Tiffany Cromwell (Canyon-SRAM) pointed to the Folsom team time trial, the second stage of the Women's Amgen Tour of California, as the place her team would try to make a mark. It will be a challenge for Canyon-SRAM since the race has attracted several of the best time trial squads in the world.
"It's sort of our pet event," Cromwell said at Wednesday's team presentation in South Lake Tahoe. "It's certainly one we will be targeting to step up on the podium together at the end of the stage."
Canyon-SRAM won the 2015 World Team Time Trial championship under the Velocio-SRAM banner and though the team's management, sponsors, and kit have changed the roster remains similar to the squad that won in Richmond. Several members of the championship team are in California including Alena Amialiusik, Lisa Brennauer, and Barbara Guarischi. The team will be a threat in all facets of the race but they enter the team time trial with high expectations.
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"A lot of the girls on the team are really experienced and have been a part of the team that has won the World Championships four times," said Canyon-SRAM's American rider Alexis Ryan. "We've trained together on the time trial bikes several times already, though this is road bike specific. I think we'll put on a good show in the team time trial."
The women's field will not be using aero time trial equipment, and will be restricted to using road bikes. While this helps teams manage travel costs it is a disappointment for time trial specialists like current Individual Time Trial World Champion Linda Villumsen (UnitedHealthcare) and two-time Olympic gold medallist Kristin Armstrong (Twenty16-Ridebiker.)
Despite the equipment limitations it hasn't stopped Armstrong from preparing her team with a meticulous eye for detail. Armstrong and her team rode the course multiple times and broke down the different sections in subsequent meetings. Armstrong explained that the high degree of pre-race communication is important so riders know their strengths and weakness before the race starts. She also feels the pre-race communication will help set the stage for riders to provide a steady flow of feedback while the race is in progress.
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