As the Tour de France Women starts this Sunday from Paris, to conclude a week later on the slopes of the Super Planche des Belles Filles,
Le Figaro
offers you a review of French chances.
To discover
The route of the Tour de France 2022
The general classification of the Tour de France
Juliette Labous (Team DSM, 23 years old)
She is the best French rider in the peloton.
And therefore the most awaited Tricolor on this Women's Tour de France.
Since the start of the season, the member of Team DSM has been gaining momentum.
After a success in the general classification on the Tour of Burgos - a World Tour event - in May, she had a very good Tour of Italy at the beginning of July by winning a stage victory on a mountainous course and finishing 9th overall.
A very good climber, able to express herself on tricky terrain and able to count on a solid team, the native of Roche-lez-Beaupré has all the qualities to be among the best women in this women's Grande Boucle.
We should find her at the top of the general classification, in the top ten, or even better.
VS'
“I'm thinking of doing a 'follower' race since my objective remains above all the general.
Some journalists say that the places between the podium and the top 10 are a bit anecdotal but in the meantime it remains a good performance.
The podium seems a little tight to me physically, a top 5 would be really great for me
, ”she explains for
Le Figaro
.
With such an objective and such a strategy, his chances of winning a stage are slim.
But Juliette Labous could well surprise us this week of racing.
Evita Muzic (FDJ-SUEZ-Futuroscope, 23)
If she is one of the best French women in stage races, the FDJ-SUEZ-Futuroscope rider will not have a completely free hand on this Women's Tour de France.
Her main task will be to support her two leaders: the Danish Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig and the Italian Marta Cavalli.
Because with these two weapons respectively 6th and 2nd in the last Tour of Italy, at the beginning of July, the French formation has two elements capable of playing for the podium and even of going to titillate the two great favorites who are Annemiek van Vleuten (Movistar) and Demi Vollering (Team SD Worx): “
We tried to set up a team, with a single objective: to play for the win.
Having two leaders gives us an advantage over the other teams
,” Le Figaro told
Le Figaro .
Stephen Delcourt, general manager of FDJ-SUEZ-Futuroscope.
The 2021 French champion, 2nd in the Tour de Burgos last May, will however have the opportunity to express herself on terrain that lends herself to her qualities, that is to say on very steep or mountainous courses: "
In depending on the circumstances, either it will have to toughen up the race, or we can go ahead.
And as on the Tour of Italy 2020 [she had won a stage victory, editor's note], if she has the opportunity to take a breakaway, she can go and win
, ”says Stephen Delcourt.
Will Evita Muzic benefit from this form of freedom?
Read alsoWhy the women's Tour de France is making a comeback
Audrey Cordon-Ragot (Trek-Segafredo, 32 years old)
Double champion of France 2022, in the road race and in the timed event, the Trek-Segafredo rider will above all have a role as a teammate, and this from the first stage this Sunday in the streets of Paris: "
With Elisa Balsamo in the sprint, we can take yellow on Sunday.
If so, I will have an important teammate job to keep
him,” she told
franceinfo: sport
.
However, the one who has just finished 3rd in the general classification of the Baloise Ladies Tour also intends to show herself by launching into blows on uneven stages in the hope, why not, of winning a stage with the tricolor jersey on the back : "
It's difficult to project yourself, but I promise you that if I have an opportunity, I will take it and the team will encourage me.
I want to shine with my tricolor jersey, even if I'm not on the Tour thanks to it, she
says.
It was planned since December to help our leaders.
It's up to me to show the public that I didn't get my place for free, that I'm important in the team, that I have qualities.
Extremely motivated, Audrey Cordon-Ragot should stand out during this week of racing.
Gladys Verhust (Le Col-Wahoo, 25)
She is not the most famous Frenchwoman but the member of the Le Col-Wahoo team could well create a surprise on this Tour de France Women.
With no favorite for the general classification within her training, the vice-champion of France had to have the opportunity to play her personal card on certain days.
Powerful, at ease on short climbs where she can let her punch do the talking and with a nice little burst of speed, she could show herself to her advantage on slightly bumpy stages: “
She made sure to be on top for the Tour de France.
There are two or three stages that correspond to it.
She can create opportunities, I'm sure.
It will be another pair of sleeves, in comparison with all the other races, there will not be many opportunities, but it is capable of it
, ”said to
DirectVélo
its trainer, the ex-professional Sébastien Chavanel.
A girl to follow closely this week.
Maeva Squiban (Stade Rochelais Charente-Maritime, 20 years old)
The promising runner from Stade Rochelais Charente-Maritime could also be one of the French surprises of this women's Grande Boucle.
Despite her lack of experience, the puncher-climber has shown this season that she can hope to shine during this week of racing.
8th in the difficult Alpes Gresivaudan Classic, 16th in the general classification of the Tour de Suisse, we should see it to its advantage as soon as the road rises, and especially at the end of the Tour de France.
If it can possibly consider a good general classification - top 25?
- however, it will not be focused on this objective, at least initially: “
We will take stock after the Reims-Épernay stage [3rd stage, Tuesday, editor's note] to see if one of our riders can aim for something in the general classification.
But at first, we do not have the ambition to aim for the general
, specifies in
Figaro
Jean-Christophe Barbotin, the general manager of the invited team
.
We know where we come from.
Our riders will be first and foremost stage chasers.
They will try to dynamite the race
.”
It is therefore in the breakaways – with the hope of raising her arms – that Maeva Squiban could shine.
But also:
Aude Biannic (Movistar Team), Sandra Lévénez (Cofidis Women Team), Coralie Demay (St Michel-Auber 93)...