She may be among the favourites for the race but Laura Trott insists she is putting team success ahead of personal glory at Saturday’s Prudential RideLondon Grand Prix.
The double Olympic champion is part of a strong Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling squad set to take on a high class international field in the brand new criterium race.
Around 90 of the world’s best women riders will be tackling a fast, flat 1.3-mile loop around St James’s Park and past some of the city’s iconic landmarks over the course of an hour, and Trott can’t wait to toe the line.
But she is more concerned about beating the competition than crossing the finish line in a blaze of glory.
And with the likes of fellow team pursuit London 2012 gold medallists Dani King and Jo Rowsell in the Wiggle Honda side, Trott certainly has the teammates to secure a spot at the head of the podium.
“When I was at the Olympic Games I only got to ride in the Velodrome and you don’t get to see all the landmarks, so it’s going to be amazing,” said the 21-year-old.
“I want to target the Grand Prix as there’s going to be so many people there watching.
“The team element is really important, as they are there to help out as much as they can and I think it will go down to me or Dani King, as obviously when it comes to a sprint we’re the fastest riders.
“Obviously we’ll use Joanna early on to cover moves and make sure the Australian sprinters don’t go up the road.”
Trott and co won’t have it all their own way, however, with competition from a strong domestic field led by Hannah Barnes as well as the Australian-based Orica-AIS outfit.
“The Grand Prix itself will be tough as its over an hour but because it’s only a 1.3-mile loop there’s going to be a lot of corners, so it’s going to be a tight race,” added Trott.
“But to start with we will try and keep it as a group and try and fire people away, and for us it will be about getting team Wiggle Honda to win rather than myself – although obviously I’d love to.”
Prudential RideLondon takes place on 3 and 4 August. If you are inspired to ride, visit www.prudentialridelondon.co.uk
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