Canyon//SRAM Racing under review: Legendary battle on Alpe d'Huez adds a golden touch to the season

Canyon//SRAM Racing made history this year. The Tour de France Femmes featured a thrilling climax on the slopes of Alpe d'Huez — Katarzyna Niewiadoma versus Demi Vollering. A tense fight down to the final seconds! Ultimately, the Polish rider beat Vollering by just four seconds, with Pauliena Rooijakkers finishing third, ten seconds back. This spectacular finale capped a fantastic Tour de France Femmes. This unparalleled outcome alone made Canyon//SRAM Racing’s season a success.

One-day races: Canyon//SRAM Racing

Katarzyna Niewiadoma was also a dominant force in terms of one-day races this year. She won the Flèche Wallonne, finished second at the Tour of Flanders, fourth at Strade Bianche, and seventh at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. Additionally, she secured fifth place at Liège-Bastogne-Liège, where her team performed well, with Elise Chabbey finishing fourth and Ricarda Bauernfeind ninth.

Soraya Paladin added a fourth place at the Trofeo Alfredo Binda into the mix, and was the team's top finisher at the Amstel Gold Race, crossing the line in tenth place. Chloé Dygert contributed to the team's results with a sixth place at the Classic Brugge-De Panne and bronze medals in both the Olympic and World Championship time trials. She also finished second in the World Championship road race in Switzerland, which earned her a silver medal.

However, the team's biggest results came mainly from Niewiadoma, who delivered in style with a victory and a solid second place. Overall, Canyon//SRAM Racing gets to look back on a good season in one-day races.

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Niewiadoma proved the strongest on the Wall of Huy

(Grand) Tours: Canyon//SRAM Racing

But these achievements, of course, pale in comparison to what the team achieved in August. In just eight days, a good season turned into a fantastic one. Indeed, the team won the Tour de France Femmes. The French race was a showcase for (women's) cycling and pure spectacle!

"Honestly, I didn't think I would make it. They were screaming into the radio in my earpiece, haha! I hated every part of that climb, it was incredibly tough. I only knew I had won when I crossed the finish line. It was unbelievable," Niewiadoma said after her win.

In men's cycling, people often think back to the 1989 Tour, in which Greg LeMond won the final time trial with a 58-second margin over yellow jersey holder Laurent Fignon, allowing him to claim an extreme last-minute overall victory. In women's cycling, the 2024 edition of the Tour de France Femmes might achieve a similarly historic status. Fignon lost that Tour by the smallest margin ever: eight seconds. Could this be the equivalent for women’s cycling?

In addition to her victory in the Tour, the 30-year-old Katarzyna Niewiadoma achieved a fourth place in the Tour of Switzerland and a seventh place in the LOTTO Thüringen Ladies Tour. Unfortunately, she had to drop out of the Vuelta a España, where she was still contending for a strong GC result.

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Niewiadoma in yellow

The absence of Niewiadoma was well compensated by Ricarda Bauernfeind. The 24-year-old German finished sixth in the general classification. The most consistent rider in the team’s standings was Neve Bradbury. The 22-year-old Australian had a breakthrough season — and what a season it was! She started strong in her home country with a third place in the Santos Tour Down Under, finished second in the UAE Tour, second in the Tour of Switzerland, third in the Giro d’Italia, and played a crucial role as a helper for Niewiadoma in the Tour, which resulted in the overall victory for the Polish rider. Additionally, she won stage seven of the Giro and stage three of the Tour of Switzerland, with a finish on the Blockhaus. What a season for the young rider!

Another one of the team's climbing talents, Antonia Niedermaier, finished sixth in both the Tour of Switzerland and the Giro, an impressive feat for the 21-year-old German. The Swiss rider Elise Chabbey also performed well, with a fifth place in the Tour of the Basque Country and a fourth place in the Vuelta a Burgos. She was also an important domestique in the Giro. Soraya Paladin came close to a stage victory on several occasions, and Backstedt secured third place in the Simac Ladies Tour, where she also won the time trial.

If you win the Tour as Canyon//SRAM Racing, your season is already a massive success. But with Neve Bradbury’s performances added into the mix, it’s safe to say the team had a fantastic season. Who would have predicted these kinds of results before the season began? Probably no one!

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Neve Bradbury

Final grade 2024: Canyon//SRAM Racing

With such an impressive season, the score we gave the German team is exceptionally high. The IDLProCycling.com editorial team gives them an 8.5. With a golden touch!

If you win the Tour, you’ve had an excellent year — there’s no disputing that. Although the team didn’t necessarily win often — just six times — the quality of those victories was undeniable. Five of the six wins came in WorldTour races, including a major classic, a Giro stage, and the overall victory in the Tour de France. The wins came at the right time and in the right races. Quality over quantity, as they say.

Also, let's not forget about the three (!) medals won by Chloé Dygert. Talk about quality! Of course, there were moments when the team was less visible, such as in Paris-Roubaix. The season wasn’t perfect, but was it good? Absolutely — like we said, with a golden touch!

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Dygert with her bronze plaque 

Transfers 2024/2025 Canyon//SRAM Racing

Three riders are leaving the team: Elise Chabbey is moving to FDJ-Suez, where she will ride as a domestique for Demi Vollering. Alex Morrice is stepping back to the continental circuit, while Shari Bossuyt’s future is uncertain due to her doping suspension.

At the same time, Canyon//SRAM Racing is welcoming six new riders. A notable "riders' swap" sees experienced climber Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig taking the opposite path from Chabbey. Additionally, Chiara Consonni will strengthen the team with her sprinting capabilities, while Maria Martins, Anastasiya Kolesava, Wilma Aintila, and Rosa Maria Klöser are also joining the roster.

Incoming: Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (FDJ-Suez), Chiara Consonni(UAE Team ADQ), Maria Martins (?), Anastasiya Kolesava (Canyon//SRAM Generation),Wilma Aintila (Lotto Dstny Ladies) and Rosa Maria Klöser (?).

Outgoing: Elise Chabbey (FDJ-Suez), Shari Bossuyt (-), AlexMorrice (Smurfit Westrock Cycling Team)

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Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig will strengthen the team's climbing squad

Ones to watch 2025: Canyon//SRAM zondacrypto

As we head into 2025, much is expected from Neve Bradbury, who had an impressive breakthrough season. Can she maintain or even improve this level? If so, the team may have found their new leader. Katarzyna Niewiadoma is also expected to deliver again in 2025. The 30-year-old Polish rider shows no signs of slowing down.

The 20-year-old Backstedt is another rider we will certainly be keeping an eye on. In her first season, she already showed great promise and shone toward the end of the year. The coming years hold even more potential, possibly as early as 2025. The team is brimming with young talent, as evidenced by the 21-year-old Niedermaier, who already rode strong GC performances in the Giro and should not be underestimated.

The ever-fast Chiara Consonni adds speed to the roster. With six victories this season, she has room to improve, thanks to her talent. The 25-year-old Italian still has plenty of room for growth. And let’s not forget Chloé Dygert, who consistently delivers quality performances and never fails to deliver a spectacle.

(Preliminary) selection 2025: Canyon//SRAM zondacrypto

1 Wilma Aintila
2 Zoe Bäckstedt
3 Ricarda Bauernfeind
4 Neve Bradbury
5 Chiara Consonni
6 Tiffany Cromwell
7 Justyna Czapla
8 Chloé Dygert
9 Rosa Maria Klöser
10 Anastasiya Kolesava
11 Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig
12 Maria Martins
13 Antonia Niedermaier
14 Katarzyna Niewiadoma
15 Soraya Paladin
16 Agnieszka Skalniak-Sójka
17 Alice Towers
18 Maike van der Duin

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