Team SD Worx - Protime unveils squad for La Vuelta Femenina including Anna van der Breggen: “Nobody expected her to be at this level already”

With the Spring Classics in the rear-view mirror, Grand Tour season is officially underway. Team SD Worx–Protime have confirmed their line-up for La Vuelta a Espana Femenina, bringing a balanced mix of experience, emerging talent, and returning legends to the Spanish stage race.

The team will be led by Anna van der Breggen, who continues her high-profile comeback, alongside Mikayla Harvey, Femke Gerritse, Mischa Bredewold, Femke Markus, Elena Cecchini, and newcomer Lisa Van Belle.

Speaking in a team press release, sports director Christian Kos outlined the team’s ambitions: "The Spanish leg is an intermediate stage for us, building towards the big goals this summer. With Anna van der Breggen, we have a good card for the GC. The overall victory will probably be too high, but we will fight for the podium."

Van der Breggen’s return has impressed many inside the team, even if illness disrupted a key part of her spring preparation, "Anna's comeback is going well. Nobody expected her to be at this level already.

“It's a pity she was ill during the Ardennes week. These were important goals for her and it would have been a good gauge to see exactly where she stands. Then we could also have gone towards the Vuelta with a different point of view and known better what to expect. But we should be very happy with the level she is already performing at. To say right now that we are going to win the Vuelta Femenina with her is probably overstating things. But of course we hope to go for a good classification if we notice it's in there."

Alongside their GC hopes, SD Worx–Protime will also target stage wins—and few riders are more suited to that than Mischa Bredewold.

"Mischa Bredewold is definitely eligible for a stage win. Together we will see which stages we will pick out to try and score. Mischa's development is gradual. She is taking the steps that a top rider takes. She has taken the right path. Witness also her nice win in the Amstel Gold Race."

Femke Gerritse is another rider being closely watched after her strong spring performances. "Femke Gerritse has made a big step this season. Both as a rider and as a person. You can see she is much more ready for the big work.

“Not only is she a good domestique for the Vuelta, we also expect her to slip into breakaways to maybe pick up a stage. If you ride well, it is easier to be in the right breakaway. After her two wins in the spring and her good form, Femke's confidence is definitely boosted."

The team are also hoping for something special from Mikayla Harvey, particularly on the mountain stages, "We are all curious to see what the Vuelta Femenina will bring for Mikayla. She has had a good Ardennes week. I hope Miki will surprise us in the Vuelta. There are two real climbing stages and climbing normally suits her well. So I hope she finds herself again and that we see the same Mikayla as in the Flèche Wallonne."

Femke Markus is expected to play her usual steady support role, and may have the freedom to chase a breakaway, "Femke is a very valued domestique you can always count on. She can hopefully be in a breakaway one day. She would deserve that after all her hard work. I hope she is strong enough for that. Last spring she had some more difficult moments, but she is reset and normally ready for a nice stage race in the Vuelta."

Veteran Elena Cecchini brings both racing experience and team cohesion to the squad, "Elena is a super fine rider to have with us in a stage race. She always provides calm and overview in a group.

“That is important in a stage race. She is also a rider who always sacrifices herself for others. It would be nice if she could be in a breakaway, but everything depends on the course of the race. Because if something doesn't go the way we expected, Elena is always the one who immediately sacrifices herself for the team. Just for that reason and thanks to her personality, Elena is an invaluable rider for us."

Finally, Lisa Van Belle will make her debut with the team in Spain, with no expectations placed upon her.

"Lisa is our newest addition and she is thrown in at the deep end right away. That's where the learning curve immediately begins for her. She can get to know the team in the Vuelta Femenina without expectations from our side. Sometimes it is more ideal to debut in the team in a smaller race. On the other hand, there is no high stress on our team in Spain. So Lisa can get acquainted with the team and races at a higher level without pressure."