The newly formed development team "Canyon-SRAM Generation" will compete for the first time in two one-day races in Spain this weekend.

The team will compete in Il Liga Interautonomica De Féminas on Saturday and I Trofeo Dulcinea on Sunday. These two races will be the opening rounds of the seven-round Interatonomica Women's League, which aims to promote women's cycling in central Spain.

The weekend's races will feature Agua Marina Espinola Salinas (Paraguay), Alia Manso (Malaysia), Valentine Nzayisenga (Rwanda), and Lori Sharp (Jamaica).

The Canyon Slam Generation was established in 2022 as a way to support riders from countries underrepresented in cycling, and their race debut marks an important start to this project.

"This weekend is the first step for the team to start racing together and we aim to make this a starting point," said sport director Adam Chabot. 'The team wants to learn and experience as much as possible so we can move forward step by step.'

25-year-old Espinola Salinas is the team's most experienced racer and is looking forward to the start of the season after two successful team training camps.

"The first two team training camps and the subsequent training in Girona were really consistent. I'm still building my form for the important races later in the season, but I'm already in pretty good shape and giving everyone confidence," she said.

Espinola Salinas will take on the role of road cap for the weekend and is looking forward to two challenging races.

"The two races have fast circuits, depending on the wind. We expect a lot of attacks on both days so we will have to play our cards wisely."

For both Sharp and Mansour, Saturday will be their first time racing in Europe.

"Honestly, I'm feeling a whirlwind of emotions," Sharp said. I'm extremely nervous, but I'm really looking forward to the start of my first race." I don't know what to expect from this race or the season in general, but I know I will give it my all."

Mansour added that this weekend's races will be primarily on the track, followed by learning and gaining experience in the peloton.

"Being on a professional road team this year, the preparation is very different. 'I think I'll be ready for my first race with plenty of training and recovery. I'm very excited."

The team's four remaining riders, Ricarda Bauernfind, Antonia Niedermaier, Fatima Deborah Conte, and Olivia Sirilifa, will make their team racing debut in the coming weeks.