By Ben Atkins
The Swiss women's bigla Cycling Team – spelled lower case – announced its full roster for 2009. The team remains largely unchanged from that of 2008 – with double Giro Donne winner Nicole Brändli, classics specialist Noemi Cantele and the Kazakh and Swiss champions Zulfia Zabirova and Jennifer Hohl – but for the addition of some big names. Double World time trial champion Karin Thürig moves from Swiss rivals Cérvelo-Lifeforce, joining her sister Andrea who has been with bigla since 2007.
Lithuanian champion Modesta Vzesniauskaite joins the team after two years at the German Nürnberger Versicherung team. The 25-year-old will be looking to specialise in stage races. Also joining is Mirjam Hauser-Senn, who has spent the past two years at the Specialized Designs for Women team. The one rider from the 2008 line-up to be leaving the team is Swiss track champion Andrea Wolfer. The 20-year-old is looking to further her ambitions on the track which doesn't meet with the aims of the team.
The full bigla team for 2009 consists of: Veronica Andréasson (Swe), Nicole Brändli (Swi), Noemi Cantele (Ita), Andrea Graus (Aut), Mirjam Hauser-Senn (Swi), Jennifer Hohl (Swi), Holler Monica (Swe), Bettina Kuhn (Swi), Andrea Thürig (Swi), Karin Thürig (Swi), Sereina Trachsel (Swi), Modesta Vzesniauskaite (Ltu) and Zulfia Zabirova (Kaz).
