Archiv der Kategorie: Frauenradsport

Giro d’Italie Donne – 1. Etappe: Cagliari ITT – 4,75 Km und 2. Etappe

Ergebnisse, Etappenrennen, Frauenradsport, , , , ,

2. Etappe:Villasimius – Tortolì – 107 Km

1 BALSAMO Elisa ITA TREK – SEGAFREDO 02:39:13
2 VOS Marianne NED TEAM JUMBO-VISMA 00:00
3 KOOL Charlotte NED TEAM DSM 00:00
4 KOPECKY Lotte BEL TEAM SD WORX 00:00
5 CONSONNI Chiara FRA VALCAR – TRAVEL & SERVICE 00:00
6 BARBIERI Rachele ITA LIV RACING XSTRA 00:00
7 BAKER Georgia AUS TEAM BIKEEXCHANGE – JAYCO 00:00
8 BASTIANELLI Marta ITA UAE TEAM ADQ 00:00
9 ZANARDI Silvia ITA BEPINK 00:00
10 TEUTENBERG Lea Lin GER CERATIZIT-WNT PRO CYCLING 00:00
11 FAHLIN Emilia SWE FDJ NOUVELLE-AQUITAINE FUTUROSCOPE 00:00
12 LELEIVYTĖ Rasa LTU AROMITALIA – BASSO BIKES – VAIANO 00:00
13 NORSGAARD Emma DEN MOVISTAR TEAM 00:00
14 LONGO BORGHINI Elisa ITA TREK – SEGAFREDO 00:00
15 ALZINI Martina ITA COFIDIS WOMEN TEAM 00:00

Gesamt:

1 BALSAMO Elisa ITA TREK – SEGAFREDO 02:44:54
2 FAULKNER Kristen USA TEAM BIKEEXCHANGE – JAYCO 00:04
3 BAKER Georgia AUS TEAM BIKEEXCHANGE – JAYCO 00:08
4 KOPECKY Lotte BEL TEAM SD WORX 00:10
5 VOS Marianne NED TEAM JUMBO-VISMA 00:12
6 LONGO BORGHINI Elisa ITA TREK – SEGAFREDO 00:13
7 VAN VLEUTEN Annemiek NED MOVISTAR TEAM 00:14
8 BRAND Lucinda GER TREK – SEGAFREDO 00:14
9 MARKUS Riejanne NED TEAM JUMBO-VISMA 00:15
10 THOMAS Leah USA TREK – SEGAFREDO 00:16
11 KOSTER Anouska NED TEAM JUMBO-VISMA 00:16
12 NORSGAARD Emma DEN MOVISTAR TEAM 00:16
13 LABOUS Juliette FRA TEAM DSM 00:20
14 BRAUßE Franziska GER CERATIZIT-WNT PRO CYCLING 00:20
15 KOOL Charlotte NED TEAM DSM 00:21

1. Etappe ITT 4,75km

1 FAULKNER Kristen USA TEAM BIKEEXCHANGE – JAYCO 00:05:46
2 BAKER Georgia AUS TEAM BIKEEXCHANGE – JAYCO 00:04
3 BALSAMO Elisa ITA TREK – SEGAFREDO 00:06
4 KOPECKY Lotte BEL TEAM SD WORX 00:06
5 LONGO BORGHINI Elisa ITA TREK – SEGAFREDO 00:09
6 VAN VLEUTEN Annemiek NED MOVISTAR TEAM 00:09
7 BRAND Lucinda NED TREK – SEGAFREDO 00:10
8 MARKUS Riejanne NED TEAM JUMBO-VISMA 00:11
9 THOMAS Leah USA TREK – SEGAFREDO 00:11
10 KOSTER Anouska NED TEAM JUMBO-VISMA 00:11
11 NORSGAARD Emma DEN MOVISTAR TEAM 00:12
12 HANSON Lauretta AUS TREK – SEGAFREDO 00:12
13 VOS Marianne NED TEAM JUMBO-VISMA 00:14
14 LABOUS Juliette FRA TEAM DSM 00:15
15 BRAUßE Franziska GER CERATIZIT-WNT PRO CYCLING 00:16

Marta Cavalli: «I have gained confidence in myself”

Etappenrennen, Frauenradsport, Tour de France, Vorschau, , ,

IN THE PELOTON ….

She is the revelation of the spring. Winner of the Amstel Gold Race by catching out the favourites before the red flame and of the Flèche Wallonne Femmes by being the strongest on the Mur de Huy, Marta Cavalli changed her profile during the Ardennes Classics. Now sure of her strength, the world n°6 confirmed this at the beginning of June with a new success at the top of the giant of Provence, the end of the Mont Ventoux Dénivelé Challenges. The 23-year-old Italian is now widely feared. She dreams of claiming the pink jersey in the Giro this summer and wants to support her teammate Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig in her quest for the general classification in the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift.

At the age of 20, Marta Cavalli made her mark by winning the Italian championships. Wearing the champion’s jersey, she started the following year to make a name for herself among the classics riders that matter: 2nd in the Flèche Brabançonne, 4th in the GP de Plouay. The newcomer to the FDJ-Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope team, who had already made a name for herself in the spring classics in 2021, 8th in the Strade Bianche, 6th in the Tour of Flanders, ended the year the same way, finishing 9th in the first edition of Paris-Roubaix Femmes.

During your climb of the Ventoux, you were seen glancing at the Tom Simpson stele. What does this victory on these slopes laden with history mean to you?
It’s a new step up for women’s cycling. We entered a new dimension. It was a great feeling to be the first to arrive at the top of a cycling monument. There was a huge turn-out of people on the side of the road. It was a great day for us.

You were born in Cremona, in Lombardy. Is that where you grew up?
Yes, and I still live there! I only leave home for the races. I know it’s not the ideal place to train. It’s very flat, the winter is cold, it’s foggy… But I like it! I don’t fancy moving at the moment.

Are you still living with your parents?
Yes, we live together.

Like Alberto Bettiol, when he won the Tour of Flanders in 2019.
Of course, sometimes it’s nice to be independent. But it’s good not to be alone at home and to have someone to help you, especially when you travel all year round. But I’m still young. I’ll probably think about it in the future, but not for the time being!

Did cycling come into your life through your father?
Yes, but it also comes from my grandfather, who loved the sport. He used to manage a youth team, about 50 years ago, and my father raced as an amateur. From the time I was 2-3 years old, I went to see him race every Sunday with my mother. There were always bicycles around. I think that made the difference!

„I knew right away that this was the sport for me. And today it’s my profession!“

How old were you when you started?
I was 11 years old. I waited a bit! I started doing artistic gymnastics and volleyball, among other things. Eventually I told my parents that I wanted to have a go. There was a small youth team near Cremona. I knew right away that this was the sport for me. And today it’s my profession!

What motivated you to start at the age of 11?
Because it was an individual sport, maybe. I wanted to show all my determination and strength in an individual sport. In the end, I learned that it was not just about that. For example, at the Ventoux, it wasn’t just my victory, but that of the entire team.

What is your first memory of the Tour?
One of the very first is Chris Froome… running on foot on the Ventoux.

Did you think about this during your race?
Yes, a little! The day before, I looked for videos of the Ventoux, to try to memorize the turns, and I also came across this one.

When you were young, did you go and watch the Giro, or other races, from the roadside?
Yes, and still today, because I still love it! In 2013, the last stage of the women’s Giro was a time trial that finished in Cremona. I went there with my father and took a photo with Marianne Vos. I look at it sometimes and think: „I was young, I knew nothing about women’s cycling and now I’m racing with Marianne!“

Did you have an idol?
Yes, Mark Cavendish. Once the Giro sprints were over, I would get on my bike and try to imitate him on the road! Maybe that’s one of the reasons I got into cycling.

Was it a dream of yours to become a professional rider?
No, I didn’t really think about it. It came naturally, year after year. When I think back, I ask myself how I ended up doing it!

Was there another profession that you wanted to do?
No, not that I can recall.

What did you study?
I was a science student in high school. I went to university but it was hard to reconcile with cycling. I had to stop. But I think I’ll go back in the future, because I like studying. For now, I have decided to put all my energy into cycling.

What does it mean to you to know that you can beat anyone in a race as tough as the Flèche Wallonne Femmes?
A lot of things. Before, I was never sure of myself and this uncertainty used to drain me of a lot of energy. Now I know I can do it. And so do the people around me. They trust me. It’s a whole new dimension. But on the other hand, nothing has changed in my life. I’m still with the same team, I want to go in the same direction. I’ve just gained confidence in myself.

Does this change your outlook for the Tour de France? Is the plan still to support Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig or will you race for yourself?
No, it’s still the same game plan. I’ll go to the Giro for the general. And I will support Ludwig in the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift. We have had a look at the final three stages, I liked them! We will have our opportunities and I am sure it will be a great experience. The team is motivated, we have already won a lot. We will go to the Tour with determination.

What would be a successful Tour?
If we can wear the Maillot Jaune for just one day, that would be great. But we also want to make a splash, to put on a show for the people and cycling.

Track racing was your entry point to the top level. Do you still compete on it?
Not really. In training sometimes, because it’s good exercise and good for the head. But having decided to improve in the mountains, it wouldn’t be a good idea to combine road and track again. Before (until 2020) I raced a lot with the national team. The track allowed me to understand what kind of efforts are made for me. I have developed technical skills there. On the track, you are always flat out and you have to make decisions quickly. This helps me on the road. I am confident when the speed is high and riding downhill. It has helped me to become a complete cyclist.

In her fourth participation in the Flèche Wallonne Femmes, Marta Cavalli took a prestigious victory, ten days after winning the Amstel Gold Race. In the middle of a classics campaign in which she burst onto our screens, Marta Cavalli played a decisive role in the 2022 edition of Paris-Roubaix Femmes, finishing in fifth place.

Marta Cavalli (FDJ-Nouvelle Aquitaine-Futuroscope)
Born 18 March 1998 in Cremona (Italy)
Professional teams: Valcar PBM (2017-2018), Valcar Cylance (2019), Valcar – Travel & Service (2020) et FDJ-Nouvelle Aquitaine-Futuroscope (2021-2022)

Major results :
• 2015: Team Pursuit, European Juniors Track Championships
• 2016: Team Pursuit, National Juniors Track Championships
• 2017: Team Pursuit, European U23 Track Championships
• 2018: Italian Road Race champion
• 2019: 1st Stage one of the Giro delle Marche en Rosa, 2nd Flèche Brabançonne, 4th GP de Plouay
• 2020: 3rd Italian Road Ace Championship, 5th Gent-Wevelgem, 10th Tour of Flanders
• 2021: 1st mixed team relay European Road Race Championships, 4th Ceratizit Challenge by la Vuelta and Chrono des Nations, 6th European Road Race Championship, 8th Strade Bianche, 8th Olympic Women’s Road Race, 9th Paris-Roubaix Femmes
• 2022: 1st Amstel Gold Race, Flèche Wallonne Femmes and Mont Ventoux Dénivelé Challenge, 4th Tour of the Basque Country, 5th Paris-Roubaix, 6th Liège-Bastogne-Liège Femmes

Distinguishing trait: „She is the most serious girl I know”, says her teammate Marie Le Net. “When the assistants suggest putting cream on her legs, she puts it on herself. She prepares her post-race snacks. She is very self-sufficient and pushes all the cursors of performance to the max.”

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Next episode:
• Ashleigh Moolman Pasio (ZAF / Teams SD Worx)

Paula Patiño: „I know Colombia has its eyes on me“ (3/5)

Etappenrennen, Frauenradsport, Tour de France, Vorschau, , ,

IN THE PELOTON ….

From the 24th to the 31st July, we will be looking at a handful of favourites for the Maillot Jaune on the Super Planche-des-Belles-Filles. Nevertheless there are many riders amongst the 144 taking to the start-line that will be looking for their moment in the sun on this historic first edition. Let’s meet 5 champions with an ambition to shine.

Paula Patiño: „I know Colombia has its eyes on me“ (3/5)

From the heights of Antioquia, Paula Patiño has developed her climbing talents to shine in stage races and hilly classics alongside Annemiek van Vleuten, her leader in the Movistar Team Women outfit. The young Colombian, who grew up as a rider with Fernando Gaviria’s father and then discovered European racing in the UCI’s World Cycling Centre, returned home to prepare for the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, where she will be the only rider from her country to chase the „sueño amarillo“ (the yellow dream).

Paula Patiño’s road to professionalism took a decisive turn with a one-year stay at the World Cycling Centre based in Aigle, Switzerland. It was „the best cycling school“ according to the young Colombian, who was then able to join Movistar. Fernando Gaviria represents the Colombian school of sprinting and was the first wearer of the Yellow Jersey of the Tour de France 2018 during his only participation. His father Hernando, at the helm of a cycling club in Antoquia, introduced Paula to competitive cycling. Rigoberto Uran has been a pioneer for the current generation of Colombian champions. He won a stage in 2017, the year he also stepped on the final podium (2nd). He’s also a mentor to Paula Patiño, who even shares training rides with Uran in Colombia.

Where do you prepare for the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift?
I’m currently in La Ceja, Antioquia. It’s where I was born and where I’ve lived all my life. I return there when my race schedule allows me. This year, I returned very recently, after staying in Spain since January. I’ll go back to Europe on June 23rd, and it will soon be time for the Giro Rosa and then the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift.

Many Colombian cycling talents come from Antioquia…
It’s a great place to ride. For example, these days, I’ve seen Sergio Higuita a lot. We have a good relationship and he also trains in Eastern Antioquia. We often meet each other and, depending on our program, we ride together a bit. Dani Martinez is around here often too. He’s not from Anitoquia, but he lives there with his wife and their kids. And there’s Rigo Uran who is from the area. So I see those three a lot and we share some training rides. Antioquia also attracts many foreign riders.

What is so good about cycling in Antioquia?
I think it comes down to the landscape, the mountains and especially the altitude. I live 2.200m above the sea. And you can ride on the flat, hilly routes or into the mountains. Antioquia is also a region with very open people. So when foreigners come here, the people will always try to help them find their way and understand the language.

And you got into cycling with a local figure…
I started with Hernando Gaviria, who is the father of Fernando Gaviria. With my brothers, we were doing all sorts of sports with the municipality programs, and Hernando is the one that really pushed me towards cycling. He had a club and he saw that I could have a talent for this. But at first, I was telling him that I didn’t see it for myself, I was saying myself that it was too hard a sport for a girl. Women cycling wasn’t as visible as it is now, it was only the men’s races that would get broadcasted. I told him I didn’t think I could do it, that there wasn’t a future there. And he was convinced that he could train me and that I could be a great rider. So one day he came to my home with an iron bike and a helmet and he told me: „Tomorrow morning I expect you at 7 for a training ride.“ I couldn’t say no anymore. The next day, I was riding with the club and he trained me until the junior ranks.

We know the Colombian fans and how they wake up early to support their riders in Europe. What is your experience with the Tour de France?
With my two brothers, we loved all sports, but it was always cycling that got us more excited. We would get up for the Grand Tours, especially the Tour. And I think that’s something that really defines the Colombian people. We are very patriotic people and cycling runs in our veins. If there’s a Colombian to watch, we get up and support any Colombian. Here, my family and everyone, they love it when I’m in Europe. They wake up at 2 or 3 AM, whatever it takes to watch the race. I think it’s lovely and it says a lot about Colombians.

Who were the idols that got you to get out of bed?
In the men’s peloton, I’ve always admired Rigo, not only because he’s Colombian, but also for the way he is. He’s always very natural. On or off the bike, it doesn’t matter if things have been going his way or not, he’s always the same person. I love what he shows us and what he teaches us. About the women, I’ve always admired Anna van der Breggen, Marianne Vos and Annemiek van Vleuten for the type of riders they are and everything they’ve accomplished. I’ve been able to race with the first two and I’m a teammate with Annemiek. She’s a great leader. At first, we were all a bit stressed when she came, because she’s number 1 in the world ranking, and we had to be up to helping her. I think she’s happy, and we’re happy as well. We’ve learned a lot from her.

What does it mean to represent Colombia in this first Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift?
I’m immensely proud. It’s one of the biggest goals, one of the biggest dreams that I had for this year. When we got aware this would happen, we all wanted to be there. The Tour de France is the biggest cycling event in the world, so to have it for the women means a lot. It’s a big achievement. To represent Colombia makes me happy and I feel a responsibility as well. I know the country has its eyes on me, that people will be thinking: ‚There’s a Colombian, we hope it will work well for her, that she will do great.‘

The Giro Rosa is a reference in Paula’s young career: she finished 8th in the overall standings in the 2020 edition, won by Anna van der Breggen. The 2022 Vuelta a Andalucia was particularly successful for Movistar: while her Cuban teammate Arlenis Sierra won two stages and the general classification, Serbia’s Jelena Eric won the third stage, and Paula was rewarded for her efforts with the 4th place in the final hierarchy. The Spanish classic contested in Irurzun, in the Basque Country, saw Paula Patiño display her ability to shine in one-day races. She takes 3rd place here, just after her teammate Sarah Gigante victoriously concluded a breakaway.

Paula Patiño (Movistar Team Women)

Born on March 29, 1997 in La Ceja (Antioquia, Colombia)
Teams: UCI WCC Women’s Team (2018), Movistar Team Women (2019-2022)

Major results :
• 2018: 1 stage of the Tour of Colombia, 4th GP de Plumelec-Morbihan
• 2019: 18th La Course by Le Tour, 20th World Championships
• 2020: 8th Giro d’Italia Donne
• 2021: 2nd Colombia Nationals, 22nd Olympic Games
• 2022: 4th Vuelta a Andalucia, 3rd Emakumeen Nafarroako, 9th Itzulia Women

Particular sign: the only Colombian in the Women’s World Tour! In the ranks of Movistar Team Women, Paula Patiño has one Latin-American teammate, Cuba’s Arlenis Sierra, five Spanish companions, and one from France, Italy, the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Serbia and Australia.

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Next episodes:
• Marta Cavalli (ITA / FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope)
• Ashleigh Moolman Pasio (ZAF / Teams SD Worx)

CERATIZIT CHALLENGE BY LA VUELTA 22: TEAMS SELECTION

Etappenrennen, Frauenradsport, Vorschau, , ,

The organizers of the CERATIZIT Challenge by La Vuelta 22 have chosen the teams that will take part in the 8th edition of the women’s race which will be held from the 7nd to the 11th of September. The most important Spanish race in the women’s World Tour calendar continues to grow and will feature five stages in total, from Marina de Cudeyo, Cantabria, to Madrid.

The following 14 UCI WorldTeams are automatically invited to the race:

Canyon//SRAM Racing (GER)
EF Education-TIBCO-SVB (USA)
FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope (FRA)
Human Powered Health (USA)
Liv Racing Xstra (NED)
Movistar Team Women (ESP)
Roland Cogeas Edelweiss Squad (SUI)
Team BikeExchange – Jayco (AUS)
Team DSM (NED)
Team Jumbo-Visma (NED)
Team SD Worx (NED)
Trek – Segafredo (USA)
UAE Team ADQ (UAE)
Uno-X Pro Cycling Team (NOR)

In addition to these 14 teams, the organizers have awarded the following wildcards:

Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling (GER)
Valcar – Travel & Service (ITA)
Team Coop – Hitec Products (NOR)
Cofidis Women Team (FRA)
Rio Miera – Cantabria Deporte (ESP)
Massi – Tactic Women Team (ESP)
Bizkaia Durango (ESP)
Soltec Team (ESP)

More information about CERATIZIT Challenge by La Vuelta: www.challengebylavuelta.com/en

TOUR DE FRANCE FEMMES AVEC ZWIFT Episode 1+2

Etappenrennen, Frauenradsport, Tour de France, Vorschau, , , ,

Episode 1/5 : Chloé Dygert: „The Tour is such a huge goal!“

IN THE PELOTON ….

From the 24th to the 31st July, we will be looking at a handful of favourites for the Maillot Jaune on the Super Planche-des-Belles-Filles. Nevertheless there are many riders amongst the 144 taking to the start-line that will be looking for their moment in the sun on this historic first edition. Let’s meet 5 champions with an ambition to shine.

One of the best track riders in recent years with seven World Champion titles and two Olympic medals, USA’s Chloé Dygert also aims to make the most of her raw power on the road. It started off in impressive fashion with the 2019 World Championships on the road, where she took the rainbow jersey in the time-trial and finished 4th of the road race. Since then, the 25-year-old star has suffered serious misfortunes with a crash in the roadside barriers at the 2020 Worlds and the Epstein-Barr virus earlier this season. Dygert says she’s been used to setbacks since she was a kid, and she’s always come back stronger. She’s now in her „last bit of rehab work“ as she aims to chase the Maillot Jaune next month with Canyon//Sram Racing.

Chloé Dygert stormed to the podiums as soon as she appeared on the international scene as a junior. A former basketball player, upset by injuries, she won the world championships in the United States in Richmond… in the time trial and in the road race. Her collection of titles and rainbow jerseys rapidly grew as she joined the Elite ranks, first on the track. In 2016, she became a world champion in the team pursuit in London. Among the many feats of her career on the track, Chloé Dygert broke the world record of the individual pursuit for the first time in 2018 at the world championships in Apeldoorn in the Netherlands. She has since improved it twice at the 2020 Worlds.

Almost three months after being diagnosed with Epstein-Barr virus, how are you?
Every day is a new day. Sometimes I’ll have really good days, and other days feel like I took three steps back. It’s been a very frustrating process but I’m just trusting those around me as we’re doing everything we can with the team, USA Cycling and my doctors. I’m in Indiana right now and tomorrow [on June14th] I fly back to Colorado Springs to do my last bit of rehab work. I’m just taking it day by day and hoping I can overcome this soon because I still have a lot of things that I want to do this season. I planned at the beginning of the year to do Nationals, Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift and the Worlds. So those are still on my list to accomplish. It’s just a matter of if my body can get there in time.

How do you hang on when you can’t be a rider?
I go back to my faith and I think of this being just God’s plan. And as much as I don’t agree with it all the time, I know that in the end I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing in his terms. I remember the first injury that I had when I was a little girl, it was a back injury. I’m very used to setbacks. It is frustrating, especially when I’m having to sit out for such a long period of time but I do think it’s an advantage to have been able to mentally overcome these physical setbacks. I struggle with it, every day, it’s not easy. But it also makes it easier when things go wrong on race days. Like, in the 2019 World Championships, when the time-trial was delayed because of the weather conditions, I remember it being such a huge deal for all the girls. For me, yes, it might have been a little bit frustrating, but I didn’t want it to affect me, because everybody is in the same boat. It’s just something that we have to adapt to and we have to overcome.

“I hope there’s gonna be time trials in the next years,
that it will just grow and become the all-time
best women’s event cycling can have.”

How did road racing enter your horizon?
I was bribed! I started mountain biking. And I was told: “If you do the Junior Nationals on the road, you can use your brother’s wheels on your mountain bike”. I was like: “Yeah! Ok, I’ll go.” That’s how I got into road, and then I went to the junior Worlds in 2015, the year before the Rio Olympics. USA Cycling had access to all my data and everything, and with that, I was put in touch with Andy Sparks at the time, the coach on the track, and he invited me out for a camp, just to see where I’d fit in and how I would perform. It got me to Rio and now I’m a dual discipline athlete.

Were you also following the sport as a fan?
I was more interested in doing things rather than watching them! In America, when you think of cycling, when you don’t know anything about it, you think of the Tour de France! So the fact that now we have a Women’s Tour de France is a huge accomplishment.

So have you been talking about the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift with your father?
Of course! I’ve been talking about it with everybody! It’s such a huge goal! It’s a goal for all these women to be part of the first ever Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift. It’s a huge step forward for all of us and I hope this is just the benchmark, the starting ground to what it’s gonna become. I hope there’s gonna be time trials in the next years, that it will just grow and become the all-time best women’s event cycling can have.

The eight stages will bring different types of challenges. How do you approach them?
We have a super strong team, so if I’m there I’m gonna do what’s good for me but also for the team. If that means I work for the team the whole time, that’s what I’m gonna do. This is such a huge opportunity. Being on the top step, it doesn’t matter if it’s me or someone else wearing our colours. It would be such an honour to be part of it and help us go for that Maillot Jaune.

How do your abilities on the track translate on the road?
I do enjoy being in a peloton and I always set my standards high. Everybody makes it sound that it’s such a hard thing, being in the peloton. I actually was told that I probably wouldn’t make it in the front group in my first European race, and that was the World Championships in Yorkshire. Lizzie Deignan said, and it stuck with me: “You either have that instinct or you don’t.” I think I have been blessed with… I know in my head where I should go. Sometimes it doesn’t always work, but at least I know. I can’t wait to race more because I do have the confidence in my performance, I do have the confidence in my training, I know I have the strength to accomplish the goals that I want to accomplish. It’s about getting the experience, the time on the bike, with the team, and really learning how to work as a team and focusing on that dynamic to pull together the win.

Chloé’s power extends to the road with a bang in 2019. At the world championships in Yorkshire, she won the time trial ahead of Anna van der Breggen and Annemiek van Vleuten. In the road race, she finished just off the podium (4th). Chloé’s winning streak came to a halt at the Imola Worlds in 2020, when a violent crash prevented her from completing her race towards another rainbow jersey. The consequences of her injuries then disrupted her 2021 season. After a long period of interruption, the American rider was able to resume competition at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. She left with 7th place in the individual time trial… and also a bronze medal on the track.

Chloé Dygert (Canyon//Sram Racing)
Born on January 1, 1997 in Brownsburg (Indiana, United States of America)
Teams: Twenty16-Ridebiker (2015-2016), Twenty20 Pro Cycling (2017-2020), Canyon//Sram Racing (2021-2022)

Major results :
• 2015: junior World champion in the road race and the ITT
• 2016: World champion in the team pursuit, silver medalist in the team pursuit at the Olympic Games
• 2017: World champion in the individual and team pursuits, Pan American champion in the ITT
• 2018: World champion in the individual and team pursuits
• 2019: World champion in the ITT, Pan American champion in the ITT, winner of Joe Martin Stage Race
• 2020: World champion in the individual and team pursuits
• 2021: USA champion in the ITT, bronze medalist in the team pursuit at the Olympic Games

Distinctive sign: with 1m75 and 67 kg, Chloé Dygert is easily noticed, even when she does not wear a rainbow jersey. “I will never climb better than girls who are 50 pounds lighter than me but I do everything to be the best rider possible.”

Juliette Labous: „I feel the pressure mounting“ (2/5)

As one of France’s promising up-and-coming cyclists since the junior category, Juliette Labous has been rising a little higher each year in the hierarchy of the best female climbers. At 23 years of age, she carries on her shoulders the greatest French hopes for a good result in the general classification, provided she is chosen by her DSM team, which is not in doubt. She feels ready to aim for the Top 5 in this first Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, a year after she finished seventh in the Giro Rosa. The Bisonta native has just gotten a boost of confidence after winning her first World Tour race, the Tour of Burgos, in mid-May, just before her training stage in Tignes (25 May to 15 June).

BMX, mountain biking, cyclocross… Juliette Labous experimented on all types of terrain before becoming a professional on a road bike. In the youth categories, she was even one of the winners.
It was in the mud of the French championships in Pont-Château that Juliette Labous won her first tricolour jersey, then in the junior category. Still, in the junior category, it was then on a global scale that Juliette Labous made her mark, with a bronze medal in the time trial at the 2016 Doha Worlds.
You were born in Besançon and have always lived in the area, but Labous is a Breton surname (pronounce the S), and it was in Finistère, in Kerlouan, that your brother taught you how to ride a bicycle on the paved terrace of a gîte.
Yes, I must have been three years old. I remember falling into a flower pot! There were a few falls, but then it was all over, and I’ve never stopped since. Every summer, we spent a week in Finistère. My paternal grandfather is from there. But otherwise, I’m franc-comtoise!

You have a sister, ten years older, and a brother, five years older. It was thanks to him that you developed a passion for cycling.
Yes, Quentin made me want to do it. I followed him everywhere. He was my role model! Quentin started with BMX, and I followed him. It was the same for mountain biking and then for the road. Our parents supported us but never pushed us. One day they brought in trucks to lay down soil to turn our garden into a mini-BMX track!

Your brother stopped his studies at 18 to give himself a chance to go pro.
Yes, school no longer suited him. It was now or never, but it didn’t work out, but it could have.

By achieving this yourself, do you feel fulfilling a dream for two?
A little bit. Yes and no. My brother taught me a lot and always gave me the right advice. He wasn’t lucky enough to meet the right people and for everything to go smoothly, which was my case.

You were trained at the Besançon hopefuls centre, under the supervision of Matthieu Nadal, before joining the professional ranks as soon as you left the juniors with your current team. Was this the very first team to contact you?
Yes, they did after the Richmond Worlds, when I was a J1. The team’s sporting director had contacted me on Facebook. I didn’t know at first if it was real! He arranged for me to do training camps at the beginning of J2, and our relationship developed naturally. They took youngsters to the „Talent Days“ scouting camp every year. It went well, and I won a stage at Albstadt in the Nations Cup. After that, they said to me: „You are welcome in the team!” FDJ contacted me, but it was practically a done deal with Liv-Plantur (the former name of Sunweb and Team DSM). I wanted to join them because they were a foreign team, and I wanted to experience the Dutch cycling culture. It was a dream; there was little question about it.

At the time, Marianne Vos was a particular inspiration to you.
Yes, because she won everything! Women’s cycling didn’t get much media coverage in those days. In the few races we saw, it was her or Pauline Ferrand-Prévot. Julie Bresset also inspired me with her Olympic title in London (in mountain biking). I had my idols in BMX when I was younger, like Laetitia le Corguillé. I took a photo with her when I was very young. I ran into Laetitia again two years ago during a seminar in Dijon. She and I took another picture together and had a good laugh. I learned that she had named her daughter Juliette!

As a child, could you identify with the male riders watching the Tour?
No, not really. I liked watching, but as there were no girls, I couldn’t say I wanted to do it. It was like becoming a professional; the idea didn’t come until later. But I went to see the Tour when it passed by my place. It happened two or three times. I remember the time trial in Besançon in 2012. We went to ride the day before to try to see the pros! It left an impression on me. There is another thing too: during a training camp with the Franche-Comté committee, Sandrine Guironnet took us to see the Route de France in Arc-et-Senans… I recently spoke to Evita Muzic about it because she was there too. Watching all those female teams motivated me. I had the impression that they were pros, even if, at the time, this was not the case.

You will be the best French chance for the general classification, to aim for a top 5. How do you feel about the pressure you’ll be under with a month left to go before the race?
I can feel it starting to mount. I am hearing more about it from the general public to those around me, but I think I’m ready for it. I was the only representative at the Olympics last year, where I was already feeling the pressure. Generally speaking, it’s not something that holds me back. It doesn’t scare me too much.

Have you talked with Romain Bardet about this? He has been in this role for a long time and has also ridden for Team DSM since last year?
No, but there would indeed be something to talk about! We talk sometimes. It was complicated last year because of Covid and the bubbles to be respected. At the last meeting with the men’s team, we had a good chat with all the French riders, including the newcomers, Romain Combaud and Léa Curinier.

Do you have any idea what your friends and family have in store for you for the two stages in the Vosges? La Planche des Belles Filles is only 100 kilometres from Besançon.
No, but I think there will be a lot of people! It’s going to be something special.

Do you have a fan club?
No, not officially!
But you can count on the support of your parents. Your brother told us that they have said they only want to follow a few stages. But he thinks they are lying and will, in fact, do the whole thing!
It’s not impossible! I don’t think they will be there in Paris, it’s a bit difficult, even if only logistically. I believe they will be too eager to come after watching a stage or two on TV. They have already deviated from their initial plan! At first, they were only talking about the last three stages. They are starting to say they could come and help the team on the white paths of the fourth stage!

Juliette Labous‘ climbing skills coexist perfectly with her riding abilities. For example, she beat Audrey Cordon-Ragot and Aude Biannic in the French time trial championships in 2020. In 2021, Juliette Labous confirmed her ability to compete with the best in the time trial: 9th at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, then 6th at the World Championships in Bruges. The Flèche Wallonne is one of Juliette Labous‘ favourite events. In 2021, she finished 6th at the top of the Mur de Huy.

Juliette Labous (Team DSM)
Born 4 November 1998 at Besançon (France)
Teams: Sunweb (2017 to 2020), Team DSM (2021-2022)

Major results :
• 2014: French Cadette Road Champion
• 2015: French junior Time Trial champion, 4th in the European Junior Championship, French Junior Cyclo-Cross Champion.
• 2016: French Junior Time Trial and Road Race Champion, 3rd in the European and World Time Trial Championships.
• 2017: 4th overall Tour de Feminin
• 2018: French U23 Time Trial champion, 7th overall Tour de Yorkshire
• 2019: 1st Young Rider Classification Giro Rosa (11th overall), 3rd Overall Tour de Bretagne
• 2020: French Elite and U23 Time Trial Champion, 6th in the European Time Trial Championship, 8th in Liège-Bastogne-Liège Femmes
• 2021: 2nd overall Women’s Tour, 6th Flèche Wallonne Femmes and World Time Trial Championship, 7th overall Giro Rosa, 9th in the Tokyo Olympic Games Time Trial
• 2022: 1st overall Vuelta a Burgos, 5th overall Flèche Brabançonne, 11th overall Trofeo Binda and Amstel Gold Race, 12th overall Liège-Bastogne-Liège Femmes

Particular sign: Gifted at school, little Juliette Labous skipped a grade (CE1) and dreamed of becoming an astrophysicist. She had a map of the constellations projected onto her bedroom ceiling, and during clear nights, she observed the stars through a telescope.

Next episodes:
• Paula Patiño (COL / Movistar Team Women)
• Marta Cavalli (ITA / FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope)
• Ashleigh Moolman Pasio (ZAF / Teams SD Worx)

Internationale LOTTO Thüringen Ladies Tour – Etappe 6

Ergebnisse, Etappenrennen, Frauenradsport, , ,

Altenburg – 104 Km

1 MANLY Alexandra AUS TEAM BIKEEXCHANGE – JAYCO 02:36:29
2 LACH Marta POL CERATIZIT-WNT PRO CYCLING 00:00
3 ZANARDI Silvia ITA BEPINK 00:00
4 GÅSKJENN Ingvild NOR TEAM COOP – HITEC PRODUCTS 00:00
5 ROSEMAN-GANNON Ruby AUS TEAM BIKEEXCHANGE – JAYCO 00:00
6 CANT Sanne BEL PLANTUR-PURA 00:00
7 HOLDEN Elizabeth GBR LE COL – WAHOO 00:00
8 GOOSSENS Marthe BEL BELGIUM 00:00
9 MORICHON Anais FRA ARKÉA PRO CYCLING TEAM 00:00
10 GHEKIERE Justine BEL PLANTUR-PURA 00:00

Endstand:

1 MANLY Alexandra AUS TEAM BIKEEXCHANGE – JAYCO 18:19:31
2 LACH Marta POL CERATIZIT-WNT PRO CYCLING 00:33
3 GERRITSE Femke NED PARKHOTEL VALKENBURG 00:51
4 ZANARDI Silvia ITA BEPINK 00:55
5 BAUERNFEIND Ricarda GER CANYON//SRAM GENERATION 01:02
6 CANT Sanne BEL PLANTUR-PURA 01:05
7 HOLDEN Elizabeth GBR LE COL – WAHOO 01:06
8 MARTURANO Greta ITA TOP GIRLS FASSA BORTOLO 01:08
9 FRAIN Nicole AUS ROXSOLT LIV SRAM 01:12
10 GHEKIERE Justine BEL PLANTUR-PURA 01:15

Internationale LOTTO Thüringen Ladies Tour – Etappe 5

Ergebnisse, Etappenrennen, Frauenradsport, , ,

Gotha – 133 Km

1 BIRIUKOVA Yuliia UKR ARKÉA PRO CYCLING TEAM 03:31:41
2 MANLY Alexandra AUS TEAM BIKEEXCHANGE – JAYCO 00:04
3 LACH Marta POL CERATIZIT-WNT PRO CYCLING 00:04
4 MORICHON Anais FRA ARKÉA PRO CYCLING TEAM 00:07
5 CANT Sanne BEL PLANTUR-PURA 00:07
6 FRAIN Nicole AUS ROXSOLT LIV SRAM 00:07
7 ZANARDI Silvia ITA BEPINK 00:07
8 BAUERNFEIND Ricarda GER CANYON//SRAM GENERATION 00:07
9 GERRITSE Femke NED PARKHOTEL VALKENBURG 00:07
10 GHEKIERE Justine BEL PLANTUR-PURA 00:07

Gesamt:

1 MANLY Alexandra AUS TEAM BIKEEXCHANGE – JAYCO 15:43:14
2 LACH Marta POL CERATIZIT-WNT PRO CYCLING 00:31
3 GERRITSE Femke NED PARKHOTEL VALKENBURG 00:43
4 ZANARDI Silvia ITA BEPINK 00:47
5 BAUERNFEIND Ricarda GER CANYON//SRAM GENERATION 00:50
6 CANT Sanne BEL PLANTUR-PURA 00:53
7 HOLDEN Elizabeth GBR LE COL – WAHOO 00:54
8 MARTURANO Greta ITA TOP GIRLS FASSA BORTOLO 00:56
9 BREDEWOLD Mischa NED PARKHOTEL VALKENBURG 00:59
10 FRAIN Nicole AUS ROXSOLT LIV SRAM 01:00

Internationale LOTTO Thüringen Ladies Tour – Etappe 4

Ergebnisse, Etappenrennen, Frauenradsport, , ,

Schleiz – 127 Km

1 MANLY Alexandra AUS TEAM BIKEEXCHANGE – JAYCO 03:30:56
2 BAUERNFEIND Ricarda GER CANYON//SRAM GENERATION 00:00
3 LACH Marta POL CERATIZIT-WNT PRO CYCLING 00:00
4 GERRITSE Femke NED PARKHOTEL VALKENBURG 00:00
5 CANT Sanne BEL PLANTUR-PURA 00:00
6 BREDEWOLD Mischa NED PARKHOTEL VALKENBURG 00:00
7 RICHIOUD Greta FRA ARKÉA PRO CYCLING TEAM 00:00
8 ZANARDI Silvia ITA BEPINK 00:00
9 GHEKIERE Justine BEL PLANTUR-PURA 00:00
10 CONFALONIERI Maria Giulia ITA CERATIZIT-WNT PRO CYCLING 00:00

Gesamt:

1 MANLY Alexandra AUS TEAM BIKEEXCHANGE – JAYCO 12:11:39
2 LACH Marta POL CERATIZIT-WNT PRO CYCLING 00:28
3 GERRITSE Femke NED PARKHOTEL VALKENBURG 00:33
4 CONFALONIERI Maria Giulia ITA CERATIZIT-WNT PRO CYCLING 00:34
5 ZANARDI Silvia ITA BEPINK 00:36
6 BAUERNFEIND Ricarda GER CANYON//SRAM GENERATION 00:37
7 CANT Sanne BEL PLANTUR-PURA 00:40
8 HOLDEN Elizabeth GBR LE COL – WAHOO 00:41
9 MARKUS Femke NED PARKHOTEL VALKENBURG 00:43
10 BREDEWOLD Mischa NED PARKHOTEL VALKENBURG 00:43

Internationale LOTTO Thüringen Ladies Tour – Etappe 3

Ergebnisse, Etappenrennen, Frauenradsport, , ,

Dörtendorf – 129 Km

1 MANLY Alexandra AUS TEAM BIKEEXCHANGE – JAYCO 03:26:57
2 LACH Marta POL CERATIZIT-WNT PRO CYCLING 00:00
3 GERRITSE Femke NED PARKHOTEL VALKENBURG 00:00
4 BAUERNFEIND Ricarda GER CANYON//SRAM GENERATION 00:04
5 HOLDEN Elizabeth GBR LE COL – WAHOO 00:04
6 CANT Sanne BEL PLANTUR-PURA 00:04
7 ADEGEEST Loes NED NETHERLANDS 00:04
8 MARTURANO Greta ITA TOP GIRLS FASSA BORTOLO 00:04
9 VAN EMPEL Fem NED NETHERLANDS 00:04
10 CONFALONIERI Maria Giulia ITA CERATIZIT-WNT PRO CYCLING 00:04

Gesamt:

1 MANLY Alexandra AUS TEAM BIKEEXCHANGE – JAYCO 08:40:53
2 LACH Marta POL CERATIZIT-WNT PRO CYCLING 00:22
3 CONFALONIERI Maria Giulia ITA CERATIZIT-WNT PRO CYCLING 00:25
4 GERRITSE Femke NED PARKHOTEL VALKENBURG 00:25
5 ZANARDI Silvia ITA BEPINK 00:27
6 HOLDEN Elizabeth GBR LE COL – WAHOO 00:31
7 CANT Sanne BEL PLANTUR-PURA 00:33
8 MARKUS Femke NED PARKHOTEL VALKENBURG 00:33
9 VAN EMPEL Fem NED NETHERLANDS 00:33
10 BREDEWOLD Mischa NED PARKHOTEL VALKENBURG 00:33

Internationale LOTTO Thüringen Ladies Tour

Ergebnisse, Etappenrennen, Frauenradsport,

2. Etappe: Gera – 100 Km

1 BAKER Georgia AUS TEAM BIKEEXCHANGE – JAYCO 02:41:58 9
2 CONFALONIERI Maria Giulia ITA CERATIZIT-WNT PRO CYCLING 00:00
3 MARKUS Femke NED PARKHOTEL VALKENBURG 00:00
4 ROSEMAN-GANNON Ruby AUS TEAM BIKEEXCHANGE – JAYCO 00:00
5 GÅSKJENN Ingvild NOR TEAM COOP – HITEC PRODUCTS 00:00
6 KASPER Romy GER GERMANY 00:00
7 MANLY Alexandra AUS TEAM BIKEEXCHANGE – JAYCO 00:00
8 BARIANI Giorgia ITA TOP GIRLS FASSA BORTOLO 00:00
9 VERHULST Gladys FRA LE COL – WAHOO 00:00
10 DOCX Mieke BEL LOTTO SOUDAL LADIES 00:00

Gesamt:

1 MANLY Alexandra AUS TEAM BIKEEXCHANGE – JAYCO 05:14:09
2 MARKUS Femke NED PARKHOTEL VALKENBURG 00:06
3 CONFALONIERI Maria Giulia ITA CERATIZIT-WNT PRO CYCLING 00:08
4 ROSEMAN-GANNON Ruby AUS TEAM BIKEEXCHANGE – JAYCO 00:12
5 ZANARDI Silvia ITA BEPINK 00:12
6 HOLDEN Elizabeth GBR LE COL – WAHOO 00:14
7 LACH Marta POL CERATIZIT-WNT PRO CYCLING 00:15
8 GÅSKJENN Ingvild NOR TEAM COOP – HITEC PRODUCTS 00:16
9 KASPER Romy GER GERMANY 00:16
10 VERHULST Gladys FRA LE COL – WAHOO 00:16

Internationale LOTTO Thüringen Ladies Tour Etappe 1

Ergebnisse, Etappenrennen, Frauenradsport,

Hof – 94 Km

1 MANLY Alexandra AUS TEAM BIKEEXCHANGE – JAYCO 02:32:27
2 MARKUS Femke NED PARKHOTEL VALKENBURG 00:00
3 ZANARDI Silvia ITA BEPINK 00:00
4 BREDEWOLD Mischa NED PARKHOTEL VALKENBURG 00:00
5 GÅSKJENN Ingvild NOR TEAM COOP – HITEC PRODUCTS 00:00
6 LACH Marta POL CERATIZIT-WNT PRO CYCLING 00:00
7 CANT Sanne BEL PLANTUR-PURA 00:00
8 HOLDEN Elizabeth GBR LE COL – WAHOO 00:00
9 CONFALONIERI Maria Giulia ITA CERATIZIT-WNT PRO CYCLING 00:00
10 ROSEMAN-GANNON Ruby AUS TEAM BIKEEXCHANGE – JAYCO 00:00
11 VERHULST Gladys FRA LE COL – WAHOO 00:00
12 RIEDMANN Linda GER GERMANY 00:00
13 KASPER Romy GER GERMANY 00:00
14 GERRITSE Femke NED PARKHOTEL VALKENBURG 00:00
15 GOOSSENS Marthe BEL BELGIUM 00:00