Grace Brown is ready to line up for her first time trial since successful an Olympic Video games gold medal within the self-discipline earlier this month, with the stage 3 Tour de France Femmes race towards the clock one in every of her greatest probabilities to ship a victory for FDJ-SUEZ on the race.
Nonetheless, given the stage is simply 6.3km lengthy, it isn’t going to be a straightforward job for the Australian to fend off her rivals and preserve the momentum flowing as she says farewell to the eight-stage race that’s the focus of her French workforce’s season.
“It is loads shorter than what I did two weeks in the past and never precisely what I have been coaching for,” mentioned Brown. “I feel can nonetheless put in a great efficiency, whether or not it is adequate to win is difficult to say, as a result of a few of these time trials favour the sprinter-type riders.”
“We’ll see what is required, however it is going to be enjoyable to have my first time trial within the Tour as Olympic champion. It will likely be a particular second regardless of the result’s.”
The time trial, which runs on Tuesday afternoon because the second stage of the day, can also be adopted on Wednesday by one other alternative, a lumpy 122.7km stage which finishes the place Brown claimed her first Monument win in April, Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
“Liège is a race that has been good for me although it would not sometimes swimsuit a rider like me,” added Brown. “I am wanting ahead to that stage within the Tour. Being in the midst of a tough stage race is a distinct story, however we are going to see what we are able to do.”
There isn’t any doubt that Brown has the shape to benefit from her last Tour de France Femmes and her last months of racing. Even earlier than the Olympic gold medal it was clear that the 32-year-old rider, who is ready to bow out on the finish of her sixth season as an expert, was filled with motivation and power to make it a farewell to recollect.
“Having the ability to exit on prime is so cool,” mentioned Brown. “Not many individuals get to try this. You hope that your last 12 months shall be good however, for it really to be good, is a dream.
“It additionally implies that after I end, I am nonetheless going to like biking. A variety of professional cyclists are burned out once they come to the top of their careers. I am nonetheless going to need to trip my bike. I nonetheless love the game and I really feel like that has made an enormous distinction, to go away with good recollections.”
There’s additionally nonetheless time to make much more, not solely whereas the Tour de France Femmes unfolds within the coming days but additionally on the Highway World Championships. Brown has come second within the race for the rainbow bands the final two years, however on September 22 in Zurich can have a final probability to make it to the highest step.
“If I can win the time trial, it might full all the pieces,” mentioned Brown. “I am pleased with what I’ve achieved to this point however to have a rainbow jersey as effectively could be very nice.”
