Annemiek van Vleuten of Mitchelton-Scott will make her season debut at the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad on Saturday. The race is also the first race in the rainbow jersey for the Dutchwoman, who won the title in Harrogate, England, last September, as world road race champion.

"I am eager to race. I've trained a lot and had a long training period, so I'm really looking forward to Saturday."

"I think my preparation has been the best and most enjoyable preparation I've had in the last 10 years. Especially training with the rainbow jersey on, it really motivated me."

In addition to winning the World Championships road race, she won seven races in the 2019 season, including the women's edition of the Giro d'Italia, Strade Bianche, Liege-Bastogne-Liege, and the Dutch Time Trial victory.

"I think my base training was really good," she continued. She added, "I may not be in the best shape yet. But I think the longer and harder the races are, the more the training I did over the winter will pay off."

Van Vleuten noted that this weekend will be her 11th race in the Omloop, where she finished a career-best third on the podium behind Lucinda Brand and Chantal Black, who won the 2017 event.

"I know the course in Nieuwsblad well and it has similar climbs and cobblestones to the Tour de Flanders," Van Vleuten said, comparing it to the race he won in 2011.

As for whether her first race in the rainbow jersey as world champion will be a pressure for her, Van Vleuten suggested it might be the opposite.

"I enjoy running in the rainbow jersey every day and I don't feel any pressure. 'I'm also happy that my family will be here to see me. It may not be my home country, but being in Belgium, it's almost like my home country."

Van Vleuten will be relying on the strong support of her teammates in Saturday's race, including Dutch compatriots Janneke Ensing, Gracie Elvin, and Grace Brown.

Martin Vestby, Mitchelton-Scott's sporting director, said, "Anneke has trained very well and had a good winter.

"She is really motivated for the race and it is good to see Annemieke so motivated going into the race. It's nice to have Annemieke this motivated going into the race."

Mitchelton Scott women competing in Omloop Het Nieuwsblad: Grace Brown, Gracie Ervin, Janneke Ensing, Sarah Roy, Annemieke van Fruten, Moniek Tenigro