The team assemble in Oudenaarde Market (Image credit: Bart Hazen)
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Mara Abbott leads Dani King (Image credit: Bart Hazen)
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Team manager Rochelle Gilmore also gets on the bike (Image credit: Bart Hazen)
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New signing Anna Christian (Image credit: Bart Hazen)
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Emilia Fahlin goes for the middle lane (Image credit: Bart Hazen)
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Eileen Roe takes to the side of the road (Image credit: Bart Hazen)
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Giorgia Bronzini (Image credit: Bart Hazen)
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Coming off the Oude Kwaremont (Image credit: Bart Hazen)
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Elisa Longo Borghini rides up the Paterberg (Image credit: Bart Hazen)
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Anna Sanchis (Image credit: Bart Hazen)
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Chloe Hosking (Image credit: Bart Hazen)
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Emilia Fahlin (Image credit: Bart Hazen)
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Eileen Roe wraps up against the cold (Image credit: Bart Hazen)
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Giorgia Bronzini leads the way (Image credit: Bart Hazen)
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Japanese champion Mayuko Haiwara (Image credit: Bart Hazen)
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A fully focussed Chloe Hosking (Image credit: Bart Hazen)
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Audrey Cordon (Image credit: Bart Hazen)
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Elisa Longo Borghini looks happy on the front (Image credit: Bart Hazen)
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Riding up the Kaperij (Image credit: Bart Hazen)
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Anna Christian turns pro with the team this year (Image credit: Bart Hazen)
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Mara Abbott lets her teammates know of dangers ahead (Image credit: Bart Hazen)
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Annetter Edmondson leads the team on the Kanarieberg (Image credit: Bart Hazen)
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Chloe Hosking and her new teammate Jolien d'Hoore (Image credit: Bart Hazen)
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Jolien d'Hoore joined the team this season (Image credit: Bart Hazen)
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Riding up the Kanarieberg (Image credit: Bart Hazen)
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The team splits into two groups (Image credit: Bart Hazen)
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Audrey Courdon and Mayuko Hagiwara ride side by side (Image credit: Bart Hazen)
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The team cars follow the training ride (Image credit: Bart Hazen)
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Dani King and Elisa Longo Borghini on the fron on the Hotondberg (Image credit: Bart Hazen)
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The riders take on the Hotondberg (Image credit: Bart Hazen)
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Jolien d'Hoore leads the group on the Kwaremont (Image credit: Bart Hazen)
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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.
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