The team assemble in Oudenaarde Market (Image credit: Bart Hazen)
Image 2 of 32
Mara Abbott leads Dani King (Image credit: Bart Hazen)
Image 3 of 32
Team manager Rochelle Gilmore also gets on the bike (Image credit: Bart Hazen)
Image 4 of 32
New signing Anna Christian (Image credit: Bart Hazen)
Image 5 of 32
Emilia Fahlin goes for the middle lane (Image credit: Bart Hazen)
Image 6 of 32
Eileen Roe takes to the side of the road (Image credit: Bart Hazen)
Image 7 of 32
Giorgia Bronzini (Image credit: Bart Hazen)
Image 8 of 32
Coming off the Oude Kwaremont (Image credit: Bart Hazen)
Image 9 of 32
Elisa Longo Borghini rides up the Paterberg (Image credit: Bart Hazen)
Image 10 of 32
Anna Sanchis (Image credit: Bart Hazen)
Image 11 of 32
Chloe Hosking (Image credit: Bart Hazen)
Image 12 of 32
Emilia Fahlin (Image credit: Bart Hazen)
Image 13 of 32
Eileen Roe wraps up against the cold (Image credit: Bart Hazen)
Image 14 of 32
Giorgia Bronzini leads the way (Image credit: Bart Hazen)
Image 15 of 32
Japanese champion Mayuko Haiwara (Image credit: Bart Hazen)
Image 16 of 32
A fully focussed Chloe Hosking (Image credit: Bart Hazen)
Image 17 of 32
Audrey Cordon (Image credit: Bart Hazen)
Image 18 of 32
Elisa Longo Borghini looks happy on the front (Image credit: Bart Hazen)
Image 19 of 32
Riding up the Kaperij (Image credit: Bart Hazen)
Image 20 of 32
Anna Christian turns pro with the team this year (Image credit: Bart Hazen)
Image 21 of 32
Mara Abbott lets her teammates know of dangers ahead (Image credit: Bart Hazen)
Image 22 of 32
Annetter Edmondson leads the team on the Kanarieberg (Image credit: Bart Hazen)
Image 23 of 32
Chloe Hosking and her new teammate Jolien d'Hoore (Image credit: Bart Hazen)
Image 24 of 32
Jolien d'Hoore joined the team this season (Image credit: Bart Hazen)
Image 25 of 32
Riding up the Kanarieberg (Image credit: Bart Hazen)
Image 26 of 32
The team splits into two groups (Image credit: Bart Hazen)
Image 27 of 32
Audrey Courdon and Mayuko Hagiwara ride side by side (Image credit: Bart Hazen)
Image 28 of 32
The team cars follow the training ride (Image credit: Bart Hazen)
Image 29 of 32
Dani King and Elisa Longo Borghini on the fron on the Hotondberg (Image credit: Bart Hazen)
Image 30 of 32
The riders take on the Hotondberg (Image credit: Bart Hazen)
Image 31 of 32
Jolien d'Hoore leads the group on the Kwaremont (Image credit: Bart Hazen)
Image 32 of 32
The riders make their way up the Paterberg (Image credit: Bart Hazen)
Following the opening of the classics season with Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Wiggle-Honda stuck around in Belgium to take a look at the Tour of Flanders route this week. The team's stars, including double world champion Giorgia Bronzini and two-time Giro Rosa champion Mara Abbott, braved the cold temperatures as the sized up the 144.9-kilometre course.
New signing Elisa Longo Borghini was also present and is likely to be the team's best chance for victory, the Italian moved from Hitec Products over the winter. Longo Borghini is a consistent performer at Flanders and finished fourth in last year's edition winning the sprint from the chasing group.
The women's course begins and ends in Oudenaard, with the Wolvenberg the first climb of the day after 49 kilometres. Nine more ascents lie ahead culminating with the Paterberg just over 13 kilometres from the finish. The Women's Tour of Flanders forms part of the World Cup and takes place on Sunday, April 5. Ellen van Dijk (Boels Dolmans) is the defending champion.
Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Sign up to the Cyclingnews Newsletter. You can unsubscribe at any time. For more information about how to do this, and how we hold your data, please see our privacy policy
Thank you for signing up to Cycling News. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
