Eight levels over seven days, from Rotterdam to Alpe d’Huez await 154 riders, because the third Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift awaits. The beginning record is peppered with star high quality, with riders searching for stage wins and to problem for the yellow jersey.
The primary two editions of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift have been gained by two totally different Dutchwomen – first Annemiek van Vleuten, after which Demi Vollering. With Van Vleuten now retired, it’s pure to count on SD Worx-Protime’s Vollering to triumph for a second successive yr, however it’s no foregone conclusion.
Her participation is unconfirmed, however it’s not unlikely that the Giro d’Italia Girls champion Elisa Longo Borghini (Lidl-Trek) shall be in attendance, and can hope to push Vollering exhausting. Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM) has completed on the rostrum of each editions to this point, and can hope to proceed her 100% file. In the meantime, French hopes shall be led by Juliette Labous (dsm-firmenich PostNL) and Évita Muzic (FDJ-Suez).
It isn’t simply concerning the normal classification, both, with a number of the quickest ladies on the earth in attendance. Marianne Vos (Visma-Lease a Bike), a two-time stage winner on the race, will look to regain the inexperienced jersey within the absence of Lotte Kopecky. Nonetheless, she’ll be challenged by Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime), who has gained 18 races in 2024 to this point.
Demi Vollering (SD Worx-Protime)
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Because the defending champion, Demi Vollering is clearly prime in terms of contenders this time round. Regardless of a gradual (by her requirements) begin to the 2024 season, the 27-year-old has gained each stage race she has taken half in, triumphing on the Vuelta España Femenina, Itzulia Girls, Vuelta a Burgos Feminas, and the Tour de Suisse Girls, taking eight levels alongside the way in which.
It’s exhausting to see previous the Dutchwoman for the yellow jersey as soon as once more, particularly because the race finishes on Alpe d’Huez, and she or he is the perfect all-round climber within the peloton, however something might occur on the highway there.
She has frolicked at altitude to excellent her type, and it will be a shock to not see her on the highest step come the tip of the week. This shall be her last Tour for SD Worx.
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Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM)
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There have been 5 lengthy years between Kasia Niewiadoma’s victory on the Girls’s Tour in 2019 and her win at La Flèche Wallonne in April, however together with her streak of near-misses lastly over, the Pole may have the arrogance that she will be able to win on the Tour de France.
The 29-year-old has completed on the rostrum of the Tour twice to this point, third in each 2022 and 2023, and so will look to go a minimum of one place larger this time round.
As a part of a robust Canyon-SRAM workforce which additionally comprises Giro d’Italia Girls podium finisher Neve Bradbury, Soraya Paladin and Chloe Dygert, Niewiadoma might properly upset the percentages and win the entire race.
Elisa Longo Borghini (Lidl-Trek)
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Elisa Longo Borghini comes into the Tour de France off the again of profitable the Giro d’Italia Girls in July, the largest victory of a profession during which she has excelled at each stage races and one-day occasions.
Nonetheless, she is unconfirmed for Lidl-Trek and it’s unknown whether or not the Italian will lead the squad on the Tour at this level. If she does, she is going to goal the punchy days like levels 4 and 6, and can hope to stay with the perfect climbers on Le Grand Bornand and Alpe d’Huez.
Again to full well being and confidence, the 32-year-old ought to be wanting on the very prime of the GC on the roads of the Netherlands, Belgium and France.
Juliette Labous (dsm-firmenich PostNL)
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Juliette Labous comes into the Tour because the main French hope. The 25-year-old, in her final months as a dsm rider, will hope to raised her finest consequence – fourth place – this month. She completed fifth final yr, and in addition not too long ago completed fifth on the Giro as properly, suggesting she is in prime type.
Her squad, as others, is working a cut up technique, with sprinter Charlotte Kool using alongisde Labous because the GC prospect, however the latter will hope for assist because the race will get hillier and extra mountainous in direction of the tip.
Labous shall be underneath important stress because the main French rider, however she could possibly be able to problem the perfect on the earth.
Évita Muzic (FDJ-Suez)
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Évita Muzic is a rising star of French biking and one of the promising skills within the peloton. Her victory on the Giro d’Italia Girls in 2020 confirmed her future as a prime climber, and the 25-year-old gained a second Grand Tour stage on the Vuelta this yr.
Whereas she won’t be one for the very prime step of the rostrum, FDJ-Suez assume they’ve among the best younger riders on the earth on their books, and it’s possible that the Frenchwoman will present her prowess, particularly on essentially the most mountainous levels. One of many few to beat Vollering this season.
Marianne Vos (Visma-Lease a Bike)
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Marianne Vos is taken into account one of many biggest ladies’s bike owner of all time, with a profession that spans over a decade and consists of victories in nearly each main race, from World Championships to Grand Excursions.
The Dutchwoman is extremely versatile, excelling in sprints, on quick climbs, and in technical races, and so might win on all types of various terrain. This makes her a robust contender for the inexperienced jersey, which she gained within the first Tour de France Femmes two years in the past.
The 37-year-old doesn’t appear to tire of profitable, and after ending second on the Olympic Video games highway race, will look to style victory for a 3rd time and extra this August.
Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime)
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Lorena Wiebes, the quickest girl within the peloton, has already gained 18 occasions this season, as is a robust wager to win the primary stage in The Hague and take the yellow jersey on dwelling soil.
The 25-year-old is dominant on her day, and up to date gained 5 out of six levels on the Baloise Women Tour on her method to general victory, displaying her type. Already the holder of the file for stage wins with three, Wiebes might lengthen this by a minimum of two this yr, if every thing goes her method.
She would be the favorite for each bunch dash, however she appears to thrive underneath that stress. Her primary rivals within the flat finishes shall be dsm’s Charlotte Kool, Vos, maybe Elisa Balsamo (Lidl-Trek) if she rides, and possibly Chloe Dygert (Canyon-SRAM).
