New Zealand cyclist Georgia Danford will ride for Team Coop – Hitec Products in 2023. The 23-years-old rider who this year was only in her second season in Europe, impressed in 2022 with some strong sprint results. Danford for example finished 3rd in the Belgium one-day-race Flanders Diamond Tour and got 5th in both the GP Mazda Schelkens and Omloop der Kempen. She comes over from Team Andy Schleck, that’s folding after the season.
“After a great two years with the Andy Schleck team, I’m really excited to be joining Team Coop – Hitec Products”, Danford says about her move to the team. “The team looks like it has a great team culture among riders and staff, plus an awesome calendar. I am really looking forward to meeting the riders and just getting stuck into some racing.”
Danford has been racing on both the road and the track in the past years, but 2021 was only her first season racing in Europe. “I was super fortunate to come across with three kiwis and thanks to our team manager Tjarco it was a great year that got me hooked on cycling. Whilst my season was short it was packed with races; I loved being thrown into the deep end and couldn’t wait to come back in 2022 for more.”
Ambitious for 2023
In 2023 the New Zealand cyclists hopes to do even better than this year. “Like many continental level riders, I have been juggling a full-time University study, remote work and cycling. But in 2023 Coop-Hitec have given me the opportunity where I won’t need to work plus I graduate, so for sure I am looking forward to doing my first ‘full’ season in Europe with a lot less stress and more spare time to work on being a better athlete. The goal is to build on from the first two years to seek out some podiums and wins with the team, whether that be me working for my teammates or if the opportunity arises going for it myself.”