“I’ve become a Spaniard!!” was the reply of Andria Christoforou to our inquiry about any news for the 2021 season! The Spanish team announced the signing of the Cypriot multi-champion in an Instagram post on December 29, 2020.
2020 was a very strange season. At its beginning, she was pumped up to race in the jersey of her new team and had a busy program planned, peaking at the Tokyo Olympics. She got to stretch her legs at the “Setmana Ciclista Valenciana” in February but then the sport was abruptly halted due to the Covid19 pandemic. In Autumn Andria, who on a National Level races for the S.PO.KO club (Kornos Association of Cyclists), managed to defend her National Titles in Individual Road Race and Individual Time Trial and to also race the “Trophée des Grimpeuses” and “Grand Prix International d'Isbergues - Pas de Calais Féminin”. A far too short season for an elite rider which caused confusion and disappointment.
Not being able to travel and race, the talented Cypriot rider could only score UCI points in the National Championships. This caused a major drop in the world rankings, from 64th place at the beginning of 2020 to 184th today.
2021 brings new hopes and new plans. If all goes well, at the end of January, she will be flying to Alicante in Spain for the season's first training camp with the Burgos Alimenta Women Cycling Sport team. There, she will get the chance to meet her new teammates, test the new equipment and get the first racing km of the season under her belt.
When asked about the season upon us Andria said: “I can’t wait to get back to the racing scene. 2020 was too much, with no races and no targets! It was very disappointing but now I feel optimistic again! I hope for a - more - normal season!”
Regarding her 2021 targets, she could not be very specific - yet!:
“I can’t say which races I will target as I haven’t set my racing program yet. Besides that, my role in the team will be clarified after the first training camp. For sure Tokyo is the ultimate goal, but I also want to be ready to perform for the classics and the big races. And of course, I want to be able to assist my teammates whenever I’m asked to!”
