Defending champion Katarzyna Niewiadoma-Phinney is clearly at the centre of the team and will be looking to repeat her triumph from last year. The Polish rider won in a dramatic finale on the Alpe d'Huez in 2024 and secured the yellow jersey by just four seconds. This year, she wants to prove her position as a contender for overall victory once again.
Niewiadoma-Phinney can rely on the support of an experienced and talented team. The key riders include Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig from Denmark, Soraya Paladin from Italy and the young German Ricarda Bauernfeind. Each of them brings special skills that can be an advantage for the team in different racing situations.
Niewiadoma-Phinney as leader
As the reigning winner, Katarzyna Niewiadoma-Phinney wears the starting number 1 and goes into the race as the top favourite. The 30-year-old Polish rider has shown consistently strong performances in Grand Tours in recent years. However, she crashed at the Strade Bianche this year and still needs to work on her form. She recently finished third in the highly competitive Tour de Suisse, but was clearly beaten by her rivals Reusser and Vollering. It remains to be seen whether the rider will be able to compete for overall victory again.
Uttrup Ludwig as an important support
Newcomer Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig plays an important role in the CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto team. The 29-year-old Dane, known for her aggressive riding style and strong performances in the mountains, strengthens the team considerably. Uttrup Ludwig has already won a stage at the Tour de France Femmes in the past and could act as a helper for Niewiadoma-Phinney as well as a potential stage chaser.
Soraya Paladin and Ricarda Bauernfeind complete the line-up of top female riders in the mountains at CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto. The 32-year-old Italian Paladin has established herself as a reliable helper and strong all-rounder. The 23-year-old German Ricarda Bauernfeind has already scored a surprising stage win in the 2023 Tour.
Chloé Dygert should also not be forgotten in the German team's line-up. The US-American has a stage win from the Santos Tour Down Under this year and performed strongly in the classics Milan-San Remo and Paris-Roubaix.
Team info
- Team status: Womens World Tour
- World ranking: 6
- Abbreviation: CSZ
- Country: Germany
- Bike: Canyon
Most important drivers
- Katarzyna Niewiedoma (POL)
- Cecile Uttrup Ludwig (DEN)
- Ricarda Bauernfeind (GER)
