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Chasing Demi: Tour de France Femmes Top-10 Favorites

After flying to victory in the second edition of the tour de france femmes avec zwift, demi vollering faces some new rivals this year..

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The Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift begins Monday, August 12 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. We’ve compiled the top riders to help you get ready.

DEMI VOLLERING, 27 (Netherlands)

TEAM SD WORX-PROTIME

2023 POSITION: 1st

The world’s best stage racer leading the world’s most powerful team. That, in summary, is the reason why Vollering is the overwhelming favorite to successfully defend of her title. The Dutch rider’s flight into the mist on the Tourmalet last year is still in everyone’s mind, as are the gaps at the summit—she was two minutes ahead of the next rider. Since then, the 2022 winner Annemiek van Vleuten has retired and no one seems equipped to stand in Vollering’s way.

You really have to rack your brains to find them, as there’s not much evidence of her having any limitations. That said, the winner of the 2023 Vélo d’Or award will have to deal with the inconveniences that her new status as the defending champion bring. There will be an even stronger spotlight on her as the Grand Départ is taking place in her own backyard, in the Netherlands. How will she react to this phenomenal pressure?

KASIA NIEWIADOMA, 29 (Poland)

CANYON // SRAM RACING

2023 POSITION: 3rd

Punch and panache have been Niewiadoma ’s trademarks for a decade. On last year’s Pyrenean stage, she tried to turn the tables on the descent of the Aspin while Vollering and van Vleuten were keeping tabs on each other. This year, the brevity of the time trial and the abundance of difficulties elsewhere make this course a perfect playground for the Polish climber—whose victory over Vollering at April’s Flèche Wallonne has given her new confidence.

Her inability to win even though she’s so often well placed reached quite astonishing proportions before she won this year’s Flèche Wallonne. Before that victory, the world gravel champion had accumulated 53 top fives since her last previous win on the road, which came in June 2019. It seems that she nearly always comes up against someone who’s stronger or more cunning than her. Finishing third in both of the first two editions of the Tour Femmes only highlights this deficiency.

JULIETTE LABOUS, 25 (France)

TEAM DSM FIRMENICH-POSTNL

2023 POSITION: 5th

Blessed with great endurance, as well as a good climber and time trialist, Labous has what it takes to compete for the podium. Finish fourth and then fifth in the race’s first two editions, she seems even more capable of top three this year. Humble but determined, the runner-up to van Vleuten at the 2023 Giro will be well supported by the French fans, especially on stage 6 to Morteau, where she was once a member of the local club.

Last year, her sensitivity to extreme heat was partly responsible for her difficult opening stage in Clermont-Ferrand. This year, she would like a longer time trial to take advantage of her talent in this discipline. In the event of a sprint in a small group, she lacks the explosiveness required for victory and bonus seconds.

ASHLEIGH MOOLMAN, 38 (South Africa)

AG INSURANCE-SOUDAL TEAM

2023 POSITION: 6th

At 38 and in her final season of racing, Moolman is the most experienced contender for the podium. By finishing fourth on the Tourmalet in the 2023 Tour Femmes (and fifth this year in La Flèche Wallonne), she confirmed that she’s still among the best climbers. Second at the Giro in 2018 and 2021, she can cope very well with repeated efforts. The final three stages in the mountains suit her perfectly.

Very slight in stature, the 108-pound South African champion isn’t at her best when racing on the flat stages. And her team isn’t yet at the same level as the very best—although it has been strengthened this year with the arrivals of Australia’s Sarah Gigante, winner of January’s Santos Tour Down Under, and Belgium’s Julie Van de Velde.

GAIA REALINI, 23 (Italy)

FIRST APPEARANCE

One of the smallest riders in the peloton, at 4 feet 11 inches and 88 pounds, Realini is a pure climber with an unbeatable power-to-weight ratio. Last year, her first season on the UCI WorldTour, was a success, as she finished second at the UAE Tour, the Vuelta and the Giro, and third at Flèche Wallonne. Having Elisa Longo Borghini alongside her is a real plus.

She’ll definitely be out of her comfort zone during the first two stages where echelons could well form if it’s windy (she lost two minutes in echelons on a similar stage of this year’s Vuelta) as well as in the time trial that follows through the streets of Rotterdam. She’s still learning the trade and, now 23, will discover the intensity of the pressure that comes with the Tour for the first time.

MARTA CAVALLI, 26 (Italy)

2023 POSITION: 19th

Two years ago, Cavalli emerged with victories in quick succession at the Amstel Gold Race and Flèche Wallonne, while she also finished fifth at Paris-Roubaix, which showed the breadth of her ability. She was also second at the Giro Donne, the only rider who could compete with winner van Vleuten on the climbs that year.

Her terrible crash during the first edition of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift left its mark. Finishing eighth on the Tourmalet last year was an encouraging sign. But she was unable to confirm her return to the peloton’s elite at the start of this season, after injuring her pelvis in a training crash—and by mid-May she had completed only five days of racing.

ELISA LONGO BORGHINI, 32 (Italy)

2023 POSITION: DNS STAGE 7

Winner of the Tour of Flanders (in 2015 and this year), Paris–Roubaix (2022) and Strade Bianche (2017), the four-time Italian champion has carved out an incredible palmarès thanks to her versatility and racing nous. She’s also at home in stage races, as shown by her two podiums at the Giro Donne, her sixth place in the 2022 Tour Femmes and her third place in this year’s Vuelta Femenina.

WEAKNESSES 

She’s not the best climber around. Consequently, her dreams of a podium in this third edition of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift could be dashed on the final day on the road to L’Alpe d’Huez. Last year, ill and exhausted, she had to throw in the towel before the Tourmalet stage.

SILVIA PERSICO, 27 (Italy)

UAE TEAM ADQ

2023 POSITION: 14th

By finishing six stages in the top seven and in fifth place overall, the Italian was the major revelation of the Tour’s first edition. A superb all-rounder, the cyclocross specialist finished in style at Super Planche des Belles Filles, where only van Vleuten and Vollering were ahead of her.

A winner just once in 2023 (at Flèche Brabançonne) and so far in 2024 (GP du Morbihan), the 27-year-old was further off the radar in last summer’s Tour Femmes (18th on the Tourmalet and 14th overall), which leaves us to wonder whether she might be more suited to one-day classics than stage races.

RIEJANNE MARKUS, 29 (The Netherlands)

TEAM VISMA | LEASE-A-BIKE

2023 POSITION: 11th

After riding in the shadow of her fellow Dutch teammate Marianne Vos for many years, Markus  has improved markedly in recent seasons, notably at the Vuelta Femenina, by placing fourth in 2023 and second this year (beaten only by Vollering). She’s a strong time trialist and has become a stronger climber in the past two years.

She won’t be able to gain much time in the short time trial at this year’s Tour and she’s still limited in the high mountains, so a top five is probably the best she can do on GC.

CECILIE UTTRUP LUDWIG, 28 (Denmark)

2023 POSITION: 7th

Her explosive attacks can hit the mark. Winner on the heights above Épernay in 2022, the Dane could be one of the big favorites to win stage 4 in the Ardennes. She’ll be able to count on very solid and experienced teammates.

Having quickly established herself among the world’s elite, she’s struggled to take the final step that would enable her to claim the great victories that once seemed likely. She is somewhat limited in the high mountains. Her 2024 season started well with a stage win at January’s Tour Down Under,  but a fractured sacrum in a crash at February’s Omloop Het Nieuwsblad stopped her from racing until mid-May.

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Vollering wins women’s Tour de France and teammate Reusser clinches final stage

Netherland’s Demi Vollering wearing the overall leader’s yellow jersey celebrates on the podium after winning the Tour de France women’s cycling race, an individual time trial over 22.6 kilometers (14 miles) with start and finish in Pau, southwestern France, Sunday, July 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Bob Edme)

From left, France’s Cedrine Kerbaol, wearing the best young rider’s white jersey, Katarzyna Niewiadoma of Poland, wearing the best climber’s dotted jersey, Winner of the Tour de France women’s cycling race Netherland’s Demi Vollering, Belgium’s Lotte Kopecky wearing the best sprinter’s green jersey pose on the podium of the eighth stage of the Tour de France women’s cycling race, in Pau, southwestern France, Sunday, July 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Bob Edme)

Winner of the Tour de France women’s cycling race Netherland’s Demi Vollering reacts after the eighth stage in Pau, southwestern France, Sunday, July 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Bob Edme)

Marlen Reusser from Switzerland celebrates on the podium after winning the eighth stage of the Tour de France women’s cycling race, an individual time trial over 22.6 kilometers (14 miles) with start and finish in Pau, southwestern France, Sunday, July 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Bob Edme)

From left, France’s Cedrine Kerbaol, wearing the best young rider’s white jersey, Katarzyna Niewiadoma of Poland, wearing the best climber’s dotted jersey, Winner of the Tour de France women’s cycling race Netherland’s Demi Vollering, Belgium’s Lotte Kopecky wearing the best sprinter’s green jersey celebrate on the podium of the eighth stage of the Tour de France women’s cycling race, in Pau, southwestern France, Sunday, July 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Bob Edme)

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PAU, France (AP) — Dutch rider Demi Vollering won the women’s Tour de France for the first time on Sunday while her teammate Marlen Reusser of Switzerland clinched the final-stage time trial.

Although the 26-year-old Vollering was already in a strong position after a dominant win in Saturday’s penultimate stage up to Tourmalet in the Pyrenees, she still had enough energy left to finish 10 seconds behind Reusser in the time trial held in the southwestern city of Pau.

Team SD Worx completed a stage treble with Lotte Kopecky of Belgium finishing in third place. Kopecky was 38 seconds behind Reusser, who covered the 22.6 kilometers (14 miles) in 29 minutes, 15 seconds.

Kopecky’s performance also moved her up two spots to second place overall in the general classification, a total of 3 minutes, 3 seconds behind Vollering, with Kasia Niewiadoma of Poland dropping to third overall.

Niewiadoma was also 3:03 behind Vollering but Kopecky edged her out in the standings because of time splits recorded in the time trial, organizers said.

The 40-year-old Dutchwoman Annemiek van Vleuten, last year’s Tour winner , was fourth this year, finishing 3:59 behind Vollering.

Niewiadoma won the best climber’s polka-dot jersey while Kopecky collected the green jersey for best sprinter.

AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift 2024 start list: Demi Vollering leads SD Worx-Protime

With just days to go until the third edition of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift , confirmed teams are being announced daily.

The action starts on Monday, 12 August, with eight stages over seven days , ending on Sunday, 18 August, from Rotterdam to Alpe d'Huez. 

Among those confirmed as racing the Tour are defending champion - and hot favourite - Demi Vollering for SD Worx-Protime , the Olympic road race champion Kristen Faulkner for EF-Oatly-Cannondale, and Olympic time trial gold medallist Grace Brown for FDJ-Suez. 

22 teams of seven riders will take part in the Tour: the 15 Women's WorldTour teams, along with seven invited Continental squads: Cofidis, EF-Oatly-Cannondale, Tashkent City, St Michel-Mavic-Auber93, Lotto Dstny, Laboral Kutxa-Fundación Euskadi and Arkéa-B&B Hotels. Tashkent, in particular, are interesting - the Uzbekistani team received invitations to all WorldTour events in 2024 because of UCI points scored, largely at the Uzbekistan National Championships last year.

The strongest squad is invariably SD Worx-Protime, with defending champion Vollering, and three-time stage winner Lorena Wiebes, but teams like Lidl-Trek, Movistar, Canyon-SRAM and FDJ-Suez will look to upset the status quo.

One notable name absent from the Tour for the first time is Annemiek van Vleuten, who hung up our wheels at the end of last year, after winning the inaugaural race in 2022. Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM) will hope to go one better than two successive third-places at the event, especially now she has broken her streak of not winning races . Her Australian teammate Neve Bradbury recently finished third at the Giro d'Italia Women , and so will be one to watch on the road to Alpe d'Huez.

It is unknown whether Giro champion Elisa Longo Borghini (Lidl-Trek) will be present, but other top-five GC finishers Juliette Labous (dsm-firmenich PostNL) and Pauliena Rooijakkers (Fenix-Deceuninck) are racing. Second at the Vuelta Femenina , Riejanne Markus (Visma-Lease a Bike) and stage winner Évita Muzic (FDJ-Suez) are also unconfirmed, but are expected to be on the startline.

Here are the announced teams and riders for the 2024 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift .

Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift 2024 start list

SD Worx-Protime

BREDEWOLD Mischa

FISHER-BLACK Niamh

GUARISCHI Barbara

MAJERUS Christine

WIEBES Lorena 

AG Insurance-Soudal  

Arkéa-B&B Hotels

Canyon-SRAM

BRADBURY Neve

CHABBEY Elise

DYGERT Chloé

PALADIN Soraya

SKALNIAK-SÓJKA Agnieszka

TOWERS Alice 

Ceratizit-WNT

ALONSO Sandra

ARZUFFI Alice Maria

BERTON Nina

DE ZOETE Mylene

SCHWEINBERGER Kathrin

BERTEAU Victoire

ALZINI Martina

LUDWIG Hannah

NOSKOVA Nikola

TALBOT Josie

dsm-firmenich PostNL

BARALE Francesca

BARBIERI Rachele

GEORGI Pfeiffer

KOCH Franziska

KOOL Charlotte

STORRIE Becky 

EF-Oatly-Cannondale

FAULKNER Kristen

EMOND Clara

HENTTALA Lotta

JACKSON Alison

RÜEGG Noemi

VALLIERES MILL Magdeleine

Fenix-Deceuninck

DE WILDE Julie

PIETERSE Puck

ROOIJAKKERS Pauliena

SCHREMPF Carina

SCHWEINBERGER Christina

TRUYEN Marthe

Human Powered Health

EDWARDS Ruth

KASPER Romy

MALCOTTI Barbara

PIKULIK Daria

RAAIJMAKERS Marit

WILLIAMS Lily

Laboral Kutxa-Fundación Euskadi

BLANCO CALBET Yurani

OSTOLAZA ZABALA Usoa

SILVESTRI Debora

SOTO CAMPOS Catalina

TOMASI Laura

TONETTI Cristina

Liv AlUla Jayco

ANDERSSON Caroline

KOREVAAR Jeanne

ROSEMAN-GANNON Ruby

SMULDERS Silke

TON Quinty 

Lotto Dstny

AINTILA Wilma

ARENS Maureen

BASTIAENSSEN Fauve

DE KEERSMAEKER Audrey

VAN WERSCH Anna

LIPPERT Liane

BARIL Olivia

NORSGAARD Emma

GUTIERREZ Sheyla

MACKAIJ Floortje

MARTÍN Sara

MEIJERING Mareille 

St Michel-Mavic-Auber93

BUNEL Marion

AVOINE Alison

FAHY Camille

GUILMAN Victorie

LE MOUEL Célia

MIERMONT Dilyxine

ROUSSEL Elyne

Tashkent City

UAE Team ADQ

Uno-X Mobility

AHTOSALO Anniina

BOILARD Simone

CONFALONIERI Maria Giulia

EDSETH Marte Berg

KOSTER Anouska

OTTESTAD Mie Bjørndal

Visma-Lease a Bike

Demi Vollering: Tour de France Femmes is not only between me and Annemiek van Vleuten

SD Worx leader targets overall victory despite time trial concerns

Demi Vollering will line up at the second edition of the restored Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift in the best form of her life and one of two overwhelming favourites to win the overall title at the eight-day race held from July 23-30.

There has been a near-frenzy over what many believe will be a highly-anticipated Van Vleuten versus Vollering battle for the yellow jersey. However, Vollering is adamant that such a narrow perspective leaves out other potential winners in the peloton.

"It's not only between me and Annemiek. I think this course is good for a lot of riders; Classics riders, for example, Elisa Longo Borghini or Silvia Persico, will all be very good on this course," Vollering said in an interview before the start in Clermont-Ferrand. 

"I think there will be a battle between multiple riders. It's a hard course every day, and it's not only Annemiek and me, and I hope a lot more riders."

The biggest talking points ahead of the 2023 Tour de France Femmes - Preview Tour de France Femmes 2023 – Analysing the contenders   2023 Tour de France Femmes route - Everything you need to know How to watch the 2023 Tour de France Femmes

There is a short list of contenders who will also be in the race for yellow along with Elisa Longo Borghini (Lidl-Trek) and Silvia Persico (UAE Team ADQ); there is last year's podium finisher Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM), Juliet Labous (Team dsm-firmenich), Marta Cavalli and Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (FDJ-SUEZ), Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (AG Insurance-Soudal-QuickStep), Mavi Garcia (Liv Racing TeqFind) and Veronica Ewers (EF Education-TIBCO-SVB). 

However, none have shown the same level of form that Vollering and Van Vleuten have demonstrated in their remarkable performances this season; Vollering during Classics and early-season stage races and Van Vleuten dominating the Giro Donne, making them the overwhelming favourites.

Closing the gap to Van Vleuten

At last year's Tour de France Femmes, Vollering was the closest rival to Van Vleuten on the ascents of Le Markstein and La Super Planche des Belles Filles. But on both climbs, she crossed the line and appeared bewildered by Van Vleuten's strength; after all, she had trained harder than she ever had before in preparation for the race and surpassed all her previous power numbers. It wasn't enough to contest Van Vleuten's rampage through the mountains.

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Van Vleuten explained that by being older, she has been racing longer and progressively more each year and has more experience. She also suggested that, given more time for her body to adapt to higher training loads, Vollering would close the gap to Van Vleuten in the future.

Vollering has enjoyed an outstanding season and has appeared to have already shown a marked improvement this season. In the earlier season races, she won at Strade Bianche, the three Ardennes Classics, second overall at La Vuelta Femenina, Itzulia Women and the Tour de Suisse, plus won Vuelta a Burgos and the Dutch Championships.

She has taken a new approach to the Tour de France Femmes this year and opted to skip the Giro Donne. Instead, she spent time training in France. She previewed several key stages, including the Tourmalet three times. She trained at altitude in Andorra and enjoyed a week at home in Switzerland to recover. 

She said she feels fresh and ready to begin a tough week of racing where she and her team aim for stage wins and the overall title.  

"It's not a lie that I made a big step this season. I feel more confident in the races and, technically, those kinds of things. I also recognize this growth myself. Still, it's a stage a race of eight days, and you need to have a big engine for this, and Annemiek has more experience and training experience than me," Vollering suggested.

"This whole season has gone well, and I have confidence that this stage race will also be good, and I will be in form. I still feel good after this big season that I already had, and mentally that I'm still fresh and still fighting to win. We will find out at the end of the Tour de France."

Vollering's teammates Lotte Kopecky and Lorena Wiebes have also noticed a change in Vollering compared to the previous season. 

More than an increased physical strength, both teammates have noted growth areas in her confidence, mental strength, technique, and ability to read a race. They say she is also closing the gap with Van Vleuten in these areas.

"Yes, but I believe these came because I am stronger, so then I also have more space in your head during the race to make good decisions about what to do in the race," Vollering said. 

"Last year, I was so on the limit in the race that I could not think anymore. This year, it is all coming more naturally. I make better decisions, see the race situations, recognize the race situations, and know what to do. 

"These things go together hand-in-hand [with being stronger]. It is a big step I made, but I'm also physically stronger, which is why I'm also mentally and technically better."

Time trial nerves

Last year's Tour de France Femmes route included almost every type of terrain for nearly every rider, but if there's one thing the riders and teams felt was missing at the race, it was a time trial.

The peloton will race a 22km time trial that features a mid-route ascent and a slight rise to the finish line. Vollering said time trials are relatively new to her and revealed that she feels somewhat apprehensive about its position directly following the decisive Col d'Aspin-Col du Tourmalet and as the finale stage 8 in Pau. 

"The time trial could be very important. It's difficult to say this because it all depends on how it goes the day before but the time trial can be very tricky," said Vollering.

Vollering said she has been training on her time trail bike to find the fastest position. She recently finished second behind teammate Marlen Reusser in the stage 2 time trial at the Tour de Suisse. She was also second behind Riejanne Markus and ahead of third-placed Van Vleuten at the Dutch Championships.

If the gaps in the general classification are still close enough after the previous day's race up the Tourmalet, the stage 8 time trial will be the final test that could decide the overall champion of the Tour de France Femmes.

"I hope the time trial doesn't change [the Tour de France Femmes] so much for me. It's something that makes me nervous. It's pretty new for me, and I don't know exactly how it will go. You want to do a good time trial on the last day, and it's important that you are not losing time there. It's an important stage," Vollering said.

Asked if she would accept anything less than the overall victory, Vollering expressed that she is more relaxed in her approach and outlook toward her second attempt at winning the Tour de France Femmes.

"For sure, I want the yellow jersey. I hope that, for the Tour de France, I can at least wear the yellow jersey at some point in the eight days," she said.

"It would be cool to take it home, of course, but I don't want to be too focused on winning. I want to ride a nice race, enjoy it with my team, what I've done already this season, and this will be the result."

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Kirsten Frattini is the Deputy Editor of Cyclingnews , overseeing the global racing content plan.

Kirsten has a background in Kinesiology and Health Science. She has been involved in cycling from the community and grassroots level to professional cycling's biggest races, reporting on the WorldTour, Spring Classics, Tours de France, World Championships and Olympic Games.

She began her sports journalism career with Cyclingnews as a North American Correspondent in 2006. In 2018, Kirsten became Women's Editor – overseeing the content strategy, race coverage and growth of women's professional cycling – before becoming Deputy Editor in 2023.

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‘Let’s delete the pictures’ - Demi Vollering thought she won Tour de France Femmes stage four

Dutchwoman comes second in Rodez and gains time on GC rivals

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Demi Vollering attacks. There’s 150m to go, and one body in front of her - a target decked in the yellow and red of Uno-X. She grits her teeth. The road bends left, uphill to the finish in Rodez, and roaring into the air, Vollering goes round the outside. 

As she sits up to celebrate, there’s a realisation. “I crossed the line and I was like, ‘I’m not sure’,” she told Cycling Weekly afterwards. 

The race she thought she had won, stage four of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift , had already been claimed by someone else. One minute and 11 seconds earlier, Yara Kastelijn of Fenix Deceuninck had taken her maiden road victory. Vollering took second. 

“I had no clue what was in front of me,” the SD Worx rider explained. “I caught up Anouska Koster [Uno-X], and she was the only one I could see, so I thought I had everybody. I didn’t know [Kastelijn] was still in front.

“I didn’t know if someone from the group was out [front], you know? So I thought I’d celebrate anyway and then we have at least the pictures. If I didn’t win, then we can always delete them. So let’s delete them,” she smiled. 

Vollering was, however, able to take a small victory in Rodez on Wednesday. She distanced her GC rival Annemiek van Vleuten (Movistar) to the line, and took six bonus seconds, eventually earning an eight-second advantage over her compatriot. 

“It’s really nice, of course, to already gain a little bit of time,” Vollering said. “It was really, really long, and I think that suits Annemiek better than me. It was hard and painful. I’m happy [with] how it went. I hoped I could do a little bit more in the end on the last climb, but I could not really make a difference anymore after such a long race.” 

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Stage four marked the longest stage ever in women’s WorldTour history, stretching out over 177 rolling kilometres from the start in Cahors. 

“It was a really strange day,” Vollering said. "And also a hard, hard day. You could feel it in the bunch. It’s different for us, because we don’t always have such long races.” 

When she arrived back at her team bus, Vollering cut a disappointed figure. On the race’s longest day, she had tasted the euphoria of victory, before reality dragged her back to earth. Downhearted, she greeted her border collie, hugged her partner, and clambered onto the rollers for her warm-down. 

“I would have liked to win today,” she told the press, “because it’s a Tour stage, and it’s really special to win a Tour stage. I hope that one will still come.” 

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Tom joined Cycling Weekly as a news and features writer in the summer of 2022, having previously contributed as a freelancer. He is the host of The TT Podcast , which covers both the men's and women's pelotons and has featured a number of prominent British riders. 

An enthusiastic cyclist himself, Tom likes it most when the road goes uphill and actively seeks out double-figure gradients on his rides. 

He's also fluent in French and Spanish and holds a master's degree in International Journalism. 

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Lotte Kopecky’s Absence from the TdF Femmes Puts the Heat on Demi Vollering—Can She Handle It?

With last year’s second-place finisher out of the race, we are robbed of perhaps the most interesting rivalry of this year’s Tour.

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The Belgian’s decision to skip the biggest stage race in the Women’s WorldTour calendar not only shakes up the dynamic within her team, SD Worx-Protime, but also has the potential to shift the landscape of the race. As the reigning champion, teammate Demi Vollering , gears up to defend her title, the doors swing open for rivals and underdogs to seize the spotlight in a Tour that is still building its identity. And with just eight stages, Kopecky’s absence also removes a solid competitor for stage hunting in the grueling courses that make up the first half of the race, opening opportunities for other riders and teams to claim victories.

Kopecky’s prowess in the peloton is unmatched. Her powerful sprints, bike handling skills on any surface type, and her ability to remain competitive in the mountains have made her a favorite in both one-day classics and multi-day races. At 28, she boasts multiple Belgian National Road Race Championships and has claimed victories in iconic races such as the Tour of Flanders (2022-2023), Strade Bianche (2022, 2024), and Paris-Roubaix (2024). More recently, she won second overall at the Giro d’Italia Women , putting pressure on another rider expected to go for the GC at the Tour, Elisa Longo Borghini (Lidl-Trek).

Kopecky also has a decorated track cycling career, highlighted by world titles in the Points Race and Madison. This week in Paris, she is a favorite going into the Omnium as the track events reach their climax and conclude the cycling portion of the Olympic Games this week.

>Watch Olympic Track Cycling and the Tour de France Femmes on Peacock" data-vars-ga-product-id="5428471e-1edc-4e26-81d4-00c03df0ff6d" data-vars-ga-link-treatment="(not set) | (not set)" data-href="https://www.peacocktv.com/sports/cycling" data-product-url="https://www.peacocktv.com/sports/cycling" data-affiliate="true" data-affiliate-url="https://www.peacocktv.com/sports/cycling" data-affiliate-network="{"site_id":"3e909d2b-7135-42e6-b3e0-1b59c10468a9","metadata":{"trackonomics":{"network_name":null}},"network":{"name":"Trackonomics"},"product_metadata":{"3e909d2b-7135-42e6-b3e0-1b59c10468a9":{"network_name":null,"link":"https://www.peacocktv.com/sports/cycling"}},"afflink_redirect":"/afflink/kHnS/peacocktv"}" data-vars-ga-product-brand="peacocktv.com" data-vars-ga-product-retailer-id="54b01553-8100-4f91-90c4-b9b69e3ff327" data-vars-ga-product-sem3-brand="peacocktv.com" class="body-link product-links css-f828e2 e1aq0z090">>>Watch Olympic Track Cycling and the Tour de France Femmes on Peacock

Rivalry and Tension with Vollering

Vollering and Kopecky are two of the top female cyclists in the world, sharing a history of successes and tensions while racing together. In the 2023 edition of Strade Bianche , the duo sprinted against each other for the win, culminating in an awkward moment as they awaited the photo finish result (Vollering won). “We’ve experienced it once now. What happened then isn’t going to happen a second time; we both know that,” Kopecky explained post-race, highlighting communication issues and the lack of team orders as they chased down lone leader Kristen Faulkner (EF-Oatly-Cannondale).

The tension continued into last year’s Tour de France Femmes, where on the opening stage, Kopecky attacked for a solo victory, stirring some confusion about team leadership and whether she would support Vollering after having a taste of the Maillot Jaune . Throughout the week, Kopecky fiercely contested finishes, holding the overall lead until Stage 7, when the peloton entered the mountains and Vollering seized the stage—and ultimately the overall win. Despite challengers like Polka-Dot Jersey winner Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon//SRAM) and now-retired Annemiek van Vleuten (Movistar), Kopecky finished second, revealing the strength of each rider, but also the fragile nature of their partnership.

SD Worx-Protime’s New Lineup and Race Strategy

SD Worx-Protime is entering this Tour with a slightly different lineup. While Kopecky won’t be there to ignite the race with her dynamic attacks and sprints, the team still has a wealth of opportunities beyond Vollering. Last year’s squad featured Vollering, Kopecky, Mischa Bredewold, Elena Cecchini, Christine Majerus, Marlen Reusser, and Lorena Wiebes—who claimed Stage 3 before illness forced her to abandon. This year, Cecchini and Reusser are absent, replaced by rising talents Niamh Fisher-Black and Blanka Vas, two young riders poised to make their mark.

New Zealand’s Fisher-Black—who won a stage of the Giro d’Italia this year—and Hungary’s Vas—who finished fourth in the Olympic Road Race behind Kopecky—could play essential roles in Vollering’s Tour success. And seeing how the last edition played out, where the true GC contenders didn’t show their cards until the last two stages, there certainly is space for any of the two to snag away a stage win between Stages 1 and 6.

.css-dd784d:before{width:100%;-webkit-filter:invert(32%) sepia(81%) saturate(5886%) hue-rotate(5deg) brightness(105%) contrast(104%);filter:invert(32%) sepia(81%) saturate(5886%) hue-rotate(5deg) brightness(105%) contrast(104%);height:2.1875rem;margin:0 auto;content:'';display:block;margin-bottom:0.25rem;-webkit-background-size:2.1875rem;background-size:2.1875rem;background-repeat:no-repeat;-webkit-background-position:center;background-position:center;}.loaded .css-dd784d:before{background-image:url(/_assets/design-tokens/bicycling/static/images/quote.53198c0.svg);} .css-1yg7sui{margin:0rem;font-size:1.625rem;line-height:1.2;font-family:Velo,Velo-fallback,Velo-roboto,Velo-local,Georgia,Serif;text-align:center;margin-left:0;}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-1yg7sui{font-size:1.5rem;line-height:1;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-1yg7sui{font-size:1.6875rem;line-height:1.1;}}@media(min-width: 61.25rem){.css-1yg7sui{font-size:1.875rem;line-height:1.1;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-1yg7sui{font-size:2.375rem;line-height:1.2;}}.css-1yg7sui em,.css-1yg7sui i{font-style:italic;font-family:inherit;}.css-1yg7sui b,.css-1yg7sui strong{font-family:inherit;font-weight:bold;} Rival teams should see this as an opportunity to put some real pressure on SD Worx and find ways to isolate Vollering.

On the other hand, Kopecky’s absence places more pressure on Vollering, who is in the last year of her team contract and will now carry the bulk of the team’s hopes. While a team with two leaders isn’t ideal, it never hurts to have a second leader who could stand up to the task if things were to go awry for their “A” rider. And while Fisher-Black and Vas are very talented riders, they are not Lotte Kopecky. So rather than seeing a strategy of early aggression and a sort of dual leadership, we may see SD Worx-Protime make their move much later in the race and focus on keeping Vollering safe and ahead of her competitors until they reach the mountains in Stages 7 and 8.

As for the overall excitement of the race, rival teams should see this as an opportunity to put some real pressure on SD Worx and find ways to isolate their main rider. Contenders for the yellow jersey, like Marianne Vos (Visma-Lease a Bike), Juliette Labous (dsm-firmenich PostNL), Niewiadoma, and Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (AG Insurance-Soudal-Quick-Step), can test Vollering’s defenses. Kopecky’s departure also opens the door for opportunists such as EF-Oatly-Cannondale’s Kristen Faulkner (gold medalist in the Olympic Road Race) and Liv-AlUla-Jayco’s Mavi García, among others, to chase stage wins and make their mark in a wide-open race.

Before making its way through France to culminate on the Alpe d’Huez, this edition of the Tour de France Femmes spends four days in the Netherlands and Belgium, with punchy technical stages that would have suited Kopecky. The Belgian will certainly be missed by her compatriots.

Looking a little further ahead, we still don’t know who Vollering will be racing for in 2025. Assuming the Dutchwoman is still shopping for a team, this Tour edition will prove crucial to her chances of getting a dreamy pro contract that ticks all her boxes. If she defends her title successfully, she will have better chances to end up in a team that provides the support she is looking for. This is important because, come next year, “new” contenders will arise. Such as veteran road racer and newly-crowned XCO gold medalist Pauline Ferrand-Prévot , who will arrive at the start of the 2025 Tour de France Femmes in the colors of Visma-Lease a Bike and will be eager to resume her success on the road.

As the 2024 Tour de France Femmes unfolds next week, the race will not only be a test for the riders, but also a crucial moment in Demi Vollering’s career. With Kopecky absent, Vollering will need to prove that she can carry the team and secure victories under heightened pressure.

.css-1t6om3g:before{width:1.75rem;height:1.75rem;margin:0 0.625rem -0.125rem 0;content:'';display:inline-block;-webkit-background-size:1.25rem;background-size:1.25rem;background-color:#F8D811;color:#000;background-repeat:no-repeat;-webkit-background-position:center;background-position:center;}.loaded .css-1t6om3g:before{background-image:url(/_assets/design-tokens/bicycling/static/images/chevron-design-element.c42d609.svg);} 2024 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift

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SD Worx ready to 'go to war' at Tour de France Femmes as Demi Vollering hunts yellow jersey

Updated 19/07/2023 at 17:54 GMT

Annemiek van Vleuten, beware. The Dutch superstar may have dominated the inaugural Tour de France Femmes last year, but Demi Vollering is determined to wrestle the yellow jersey off her shoulders in 2023. Vollering is part of SD Worx's super squad, who are also hoping to dominate the sprints through Lorena Wiebes. Vollering and Wiebes sat down with 'The Power of Sport' ahead of the Tour.

'We will beat some a***s there' - Vollering and SD Worx gunning for Tour de France Femmes glory

'What an emotional moment' - Van Vleuten ends career on home soil

SD Worx's Dutch rider Demi Vollering (C) cycles to cross the finish line and win the women elite race of the Liege-Bastogne-Liege one day cycling event, 142,1km from Liege, over Bastogne to Liege, on April 23, 2023. (Photo by Tom Goyvaerts / Belga / AFP)

Image credit: Getty Images

'A nice way to say goodbye' - Van Vleuten reveals final races before retirement

12/08/2023 at 10:29

UCI Cycling World Championships: Schedule, big names and TV coverage

03/08/2023 at 08:55

'Huge disappointment' – Van Vleuten not at 'normal level' in Tour defeat

30/07/2023 at 19:47

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Tour de France Femmes Contenders Who Want Demi Vollering’s Yellow Jersey—and Could Steal It

As cycling at the Paris Olympics begins to wrap up, we’re turning our eyes towards the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift , which kicks off Monday, August 12, with eight stages of racing over seven days. Racers will understandably be tired—especially many of the top contenders who just spent weeks in the Olympic Village in Paris. Who do we think could win the General Classification and finish in the coveted Yellow Jersey? There are a few obvious answers—but a couple of wild cards as well!

Preview & How to Watch Startlist

First, let’s do a quick recap of the race stages and how the race could play out. Stages 1 and 2 are flat; Stage 3 is a short individual time trial (ITT); Stages 4 and 6 are hilly; Stage 5 is flat; and Stages 7 and 8 are mountain stages. It’s likely that the Yellow Jersey will be held by a sprinter for the first two stages, and then the ITT may put one of the overall contenders into the Yellow. The ITT is short—just under seven kilometers—which means that win times will matter, but will likely only be seconds apart for the top riders, so it won’t make or break the race. And with a couple of hilly stages plus two mountain stages to finish the race, the Yellow Jersey could easily move around between Stages 3 and 8.

Ultimately, this year’s race is well-designed for the yellow jersey to bounce around plenty, which should make for exciting viewing.

Who are the top contenders for the Yellow Jersey?

The reigning champion: demi vollering.

Obviously, Demi Vollering (SD Worx Protime) is the rider everyone is looking at for the TDFF win this year. She’s the reigning champion, and while this season has been less dominant for the racer when it comes to one-day races, she has won every stage race that she’s started. And without her teammate Lotte Kopecky on the start list, she may actually have an advantage, since Kopecky was her main competition last year, and the team had a tricky time working for two riders in GC contention.

Gravel queen: Kasia Niewiadoma

Canyon//SRAM’s Kasia Niewiadoma has been *this* close to Tour de France Femmes glory for the last two years. She had a good break this season and plenty of altitude training, and while she didn’t have an amazing performance at the Olympics—like Vollering—that could be a sign that she still has plenty left in the tank for the TDFF. She’ll definitely be a contender in the mountain stages, so if she can just keep her GC standing decent the first few stages, she has a shot.

Giro d’Italia winner: Elisa Longo Borghini

The Lidl-Trek racer won the Giro d’Italia Women overall by mere seconds last month, and the team tactics on display from her team showed that they’re on another level this season. However, Niewiadoma and Vollering weren’t in attendance there, so it will be interesting to see how the dynamic changes with the favorites back on the start line.

The GOAT: Marianne Vos

Admittedly, we know that the Visma-Lease a Bike rider almost certainly won’t be able to compete as the race starts getting hillier. But after her silver medal Olympic showing, we’re betting she’ll be in contention to wear the yellow jersey for one of the first stages because there’s still no one tactically better when it comes to a sprint.

Olympic medalist: Grace Brown

Like Vos, it’s unlikely that she’ll end up in the yellow at the end of the week. But after her Olympic gold in the ITT, she’s likely gunning for the ITT win on day 3, so if she can stay in the lead group and not lose time for Stages 1 and 2, she could move into the yellow on Stage 3.

Green, White, and Polka-Dot Jersey Contenders

Like the Tour de France Hommes , the Tour de France Femmes also has green, white, and polka-dot jerseys available. Green is the sprinter’s jersey, won by collecting sprint points during each stage. White is the young rider jersey for the top Under-26 racer. And the polka dot jersey belongs to the Queen of the Mountains, a race that won’t heat up until mid-week when the climbing starts.

Green Jersey (Sprints Classification): Marianne Vos just took home silver at the Olympics in a wicked sprint, and the Tour de France Femmes is a hugely meaningful race to the GOAT. She’s likely looking for some early-stage wins on the first two flat stages, so we might see her briefly in yellow before we see her in green. But she’ll have plenty of competition with Lorena Wiebes as well as Elisa Longo Borghini, who will still be riding high from her GC win at the Giro d’Italia Women last month.

White Jersey (Best Young Rider): Neve Bradbury of Canyon//SRAM had a great Giro d’Italia Women’s race, including a stage win. She’ll be supporting Niewiadoma, which will likely put her in a good position to stay toward the top of the GC, especially if she can hang on in the mountain stages.

Polka-Dot (Mountains Classification): It’s a toss-up between Vollering and Niewiadoma. Both are fantastic climbers and since both are also yellow jersey contenders, we expect them to be up in the front on the final two stages, much like last year.

The Stage Hunters

Kristen Faulkner: The Olympic Gold Medalist (!) will be on the startline with EF-Oatly-Cannondale and, assuming that road and track racing at the Olympics doesn’t leave her too tired, she could very well be a contender for a stage win. And it’s safe to say that EF will be fully behind her with a huge sense of pride in having the Olympic champ on their squad.

Blanka Vas: After a fourth place in Paris (getting outsprinted by her teammate Kopecky, who hilariously told the Olympic reporters, “I’m really sorry for Blanka Vas, she’s my teammate, and she’s a really nice girl. I was fourth three years ago, and it’s the worst place you can be.” Ouch.) Vas is likely going to be gunning for a win if her team allows it.

Lorena Wiebes: Fine, SD-Worx Protime does have two riders who could be in GC contention despite Kopecky not being on the start list. Wiebes is a fantastic sprinter and could certainly take a stage win or two.

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Demi Vollering "extremely determined to do the double" and retain Maillot Jaune at Tour de France Femmes

Demi Vollering secured a sensational victory at the 2023 Tour de France Femmes , taking the Maillot Jaune by a dominant margin of over three minutes from her own teammate, Lotte Kopecky. This Monday, the 2024 edition will start and Vollering will attempt to go again.

"There’s no doubt that more people know my name now, that people know what I’ve achieved, but I don’t feel that my daily life has been turned upside down by this success, and that’s fine. What I really appreciate is that that performance has the power to inspire," Vollering reflects of her Tour triumph last year, in conversation with Velo . "Just a few days ago, a young girl asked me if she could take a selfie with me, then thanked me for the way that I’d raced at the Tour. She liked the way I went on the offensive and that’s obviously extremely gratifying."

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Having come a close second to the great Annemiek van Vleuten the year prior, finally winning the Maillot Jaune tastes even sweeter to Vollering. "I immediately fell under the spell of the Tour de France, as much for the quality of its organization as for what it immediately represented for women’s cycling . Because the very nature of this stage race suits me, I very quickly made it a clear career objective," she explains. "And just because I was lucky enough to win the last edition doesn’t mean I’ve had my fill, believe me!"

As an added source of incentive this time around, the Tour gets underway in Vollering's home nation of the Netherlands. "Yes, it’s going to be exceptional! I was born in Zoetermeer, between Rotterdam and The Hague. On the first stage, which will link these two cities, I’ll really be very much riding at home. A lot of my friends and family will be able to see me race by from the corner of their streets…or almost. Racing isn’t always easy, but I’m really going to try to make the most of these first three stages in my home country," she previews. "I know the region’s roads like the back of my hand, and I know that it’s going to be demanding, even though there’s not much climbing, and nervous too because of all of the bends and subsequent accelerations. Women’s cycling is extremely popular in The Netherlands, and I think we can be proud of the fact that we’re hosting the start of the world’s greatest race!"

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This year, the riders also have to face the unenviable task of the mythical Alpe d'Huez. As the premier climber in the women's World Tour however, Vollering doesn't face the challenge afraid. "It really is a myth!" Vollering says. "After riding up Mont Ventoux, I’ve always said to myself that one day I’d tackle this iconic climb, and now the Tour de France is offering me the opportunity! On the men’s Tour de France, the Dutch supporters create a great atmosphere on one of the bends, which has been nicknamed Dutch corner. I hope we’ll see the same fervour when we head up there on 18 August!"

As defending champion though, Vollering this time comes with a target on her back. "I can’t deny that it raises expectations in the sense that a lot of people think it’s logical for you to repeat the same performance. And we all know that things aren’t that simple in sport," she concludes. "But as I’m also extremely determined to do the double, it doesn’t really bother me. I also know that I generally perform well in these situations. Having a clear and confirmed goal that you fight for every day helps you once you’re racing."

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Sun 11 Aug 2024

Sat 10 Aug 2024

JO de Paris 2024 - Volleyball : La France conserve son titre en battant la Pologne en trois sets ! | Résultats

Photo de 2024 Getty Images

L'équipe de France de volleyball hommes a réussi un exploit rarissime en conservant son titre olympique ce samedi 10 août à l' Arena Sud de Paris en venant à bout des Polonais, pourtant numéros 1 mondiaux.

Exactement comme en demi-finale, les Bleus se sont imposés en trois sets secs (25-19, 25-20, 25-23).

Les joueurs d' Andrea Giani rééditent ainsi leur exploit de Tokyo 2020 où il avaient remporté l'or. Une performance qui ne s'était plus produite depuis le doublé des États-Unis ( Los Angeles 1984 , Séoul 1988 ) et que seulement trois équipes ont désormais réussi, l'URSS étant la première à l'avoir fait en 1964 et 1968.

Revivez la finale de volley France-Pologne aux JO de Paris 2024 .

LIRE AUSSI - Toutes les statistiques de France-Pologne en finale de volleyball hommes aux JO de Paris 2024

La patate de Pencran de Barthélémy Chinenyeze

Lorsque le match démarre, on croirait que les Français n’ont pas quitté le parquet depuis la demi-finale monumentale contre l’Italie. Impressionnants dans tous les secteurs, ils sont injouables : Earvin Ngapeth colle un ace (7-6), Barthélémy Chinenyeze conclut un rallye d’une courte arrière d’école (14-10) et c’est encore lui qui envoie une patate de Pencran dans les trois mètres (16-11).

Les Polonais sont déboussolés, le blondinet Tomasz Fornal touche la tribune opposée sur une attaque pourtant à sa portée, Norbert Huber envoie un service du côté de la lune (20-15). La salle s’enflamme quand, sur un nouveau rallye, Jean Patry offre le premier set aux siens (25-19).

LIRE AUSSI - Résultats complets du volleyball aux JO de Paris 2024

Le block impérial de l'équipe de France

« Allumez le feu, il suffira d’une étincelle !! » de l’incontournable Johnny Hallyday retentit dans l’arène au début du deuxième set, mais le feu est déjà bien allumé. Cependant les hommes de Nikola Grbic ont bien l’intention de l’éteindre. Un ace de Wilfredo Leon et un block sur Ngapeth leur donnent une petite marge (4-6). Les numéros 1 mondiaux sont dans leur match, même si Fornal prend deux blocks consécutifs d’ Antoine Brizard en un-contre-un (13-12).

Mais dans le money time, le pointu Bartosz Kurek se rate complètement sur deux attaques (20-19 et 22-20), les Polonais craquent face à la pression constante des garçons d’ Andrea Giani et de la salle. Trévor Clévenot est encore une fois intenable : en défense, en attaque et même au service, le natif de Royan fait vivre un calvaire aux champions d’Europe 2023 (25-20).

Earvin Ngapeth s'amuse

Les Français ne baissent pas de régime au début du troisième set. Les Polonais s’accrochent tant qu’ils peuvent mais le contre bleu est impassable. Leon , dont on connaît pourtant la hauteur, prend deux blocks de suite (4-3) et Kurek rencontre lui aussi le mur tricolore (7-5). Ngapeth s’amuse comme un petit fou et y va de sa quéquette dos au filet (14-12).

Pourtant les Blancs et Rouges restent dans le match et haussent leur niveau de jeu (15-17). Mais voilà, les coéquipiers de Ngapeth sont inprenables. L’attaquant de Modène réussit une défense incroyable que Patry conclut au filet (17-17).

À ce stade, plus rien ne peut arrêter la France. La salle est en ébullition et en communion complète avecc les joueurs. La fin du set est presque anecdotique, les Polonais sont groggy. Les Français l'emportent 25-23 et conservent leur titre. À peine croyable. La salle explose littéralement de joie et Que je t'aime est hurlée par les milliers de fans présents. L'ambiance est surréaliste, les Français dansent sur le parquet et chantent en cœur Freed from Desire avec le public.

« Je n’ai pas les mots. On ne s’attendait pas à ça. On ne s’attendait pas à battre les Italiens 3-0, on ne s’attendait pas à gagner 3-0 ce soir. Le fait de gagner à Paris devant tout ce public, la famille, les amis, c’est complètement dingue. C’est indescriptible », déclarait un Chinenyeze encore sous le choc après le podium.

Même son de cloche chez Ngapeth , qui savoure au maximum : « C’est un moment très particulier, il y avait la famille, les amis. Mon père avait des places, il était tout en haut de la tribune et il a terminé au bord du terrain… Voilà, on l’a fait, on a réussi, on s’est vraiment préparés pour ça, ça a été un combat quotidien. Je suis vraiment fier de cette équipe. C’est un groupe spécial. »

Programme et résultats de l'équipe de France de volleyball hommes aux JO de Paris 2024

Tour préliminaire - groupe a.

• France 3-2 Serbie
• France 3-0 Canada
• France 2-3 Slovénie

Quarts de finale

• France 3-2 Allemagne

Demi-finale

• Italie 0-3 France
• France 3-0 Pologne

LIRE AUSSI - Médailles de la France aux JO de Paris 2024

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