Mara Abbott

28-year-old Mara Abbott, from Boulder, Colorado, is a two-time Us National Champion, and the winner of the Giro d’Italia - the toughest and most prestigious stage race in women’s cycling - in 2010 and 2013. Other notable results include four overall victories of the Tour of the Gila, in the Us, with 2014 seeing her take that fourth Gila and the Vuelta a El Salvador.

«I am so excited to ride a full season in Europe next year, and Wiggle Honda is offering me the perfect set up to do that - Abbott said -. I am absolutely thrilled by the line-up of teammates, and the chance to work with a rider as strong and proven as Elisa Longo Borghini is going to be really amazing. I have been so impressed by the organisation and attention to personal desires and strengths of riders already. I know this is going to be a team I will be very proud to represent and I can't wait for the season to begin».

Mara’s World Championship road race unfortunately ended with the big crash that hit the peloton midway through the second of seven laps. Thankfully, however, despite leaving the course by ambulance, she suffered no serious injuries and will be ready to start 2015 in the black and orange jersey.