Team lineup for inaugural Tour de France Femmes
WORDS: REBECCA BLAND
IMAGES: Outdoor Perspectives / Mathis Decroux
There are now less than two weeks to go until the world's best cyclists descend on Paris for the first stage of the inaugural Tour de France Femmes (TdFF). As a team that dreams big on the world stage, Le Col - Wahoo were ecstatic to receive a wildcard invitation to the race.
As such, the lineup reflects the different types of stages and the strengths of the team to perform at the season's biggest women's cycling event. Tom Varney, General Manager had this to say ahead of the TdFF.
“The Tour de France Femmes is something that all the members of the team – riders and staff – are really looking forward to being a part of. We have a huge focus on this event and lots of extra motivation.
“The way we are approaching the Tour, we want to play a role every day. We don’t have a GC leader, but riders capable of shining on every one of the eight stages.”
The stage win approach takes the pressure off a likely highly competitive general classification competition. And as the team has ambitions to enter the Women's WorldTour next year, stage results will go a long way to proving the team's commitment to developing riders at WorldTour level.
Majo van’t Geloof will resume her position as road captain, as a rider with a wealth of experience and a serious finishing kick. Lizzie Holden, fresh off her success at the British national championships where she finished third in the time trial and fourth in the road race, will be a key player for the hillier stages.
Star sprinter Maike van der Duin will lead the team on the flat stages, as she continues her run of good form after winning the sprint jersey at The Women's Tour – the team's first WorldTour jersey win. Former Belgian national champion Jesse Vandenbulcke brings plenty of knowledge of high-level races and a strong sprint.
Veenendaal-Veenendaal winner and French national championship runner-up Gladys Verhulst will be looking to add to an already successful season, while recent signing and former hockey player Eva van Agt will be rearing to go at the Tour and continue to develop her strengths on the bike.
Nico Marche, the Director Sportif for the race broke down the team's goals for the race.
“Put simply, our goal is to win a stage. Of course, it’s a high goal but we believe in our dreams! We want to #ColourTheRoad. We'll try to create initiative throughout the week, beginning with stage 1 with a bunch sprint. Maike can get a top result on the Champs Elysée, and open up our Tour de France in a great way.
“After day one, we’ll try to create opportunities in breaks with aggressive riders like Jesse and Gladys, but also some focus stages where Lizzie can shine on the hillier parcours. Our new signing, Eva, is still discovering the type of rider she will become – but we are sure that her talent can shine there in the hills as well. Majo will be an important team player there to support and position the team on the key parts of the course.”
Here’s the full team lineup:
Majo van’t Geloof
Maike van der Duin
Jesse Vandenbulcke
Lizzie Holden
Eva van Agt
Gladys Verhulst
The race will begin on 24th July in Paris, France and will make its way to the final stage in La Super Planche Des Belles Filles on the 31st. You will be able to catch the action live on GCN+, Eurosport and Discovery.