THE UPCOMING SENSATION. She’s been on par with the best in the business for already many years despite her youth -she’s only turning 25 in this 2023 season-, and her most recent performances are a big proof of what could come as part of the Blues. Except for the Tour, where she was affected by early crashes, everything went brilliantly for Liane Lippert in 2022. 2nd overall in the Tour of Scandinavia; 4th in Romandie -both featuring tough mountain-top finishes-; podium finisher (3rd) in Amstel and Brabant; 6th in the Itzulia; 7th in Huy; 8th in Liège – and, above all of that, German road race champion for the second time in her career. She will wear one of the most beautiful jerseys in the peloton as she starts her Movistar Team career – one we hope to enjoy so much with this world-class talent.

INCREDIBLE WORLDS. However, if anything is to remember from Lippert’s 2022 season -and it was an eye-opening result for many, her signing already known-, it is her extraordinary performance in the road race of the World Championships in Wollongong (Australia). The most courageous over the final climbs of the Mount Pleasant, she was so close to taking the better from her rivals and ended just short for a medal, 4th (at a certain point of the sprint, three riders who are now team-mates were leading the way, with Van Vleuten and Arlenis Sierra alongside Liane). Down Under, Lippert achieved another big success before that: the 2020 Cadel Evans Road Race, ahead of no less than Arlenis. And her other two UCI victories, at the 2018 Lotto Belgium Tour (Queen stage in Geraardsbergen + GC success), came ahead of… Aude Biannic, in her maiden Movistar Team season. The writing was on the wall, Liane!

A TALE OF TWO ‘BESTIES’. Since they were little children, Liane Lippert and Laura Süßemilch (Fenix-Deceuninck), friends and neighbours, have followed similar careers, wining left, right and center -the Movistar Team rider turning her eyes towards the road, while Süßemilch built a strong track career, including an Olympic appearance in Tokyo-. Life was saving a big milestone for the two in 2022 as they lived together a historic moment in women’s cycling: the start of the Tour de France Femmes. Despite a really serious injury for Süßemilch, which kept her in bed and wearing a neck brace for many weeks, ruining her season, they were able to share a dream that now continues as they both make part of WWT squads. They continue to train together as much as possible when they’re in Germany.