Watch every stage of the Ceratizit Challenge by La Vuelta LIVE, FREE and in HD on SBS On Demand from September 2-5.
The seventh edition of the event will see four stages for the first time, as riders tackle a hilly opening two days including an individual time trial before two flat courses for the sprinters round out the race throughout the Galicia region of Spain, starting from the Cabeza de la Manzaneda mountain resort and finishing in Santiago de Compostela.
Spratt will be joined by a host of strong climbing talent for BikeExchange, with fellow Aussie Lucy Kennedy, Spaniard Ane Santesteban and Slovenian Urška Žigart bringing strong legs and a variety of options for the race. Veteran Janneke Ensing and dual New Zealand champion Georgia Williams round out the squad as valuable domestiques for every stage.
The team will line up alongside a very competitive field of top female riders including Olympic time trial champion and Ladies Tour of Norway winner Annemiek Van Vleuten (Movistar), reigning World champion Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx) and Olympic road race Bronze medallist, Italian champion Elisa Longo Borghini (Trek-Segafredo.
Spratt expressed her excitement to be back racing ahead of the event, acknowledging it was difficult to gage how she would perform as she hinted to riding in support of her teammates as road captain but didn't rule out a potential stage win.
The team list for the 2021 Ceratizit Challenge by La Vuelta. Source: ASO
“I’m really looking forward to being back with the team, it feels like a long time since the Giro!" She said in a team statement.
"It’s a new race for me and completely new courses for everyone as well so that adds a bit more excitement.
"I’m not sure where the form will be after the bigger break without racing, but I’m mostly looking forward to racing well with the team and supporting my teammates for some good results.
"I’d love to take an opportunity in a stage, but my priority will be to support my teammates. It’s like a home race for Ane so I know she will be extremely motivated and that also gives me extra motivation!"
BikeExchange director Alejandro González-Tablas added the return of Spratt was a huge boost to the team ahead of the climb-filled race, kicking off with Thursday's 118.7 kilometre journey from Estación Invernal Cabeza de Manzaneda to A Rua.
"We have a great group of strong climbers here and this will be important for the race this year with more climbing than the previous years," González-Tablas said.
"It is great that we also have Spratt back after the Olympics, she is always an asset as a road captain for the team and Ane is obviously motivated for a good performance here at home in Spain.
"The uphill time trial will be key for the general classification, but already on stage one we have lots of climbing so there could already be big time gaps.”
Madrid Challenge by Ceratizit Women's - LIVE via SBS On Demand
September 2 - September 5
Stage 1
Thursday September 2
2100 - 2215 AEST
Stage 2
Friday September 3
1900 - 2215 AEST
Stage 3
Saturday September 4
2100 - 2215 AEST
Stage 4
Sunday September 5
2000 - 2115 AEST
