The race to the highest of La Laguna Negra at La Vuelta Femenina in Might was a second to recollect for Évita Muzic (FDJ-SUEZ). The French rider not solely took a spectacular stage win but in addition beat Demi Vollering (SD Worx-Protime).
That has given her hope because the highlight sweeps towards the Tour de France Femmes the place the ultimate deciding pedal strokes will unfold on the legendary hairpins of L’Alpe d’Huez.
Muzic can be racing alongside Uttrup Ludwig, Grace Brown, Coralie Demay, Loes Adegeest, Amber Kraak and Léa Curinier within the FDJ-Suez Tour de France Femmes.
This yr’s race could start within the Netherlands and sweep by Belgium within the opening phases this yr, but it surely finishes in house territory for Muzic, who has been one of many high French hopes for the occasion since this incarnation of it started three years in the past.
The final three phases take the race again into France and head to the Alps for the primary time, delivering a last day that crests the HC ranked Col du Glandon earlier than throwing up the ultimate check of the Alpe d’Huez.
The mixture could also be a sprinters nightmare however for Muzic the prospect to chase a win on the highest of that climb, notably if it could possibly be one which clinched her yellow, is the holy grail.
“I used to be dreaming for Alpe d’Huez on the Tour de France,” Muzic mentioned forward of the race.
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“For certain, in my dream, I wish to win on the highest of Alpe d’Huez. But it surely’ll be in regards to the legs.
“I feel there can be no shock that the legs, actually will speak, and I hope to be good there and to do one of the best outcome for the staff and for me, for all of the preparation I’ve carried out.”
That preparation for Muzic has been intently focussed, with the rider coaching at altitude with the staff whereas a lot of her rivals had been in Paris on the Olympic Video games.
Lacking the as soon as in 4 yr occasion because it passed off in her house nation was undoubtedly a blow, however one which had its benefits given the race which passes proper by her house area in phases 6 and seven was all the time going to be her main aim.
“Originally, I used to be dissatisfied to not be there for the Olympics, particularly as a result of it was in Paris,” mentioned Muzic. “And sure, I used to be considering to first go there however after, I used to be actually targeted on the optimistic aspect of this resolution, and I feel it is higher for the preparation.”
That preparation is ever so necessary this yr. She got here eighth total in 2022 however needed to abandon with sickness earlier than the mountains in 2023. Muzic has huge targets for the 2024 Tour after a season to this point which has given her each motive to consider that she will be able to obtain them, together with her defeat of Vollering on the La Vuelta Femenina.
“It was, for certain, actually cool to win, and particularly in entrance of Demi, and now I’ve tons extra confidence in me,” mentioned Muzic. “Now I do know I’ve crushed her one time, so I can do it yet another time.”
That confidence, means Muziccan begin this yr’s French Grand Tour with total podium ambition. She is co-leader at FDJ-Suez with Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig however their roles might change throughout the race.
The staff seems to be extra conscious than ever that they’ll come unstuck earlier than the mountains even arrive, with Muzic ending fifth total at La Vuelta after getting caught out in echelons on stage 4.
“Now the aim can be to lose as little time as potential on the three first phases after which the legs will actually communicate on the finish,” mentioned Muzic.
A profitable 2024 Tour de France Femmes is “both a stage win or a extremely good normal classification” however in fact the last word dream is yellow.
“We now have excessive bold as a result of the Tour de France, it’s all the time particular within the season,” mentioned FDJ Suez supervisor Stephen Delcourt.
“Yearly we wish for our sponsors, for our companions, for our followers, success within the Tour de France.”
“We now have a dream collectively. We now have a plan collectively,” mentioned Delcourt.
“Perhaps it is not for this yr, possibly not for subsequent yr, however we now have this line for the long run, and we’re bold. We all know additionally that the contenders are actually, actually robust, however we’re additionally actually robust.”
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