Columbia-HTC's Luise Keller has high hopes for an impressive performance in the GP Plouay in France this Saturday, the World Cup race in which she took a close second last year.  Run off on a 19-kilometre circuit, tackled six times, Keller believes Plouay is "as hard as all the other World Cups, a real challenge.  That's why it's almost always decided in a break, like last year when I got second."

"There are two big climbs on each circuit, one of which is really steep, about 500 metres long and with false flats after the summit. That sort of course makes it a wide-open race.  The crowds at Plouay are always enormous, too, much bigger than at some other women's races, and getting that degreee of support turns it into a really special event. There's never a problem about getting motivated for Plouay."

Keller is aiming for a ride at the World Championships, and the German says that a strong showing in Plouay, which, like the World's circuit is very hilly, would help her chances of getting selected.

"Together with Luise, Kim Anderson's win in the Route de France has really given a boost to Kim's morale, and Chantal [Beltman] is in really good form, too," comments Columbia-HTC sports director Ronny Lauke.  "We've got a lot of riders in good shape, and that's the ideal way to take on Plouay."

Columbia-HTC for GP Plouay: Kim Anderson (USA); Kate Bates (Aus); Chantal Beltman (Hol); Emilia Fahlin (Den); Luise Keller (Ger); Ellen Van Dijk (Hol).