Women’s WorldTour squad Boels-Dolmans have announced the signing of former cross-country MTB world champion Annika Langvad for 2019. With the signing of the 34-year-old Dane, a three-time Cape Epic Winner, the Dutch squad has finalised their 2019 roster with 12 riders.
The move completes the strengthening of what was already among the best squads in the sport, headed up by reigning world champion Anna van der Breggen.
Langvad doubles the Danish contingent of the squad, with 2016 world champion Amalie Dideriksen returning for next season.
'When I was presented with the chance to do some races with Boels-Dolmans next year, I was really excited,' Langvad said. 'I’ve been following the women’s road racing scene for quite a while and just love to see all that is happening.
'My personal ambition with this adventure is to get an understanding for, and to contribute to, successful team work. That’s what I look forward to the most.
'I get genuinely excited when I think about being part of something more than just "me racing". And of course if I can contribute to the team winning, it’ll be a big personal bonus for me.'
Langvad won’t be the only cross-discipline racer on the team next season, with Christine Majerus a fixture on the cyclocross calendar and the trio of Dideriksen, Jolien D’Hoore and Amy Pieters all high-level track riders.
'For me it’s not so much a question of being defined as a mountain-biker or a road cyclist,' she adds. 'I tend to think of myself as a cyclist competing mainly in mountain-biking, but I have had a flirt with the road racing scene before.'
Langvad, a three-time Danish time trial champion, will start a number of road races in 2019, though mountain biking will remain as her main focus.
As well as her signing, the team will have a new look for 2019 with the departures of Lizzie Deignan, Eva Plichta and Megan Guarnier.
New riders include American Katie Hall, winner of the Amgen Tour of California this year, and ex-speed skater Eva Buurman. Star sprinter D’Hoore, with two Giro stages to her name in 2018, also joins after a one-year stint with Mitchelton-Scott.
Boels-Dolmans 2019
Chantal Blaak
Eva Buurman
Karol-Ann Canuel
Jolien D’Hoore
Amalie Dideriksen
Katie Hall
Annika Langvad
Christina Majerus
Amy Pieters
Skylar Schneider
Jip van den Bos
Anna van der Breggen