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 checklist is peppered with star high quality, with riders in search of 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 completely different Dutchwomen – first Annemiek van Vleuten, after which Demi Vollering. With Van Vleuten now retired, it’s pure to anticipate SD Worx-Protime’s Vollering to triumph for a second successive 12 months, however it’s no foregone conclusion.
Her participation is unconfirmed, however it isn’t unlikely that the Giro d’Italia Ladies champion Elisa Longo Borghini (Lidl-Trek) will probably 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 will probably be led by Juliette Labous (dsm-firmenich PostNL) and Évita Muzic (FDJ-Suez).
It’s not simply in regards to the common classification, both, with among the quickest girls on the planet 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. Nevertheless, 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 high in relation to contenders this time round. Regardless of a sluggish (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 Ladies, Vuelta a Burgos Feminas, and the Tour de Suisse Ladies, taking eight levels alongside the best way.
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 most effective all-round climber within the peloton, however something may 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 top of the week. This will probably 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 Ladies’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 can 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 at the very least one place greater this time round.
As a part of a powerful Canyon-SRAM staff which additionally comprises Giro d’Italia Ladies podium finisher Neve Bradbury, Soraya Paladin and Chloe Dygert, Niewiadoma may 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 Ladies in July, the largest victory of a profession by which she has excelled at each stage races and one-day occasions.
Nevertheless, 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 most effective climbers on Le Grand Bornand and Alpe d’Huez.
Again to full well being and confidence, the 32-year-old needs to be wanting on the very high 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 outcome – fourth place – this month. She completed fifth final 12 months, and in addition just lately completed fifth on the Giro as properly, suggesting she is in high type.
Her squad, as others, is working a break 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 top.
Labous will probably be below important strain because the main French rider, however she may very well be able to problem the most effective on the planet.
Évita Muzic (FDJ-Suez)
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Évita Muzic is a rising star of French biking and one of the crucial promising abilities within the peloton. Her victory on the Giro d’Italia Ladies in 2020 confirmed her future as a high climber, and the 25-year-old gained a second Grand Tour stage on the Vuelta this 12 months.
Whereas she won’t be one for the very high step of the rostrum, FDJ-Suez assume they’ve probably the greatest younger riders on the planet on their books, and it’s doubtless that the Frenchwoman will present her prowess, particularly on probably 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 girls’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 may win on all kinds of various terrain. This makes her a powerful 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 powerful guess 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 Girls Tour on her strategy to general victory, exhibiting her type. Already the holder of the file for stage wins with three, Wiebes may lengthen this by at the very least two this 12 months, if the whole lot goes her approach.
She would be the favorite for each bunch dash, however she appears to thrive below that strain. Her major rivals within the flat finishes will probably be dsm’s Charlotte Kool, Vos, maybe Elisa Balsamo (Lidl-Trek) if she rides, and possibly Chloe Dygert (Canyon-SRAM).
