Le Tour de France Femmes 2023 – Preview

In its second edition only, Le Tour de France femmes has already established itself as the most prestigious cycling race in the women’s calendar. Everyone wants to be part of it, everyone dreams of a stage win but only one can take home le maillot jaune.

8 stages long, this year’s edition innovated with not only the mythic Col du Tourmalet but also a final individual time-trial at Pau.

The Teams

AG INSURANCE-SOUDAL QUICK-STEP

BENITO Mireia
BOOGAARD Maaike
BORGSTRÖM Julia *
GHEKIERE Justine
HENTTALA Lotta
KASPER Romy
MOOLMAN-PASIO Ashleigh

The wolf pack sister team is having a brilliant season with its new signings. Julia Borstrom and Justine Ghekiere are 2 very strong and resilient riders who can light things up from distance and hold on until the finish (Lotte Kopecky style). Lotta Henttala has been very impressive on her return season finishing second to Elisa Balsamo in 2 consecutive sprints before her season got interrupted with illness. We do expect her team to set her up in sprints finale, nevertheless.

The team/s main ambition is surely a podium if not better with the ever-green Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio. The South African has postponed her retirement after finding new purpose in her team where she has been excellent. She certainly believes in her chances in challenging the two giants who are Demi Vollering and Annemiek van Vleuten.

ARKÉA PRO CYCLING TEAM

ARMITAGE Megan
COLJE Maaike
DE FRANCESCO Danielle
FOUQUENET Amandine *
KOLESAVA Anastasiya
LE DEUNFF Marie-Morgane *
MORICHON Anaïs

The Breton team is showing up with a bunch of very young and aggressive riders. Megan Armitage, Amandine de Francesco and Anais Morichon are very likely to be trying their luck in echapées. Marie-Morgane Le Deunff is expected to have a go at sprint finishes.

CANYON/SRAM RACING

BAUERNFEIND Ricarda
CHABBEY Elise
NIEWIADOMA Katarzyna
PALADIN Soraya
ROY Sarah
SKALNIAK-SÓJKA Agnieszka
TOWERS Alice *

New cycling sensation Antonia Niedermaier will be sorely missed after winning a might stage in the Giro Donne and then crashing the next day. All eyes and hope will be on the Katarzyna Niewiadoma. It can reliably be said that she will be leading the charge with her attacking style every day and be aiming for another final podium after finishing third last year. Ricarda Bauernfeind, Elise Chabbey and Soraya Paladin are all good riders on their own who would be hoping for successful solo effort while also protecting their leader.

Sarah Roy is the one they will be working for in sprint finish with Agnieszka Skalniak-Sojka as a good back-up with her sprint punchy style.

CERATIZIT-WNT PRO CYCLING

ALONSO Sandra
ARZUFFI Alice Maria
BERTON Nina *
FIDANZA Arianna
KERBAOL Cédrine *
LACH Marta
SCHWEINBERGER Kathrin

This is a team we all grew fond of watching with their multi prongs weapon.

Sandra Alonso is back after a long lay-out and will be trying to light things up in attacks. Marta Lach and Kathrin Schweinberger are 2 classics type riders who will enjoy the parcours of this Race. Arianna Fidanza should be the main sprinter.

Finally, Cedrine Kerbaol is the rider to watch. The young French rider has displayed exceptional climbing skills and is serious contender for the maillot blanc.

COFIDIS WOMEN TEAM

ALZINI Martina
COSTON Morgane
KERN Spela
KOPPENBURG Clara
NEYLAN Rachel
PILOTE-FORTIN Gabrielle
TALBOT Josie

It is a real shame that newly crowned French champion, Victoire Berteau will not be part due to commitment in the track events. As such, Clara Koppenburg will be the main rider for the team.

EF EDUCATION-TIBCO-SVB

BORGHESI Letizia
EWERS Veronica
HAMMES Kathrin
JACKSON Alison
POIDEVIN Sara
VALLIERES MILL Magdeleine *
WILLIAMS Georgia

Just as their male counterpart, this is a team who raced with no complex. They are never afraid to form breakaways and were well rewarded with Alison Jackson’s victory at Paris-Roubaix.

Veronica Ewers will be the rider to watch for the general. She usually excels when it comes to undulating terrain while she might find the Tourmalet a little too hard. Letizia Borghesi should be the designated sprinter.

FDJ-SUEZ

ADEGEEST Loes
BROWN Grace
CAVALLI Marta
GUAZZINI Vittoria
LUDWIG Cecilie Uttrup
MUZIC Evita
WIEL Jade

We just cannot hate this team. Surprisingly Clara Copponi is not at the start, this means that all sprinting duties will be in the hand of Vittoria Guazzini.

Jade Wiel is an interesting and very daring rider who will not step away from breakaway attempts. Grace Brown is expected to try late attacks.

Fan’s favourite Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig will be hoping to repeat her exploit of winning another stage. She will prefer the punchy finishes rather than the long climbs though. Evita Muzic’s form has been a real roller coaster this season, but we expect her to do her best at home;s tour.

Finally, Marta Cavalli seemed to be getting back to her best in the Giro Donne after her horrible crash at last year’s tour. She then crashed on a dangerous descent in the Giro and her current form should nevertheless be good enough for a top 10 final GC.

FENIX-DECEUNINCK

CANT Sanne
DE WILDE Julie *
KASTELIJN Yara
KUIJPERS Evy
SCHWEINBERGER Christina
TRUYEN Marthe
VAN DE VELDE Julie

Julie De Wilde is the main sprinter and go to rider for the team. She will have the support of Christina Schweinberger and Julie Van de Velde. Yara Kasteljin is a very experience GC rider and is the one to watch when the road elevates.

HUMAN POWERED HEALTH

BARNES Alice
CHRISTIE Henrietta *
CHRISTOFOROU Antri
CORDON-RAGOT Audrey
MALCOTTI Barbara
VAN ‘T GELOOF Marjolein
YONAMINE Eri

In the absence of Daria Pikulik, Marjolein Van’t Geloof will be the main sprinter. Henrietta Christie and especially, La Reine de Bretagne Audrey Cordon-Ragot will be enjoying their free electron role and aim for a stage win.

ISRAEL-PREMIER TECH ROLAND

DELBAERE Fien
DRONOVA Tamara
EKLUND Nathalie
HARTMANN Elena
STANNARD Elizabeth
STEELS Claire
VIECELI Lara

Tamara Dronova is the team’s reliable sprinter when it comes to sprints. Claire Steels has shown exceptional form in the past month and can be expected to fight out for top 10 stage finished on harder terrains.

LIDL-TREK

BALSAMO Elisa
BRAND Lucinda
DEIGNAN Lizzie
HANSON Lauretta
LONGO BORGHINI Elisa
SANGUINETI Ilaria
SPRATT Amanda

If it is something that the second-best team in the world have learned this season is not to work in bringing things back for a sprint for Team SD worx. Elisa Balsamo has been no match for Lorena Wiebes and her inclusion after a serious crash and injury 2 months ago is a surprise. Elisa Balsamo failed to win a stage at the Tour de France last year and will surely have a go in sprints when it presents itself. Lizzie Deignan and Amanda Spratt are 2 dangerous and very experienced riders who will be aiming for solo wins.

Elisa Longo Borghini left the Giro Donne early following her crash to recover. While she could mount a serious podium challenge particularly with the final ITT, she will also have plenty of opportunities on the hilly days when it gets really hard and no she does not sprint like a rock, anymore.

LIFEPLUS WAHOO

GRINCZER Natalie
LAURANCE Typhaine
RYSZ Kaja
TACEY April
VAN DER WOLF Babette *
VIGIE Margaux
WYLLIE Ella

Natalie Grinczer has shown soe decent form recently and was signed to the team and straight she goes to the Tour. Ella Wyllie is a young very brave rider who could have a top 20 final GC standings.

LIV RACING TEQFIND

ANDERSSON Caroline *
BARBIERI Rachele
DE JONG Thalita
GARCIA Mavi
KOREVAAR Jeanne
SMULDERS Silke *
TON Quinty

Rachele Barbieri is the sprinter here and Mavi Garcia the leader for the general classifications. While it is really hard to see anything of them upsetting the hierarchy and regular top 10 stage finishes would be considered a satisfying target.

MOVISTAR TEAM

BIANNIC Aude
GUTIERREZ Sheyla
LIPPERT Liane
MACKAIJ Floortje
NORSGAARD Emma
PATIÑO Paula
VAN VLEUTEN Annemiek

There will be no co-leadership duties for Lianne Lippert as it is all for queen Annemiek Van Vleuten here. The beast will be aiming for a seventh consecutive Grand Tour win before putting an end to her career. She has slowly built her up her shape and it will not be a surprise if she could match if not beat super favourite Demi Vollering.

Meanwhile, Emma Norsgaard will be doing the sprints.

ST MICHEL-MAVIC-AUBER 93

BIDEAU Sandrine
BOILARD Simone
DEMAY Coralie
FAHY Camille *
LE MOUEL Célia
MIERMONT Dilyxine
POMPANON Margot

Canadian Simone Boilard is the go to sprinter of the team and will be present for the sprints on the flat and even a little bit harder days. Sandrine Bideau and Coralie Demay are 2 courageous baroudeurs who will be showing the jersey often. Camille Fahy is a young rider who has had some promising climbing performances this season.

TEAM COOP-HITEC PRODUCTS

DALE Stine
GRANGIER India
HAUGSET Sigrid Ytterhus
JOUNIER Lucie
JØRGENSEN Tiril
NELSON Josie *
RISSVEDS Jenny

Lucie Journier is a grateful rider who will be sprinting for some top 10 finishes after finding a new home following the Zaaf cycling team disaster. Meanwhile former U23 French champion India Grangier and Stine Dale will be aiming to do their team proud on hilly stage days.

TEAM DSM-FIRMENICH

CURINIER Léa *
GEORGI Pfeiffer
JASTRAB Megan *
KOOL Charlotte
LABOUS Juliette
PEPERKAMP Esmee
UIJEN Elise

This team has some serious options to make it a great Tour. Pfeiifer Georgi is in a league of her own when it comes to tough riding and will always be a contender on the hilly stages. Megan Jastrab and Elise UIjen also share the same attributes although they might try their luvk from further far out.

It will be all for Charlotte Kool in the flat days as she is the only who proved she could beat Lorena Wiebes.

Finally, it would not be delusional of the French of dreaming of having on of their own on the final podium. Juliette Labous has majestically built her form in the Giro Donne and is certainly in better shape at the start of the Tour de France femmes.

TEAM JAYCO-ALULA

ALLEN Jessica
BAKER Georgia
HOWE Georgie
KESSLER Nina
MANLY Alexandra
PATE Amber
SANTESTEBAN Ane

It is difficult to know what to expect from this team as they missed 3 of the top performing riders of the season (Faulkner, Roseman-Gannon and Paternoster). Alexandra Manly has had a very disappointing season so far as her form of last season would put her in serious contention in those hilly punchy stages, but the form could hit at some point. Ane Santesteban is however a very reliable climber and will be on to watch on the Col du Tourmalet.

TEAM JUMBO-VISMA

HENDERSON Anna
KRAAK Amber
LABECKI Coryn
MARKUS Riejanne
SWINKELS Karlijn
VAN AGT Eva
VOS Marianne

Do not get mistaken by the lack of stage win in the Giro Donne for Marianne Vos. The goat had a complicated start to the season after surgery, but she surely has been building herself for this race. Expect her to put a royal fight with the likes of Wiebes and Kool.

Riejanne Markus is a serious GC contender, and the final ITT is all in her favour. Meanwhile Anna Henderson would love to have a crack at the Polka dot jersey and young Eva Van Agt is forced to reckon with in the mountain and that white jersey.

TEAM SD WORX

BREDEWOLD Mischa
CECCHINI Elena
KOPECKY Lotte
MAJERUS Christine
REUSSER Marlen
VOLLERING Demi
WIEBES Lorena

Are we in for another Team SD Worx show? Lorena Wiebes has exploded this season and her ability to hold on to climbs is scary! She will be hard to beat on flat and even undulating terrain. Should she be dropped, step ahead Lotte Kopecky. The Belgian will surely be jumping in the move helping her team save energy to chase.

Demi Vollering does not have much support for the mountains but that is for only one stage and remains the favourite to win the Maillot Jaune.

Marlen Reusser is an interesting rider to watch as she has shown excellent climbing abilities this season. The final Individual time trial is promised to her. A good GC will certainly depend on how much time she loses on the Tourmalet.

UAE TEAM ADQ

AMIALIUSIK Alena

BARIL Olivia
CONSONNI Chiara
GASPARRINI Eleonora Camilla *
HOLDEN Elizabeth
MAGNALDI Erica
PERSICO Silvia

This will be a complicated team to read. Chiara Consonni is the expected sprinter in the team, but we have already seen the team worked in favour of Eleonora Gasparrini over her this season. It will most probably be for Consonni for the flatter days.

Things will get even more spicy when it the route elevated for this tea. Olivia Baril, Gasparrini , Erica Magnaldi and Silvia Persico all possess attributes to get stage wins.

For the GC, it will be to whoever last longer on the Col Du Tourmalet, although Olivia Baril, Erica Magnaldi and Silvia Persico could all finish in the top 10.

UNO-X PRO CYCLING TEAM

ANDERSEN Susanne
CONFALONIERI Maria Giulia
EDSETH Marte Berg
KOSTER Anouska
LUDWIG Hannah
OLAUSSON Wilma *
OTTESTAD Mie Bjørndal

Susanne Andersen and MG Confalonieri will be sharing sprinting duties for the team. Anouska Koster is expected to have a crack at the KOM jersey.

THE ROUTE

Stage 1

The fight for the first Maillot Jaune will be mighty and beware of crashes. The 1.7km at 7.2% will put some of the heavy sprinters in trouble. But it will be taking a very committed effort right until the end to keep Wiebes and Vos away from challenging.

 The final kilometre provides no real obstacle as it is straight run in.

Contenders for stage win:

Lotte Kopecky, Elisa Longo-Borghini

Lorena Wiebes, Silvia Persico

Marianne Vos, Elisa Balsamo, Charlotte Kool

Stage 2

This is women’s cycling as we like it! Up and down terrain. As the contenders for the Maillot à pois will show up to collect the points. With Bonus seconds available with 25 km to go, except the pace to be very high.

The finish at Mauriac promises a lot. Usually, Lorena Wiebes should be out of it, but the she has shown real improvement in terms of climbing. So, you never know. But the pure punchy climbers should be the one taking it.

Contenders for stage win:

Cecilie Uttrup Ludiwg, Silvia Persico, Elisa Longo-Borghini, Demi Vollering

Katarzyna Niewiadoma, Veronica Ewers, Lianne Lippert, Lotte Kopecky

Marianne Vos, Elisa Balsamo, Lorena Wiebes

Stage 3

This should be a nailed on flat finish sprint. With some breakaways going up the road and the sprinters team working hard to chase!

Contenders for stage win:

Charlotte Kool: Lorena Wiebes

Chiara Consonni, Marianne Vos, Elisa Balsamo

Vittoria Guazzini

Other sprinters: Emma Norsgaard, Lotta Hentalla, Sarah Roy, Rachele Barbieri, Marie Morgane Le Deunff, Arianna Fidanza, Martha Lach, Letizia Borghesi, Marjolein Van’t Geloof, Tamara Dronova, Susaane Andersen, MG Confalioneri

Stage 4

This is will be a long long day that will do more damage that it will seems. Another reduced sprint is expected unless, someone like Veronia Ewers or Olivia Baril made a winning move much earlier.

Contenders for stage win:

Elisa Longo Borghini, Demi Vollering

Katarzyna Niewiadoma, Veronica Ewers

Olivia Baril, Grace Brown, Lotte Kopecky, Marlen Reusser

Stage 5

A very trick day to handle for the peloton. The short distance will most probably reward the breakaways.

Contenders for stage win:

Lotte Kopecky, Lizzie Deignan, Pfeiffer Georgi

Christine Majerus

Grace Brown

Stage 6

Only a long-range solo attack form Marlen Reusser or Chrisitine Majerus could ruin the day for the sprinters.

Contenders for stage win:

Charlotte Kool, Lorena Wiebes

Chiara Consonni, Marianne Vos, Elisa Balsamo

Vittoria Guazzini

Other sprinters : Emma Norsgaard, Lotta Hentalla, Sarah Roy, Rachele Barbieri, Marie Morgane Le Deunff, Arianna Fidanza, Martha Lach, Letizia Borghesi, Marjolein Van’t Geloof, Tamara Dronova, Susaane Andersen, MG Confalioneri

Stage 7

The queen stage is only 90km long but big day it will be as the riders take on the legends of the Col D’Aspin and Col du Tourmalet.

Contenders for stage win:

Annemiek Van Vleuten, Demi Vollering

Marta Cavalli, Elisa Longo Borghini, Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio

Kataryzna Niewiadoma, Juliette Labous

Stage 8

The recovery from the past day will have to be taken into account for this unusually long and rare solo effort.

Contenders for stage win:

Marlen Reusser

Elisa Longo Borghini, Demi Vollering, Annemiek Van Vleuten

Riejane Markus

Predictions for the final win

Demi Vollering has looked untouchable this season and only lost the Vuelta following a “peeing incident’. Yet, Annemiek van Vleuten is very experienced and has consistently been growing her form and this  could prove to be the difference on the 17km climb of the Tourmalet.

Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio should not be removed out of the equation as she certainly has lots to prove to her former team.

Elisa-Longo Borghni, Kasia Niewiadoma and Juliette Labous are the main one eyeing for a final place on the podiums. Finally, Marta Cavalli could be the surprise rider depending on how much she recovered after the Giro.

Written by: @mufcfaan (aleadout.com)
Images and profiles: A.S.O. / Tour de France Femmes by Zwift