Neff: A dark horse for the cyclo-cross world title in Denmark
Jolanda Neff will cap off a short but successful cyclo-cross season at the final round of the World Cup in Hoogerheide on Sunday before heading to the World Championships on February 2 in Denmark. Many view the mountain bike specialist as an outside favourite to win the world title, however, in an interview with Cyclingnews, Neff said her primary goal is to make it to the finish line in one piece.
"Last year I wanted to do the World Championships, too, and I didn't even make it to the start line," said Neff, who was forced to end her cyclo-cross season early last year after a crash at the Hoogerheide round of the World Cup.
"My number one goal is to make it to the start line in Denmark, and my number two goal is to make it to the finish line in one piece. I'd be really happy."
Neff, a former mountain bike world champion, is the newest member of the Trek Factory Racing off-road programme, where they have created a designated cyclo-cross team that also includes Ellen Noble and Evie Richards. She said joining Trek's programme has aligned perfectly with the start of the cyclo-cross season. She will also race for the mountain bike team and on the road with the UCI Women's Team Trek-Segafredo.
"I'm happy to have the support of Trek, which makes things a lot easier during the cyclo-cross season," Neff said. "They have four bikes ready for me, a mechanic, physio, the camper van, and that is so good for me to count on the support from Trek. They made this cyclo-cross programme for only women. It was great for me to join the Trek family and immediately start with cyclo-cross."
Neff started her short cyclo-cross campaign with back-to-back World Cups in Namur, where she placed 5th, and Zolder, where she was 26th, in December. She also won DVV verzekeringen trofee - GP Sven Nys, and EKZ CrossTour in January, along with the Swiss National Championships. She currently holds all three Swiss national titles in mountain bike, road and cyclo-cross.
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