19 years of age, she would treat herself to an enormous birthday present by taking the rainbow jersey since her birthday is September 29. That young, her palmares must be small. Last August she was the best young rider in the Tour of Norway plus she won the mountains classification. In the overall she finished third, behind team-mates Marianne Vos (2nd) and Anna van der Breggen (1st).

Elisa Longo Borghini
Ever since she debuted the 22-year old Italian holds a big promise. She was the best youngster in the 2012 Giro Donne, but huge wins are yet to come. In Ponferrada, maybe?