Vollering has a tricky task ahead while the addition of sprint sensation Wiebes gives Kopecky a wildcard opportunity
Demi Vollering and Annemiek van Vleuten at the Tour de France Femmes(Image credit: Getty Images)
SD Worx are the reigning champions of the Women's WorldTour and at the top of the World Ranking, consistently placing on the podiums while investing in the next generation of talent.
One of those investments has been in the development of Demi Vollering, who has become a team leader in just two seasons with the programme and finished second overall at the Tour de France Femmes in 2022. The Dutch rider was just one podium step away from the coveted yellow jersey, so figuring out how to close the gap to winner Annemiek van Vleuten (Movistar) will be one of the toughest challenges she and SD Worx will face in 2023.
SD Worx came into this year's rebirth of the Tour de France Femmes with one of the strongest teams. Still, no one could match Van Vleuten in the mountains, where she won back-to-back stages at Le Markstein and atop La Super Planche des Belles Filles to secure the overall victory.
Vollering was Van Vleuten's closest rival by a large margin on both mountain stages, finishing as a lone chaser in second place and ultimately 3:48 down in the GC. She did everything she could in the race for the overall title, but could not beat Van Vleuten.
Initially disappointed, Vollering later said she had no regrets because she had given her best effort.
"I beat all my records, so I think I was in the form of my life."
Given that still wasn't enough to claim yellow, it's back to the drawing board this winter for Vollering and SD Worx. They will need to reassess and prepare for a new Tour de France Femmes route next July that begins at Clermont-Ferrand, heads south into the Pyrenees, over the iconic Tourmalet and into a final time trial in Pau.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
It is a route that, overall, could play more favourably to Vollering's characteristics.
Vollering is a versatile rider, and while she is one of the strongest climbers in the peloton, she is also capable in small group sprints and shows tactical strengths in the finals of the bigger one-day race, winning La Course, Liège-Bastogne-Liège and De Brabantse Pijl, along with stage races like the Women's Tour and Itzulia Women.
The chances of success in the overall classification also depends on the team they decide to field at the Tour de France Femmes and how much focus will be on yellow or potential stage wins.
This year, the team also vyed for stages, with Marlen Reusser winning the gravel day into Bar-Sur-Aube, Lotte Kopecky securing podium finishes in Paris and Rosheim, and Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio finishing on the podium in Épernay.
Marlen Reusser at the Tour de France Femmes (Image credit: Getty Images)
The team roster is full of champions and powerful domestiques with a 14-rider squad that also includes returning riders Elena Cecchini, Chantal van den Broek-Blaak, Niamh Fisher-Black, Lotte Kopecky, Christine Majerus, Marlen Reusser, Anna Shackley, Lonneke Uneken, and Blanka Vas.
New signings include Mischa Bredewold, Femke Markus, and Barbara Guarischi.
Next year, the most significant and exciting change to the team will be the addition of pure sprinter Lorena Wiebes. With 23 wins in 2022, including two stage wins at the Tour de France Femmes, Wiebes is arguably the best sprinter in the women's peloton. Bringing her into the roster will give SD Worx a fast finisher to rely on throughout the entire Women's WorldTour.
SD Worx have formed a lead-out train dedicated to Wiebes with Guarischi, Cecchini, Majerus, and Uneken. The considerable investment in building the sprinting side of their programme means that performing on the biggest stage in pro cycling with Wiebes at the Tour de France Femmes will likely be a priority. But she will also be a major asset to the team in all of the flatter one-day races and stage races through the season.
The sport governing body has made a few critical changes to the Women's WorldTour rulebook. It now allows teams to field seven riders (instead of six) at six-day or longer stage races, giving teams the space to field rosters that can support several goals.
It remains to be seen how SD Worx divide the team to suit their ambitions at the Tour de France Femmes next year. Will they go all-in for Vollering for the yellow jersey or split the team to also support riders like Wiebes and Kopecky to stage wins?
Van Vleuten has already confirmed that her goal is to once again win both the Giro d'Italia Donne and the Tour de France Femmes in her final year. Vollering will need as much support as SD Worx can muster if they want to win the yellow jersey.
Lorena Wiebes joins SD Worx in 2023 (Image credit: JEFF PACHOUD AFP via Getty Images)
Other storylines to follow in 2023
Lotte Kopecky will transition into more of a wildcard role at SD Worx in 2023. The Belgian rouleur has 'no problem' with Wiebes joining the team, stating that it is a positive transfer for SD Worx and her own career. "I look at that in a positive way. When we start together, I will be able to race more offensively and more freely. Because if it comes to a bunch sprint, we have Lorena." Watch for Kopecky to once again shine at races like the Strade Bianche and Tour of Flanders, while also racing on the track.
SD Worx has placed a priority on signing up-and-coming talent, which has led to a strong contingent of key riders coming up through their ranks each season. Blanka Vas, Anna Shackley, Niamh Fisher-Black and Lonneke Uneken, are four of the biggest talents in women's cycling, and they plan to continue to develop and hone in on their specific targets during the next two years, ensuring the future of the team at the highest level.
Kirsten Frattini is the Deputy Editor of Cyclingnews, overseeing the global racing content plan.
Kirsten has a background in Kinesiology and Health Science. She has been involved in cycling from the community and grassroots level to professional cycling's biggest races, reporting on the WorldTour, Spring Classics, Tours de France, World Championships and Olympic Games.
She began her sports journalism career with Cyclingnews as a North American Correspondent in 2006. In 2018, Kirsten became Women's Editor – overseeing the content strategy, race coverage and growth of women's professional cycling – before becoming Deputy Editor in 2023.
