After an absence of three decades, the world's elite women cyclists will once again compete in the pinnacle of professional road cycling - the Tour De France. Le Col-Wahoo's incredible performances this season have earned them a wildcard invitation to the Tour De France Femmes Avec Zwift. We take a look at the team line-up and stage profile.
Words: Alan Gray. Feature Image: Outdoor Perspectives/Mathis Decroux
Le Col-Wahoo's Tour De France Femmes Lineup
Le Col-Wahoo head into the race without any GC ambitions. They will instead concentrate on going all-out for stage wins. The team selection reflects this. With riders being chosen based on their strengths and the different types of stages. Team General Manager Tom Varney had this to say ahead of the TDFF.
"The Tour De France femmes is something that all the team members - riders and staff - are really looking forward to being a part of. We have a significant focus on this event and lots of extra motivation.
As we approach the Tour, we want to play a role every day. We don't have a GC leader but riders capable of shining on every one of the eight stages. "
Majo Van't Geloof
Majo is one of the powerhouses of the team. With a wealth of experience in racing at this level, she will assume the role of road captain. A vital team player, her task will be to ensure that the riders are in position on key parts of the course. Possessing a mean kick herself, don't be surprised to see Majo leading out Maike in the sprints. Or, if Maike's out of contention, launching a powerful lick of her own in search of TDFF sprint glory.
Maike van Der Duin
After claiming the sprint jersey at The Women's Tour (the team's first-ever World Tour jersey win), star sprinter Maike will lead the team on the flat stages. Together with her compatriot Majo, they will be the key to any sprint success. Maike comes into the Tour in a rich vein of form, having recently finished second in her native U23 time trial championships.
Lizzie Holden
Fresh from her success at the British national champs, Lizzie will look to be a key player when the race hits the hillier Parcours. As a specialist climber, the mountain-heavy stages 7 & 8 should suit a rider of Lizzie's talents. With the daunting prospect of a dust-choked ascent of La Super Planche Des Belles Filles being the standout feature.
Jesse Vandenbulcke
This season has seen Jesse return to the form that saw her crowned the Belgian National Champion in 2019. Highly experienced in racing at the highest level, Jesse will look to take advantage of any breakaway opportunities to unleash her powerful sprint and hopefully bag a stage victory.
Gladys Verhulst
Another rider enjoying a rich run of form is Gladys Verhulst. Already a winner of Le Col-Wahoo's highest-profile victory at Veenendaal-Veenendaal, Gladys recently finished second at the French National Road Race Championships. Similarly to Jesse, Gladys will look to get into any break. Her performances this season have proved that she can mix it with the World Tour heavyweights.
Eva Van Agt
Having made the switch from hockey, new signing Eva is still discovering the type of rider she will become. A bit of an unknown quantity in that respect, Eva will be looking to develop her strengths on the bike. Expect to see her there or thereabouts when the race heads into hillier terrain.
Le Col-Wahoo Team Bike
The bike of choice for the team is the Endurance SL R Disc. The flagship endurance bike in our range is constructed from a bespoke blend of Toray T1000 and T800 carbon fibre. Using more of the T1000 than any other bike in our endurance range allows us to produce a frame with the highest strength-to-weight ratio possible. The bike is powered by an Ultegra Di2 drivetrain and rolls along on Mavic Cosmic SLR 40 wheels fitted with Continental GP5000TL tyres.
Tour De France Femmes avec Zwift Route Profile
In direct contrast to the men's race which finishes on the Champs-Élysées, the Tour De France Femmes Avec Zwift starts in Paris. From Paris, the race heads North East across France to the finish in the Haute-Saône region on the Swiss/German border.
Stage 1 - Eiffel Tower > Champs-Élysées
The Grand Départ will see the riders start within the shadow of the Eiffel Tower. From there, they will complete 12-laps of a city centre circuit that culminates in a sprint along the vast straights of the Champs-Élysées. Being virtually pan-flat, the sprinter's teams will be licking their lips in anticipation of tasting success on the inaugural stage of the tour.
Stage 2 - Meaux - Provins
From Meaux, the race heads southward toward Melun and then east. The only climb of any note is the 1.5km Côte de Tigeaux, but given the pan-flat nature of the route, it is anticipated to be another sprint finish into Provins.
Stage 3 - Reims > Épernay
The race's first hilly stage features four categorised climbs along its 133.6km route. Starting with the Côte de Trépail 21.6km (1km at 5%) into the stage, Côte de Vertus (700m at 7%) after 79.9km and the Côte du Mesnil-sur-Oger (900m at 6.7%) at 88.1km.
The peloton will cross the finish line and battle it out for the day's only intermediate sprint at 112.6km. Then it's a short but steep ascent of the category 3 Côte de Mutigny after 117.8km. Though it may only be short at 900mm, it averages 12% and ramps up to 15% in paces. This is guaranteed to cause some splits in the field.
This stage seems tailor-made for the punchers who don't mind a few short, sharp climbs and possess a devastating kick on the uphill finishes.
Stage 4 - Troyes > Bar-Sur-Aube
Stage 4 will see riders faced with gravel sectors and short, steep climbs aplenty. From Troyes, the race heads out through the champagne wine region and Parc Natural de la Forêt d'Orient, before hitting the intermediate sprint at Bar-our-Seine (60.4km).
Expect the intensity to ramp up approximately halfway when the riders meet the gravel and climbing sectors. There are four gravel sectors in total - Chemin blanc de Celles (2.3Km), Chemin blanc des Hautes Forêt (3.2km), Chemin blanc du Plateau (4.4km and Chemin blanc de Vitry (3km). Forming a total of 12.9km of gravel.
Just to spice things up yet further, there are also five climbs interspersed in between and along the gravel sectors; Celles-sur-Ource (1.1km at 8.9%), Côte du Val Clos (900m at 8.8%), Côte de Maître Jean (1.8km at 4.4%), Côte de Vitry (900m at 6.9%) and finally, Côte du Val Perdu (1.8km at 4%).
Stage 5 - Bar-Le-Duc > Saint-Dié-Des-Vosges
A mainly flat stage sees the race transition into the mountainous Vosges region. There are two categorised climbs; Côte de Pagny-la-Blanche-Côte (1.4km at 5.5%), and the Côte de Gripport (1.3km at 5.3%). After negotiating these, there is the intermediate sprint at 114.1km, followed by a 1.5km ascent of the Col du Haut du Bois at an average of 4.9%. If a breakaway does not steal their thunder, expect the sprinter's teams to have a say in the day's outcome.
Stage 6 - Saint-Dié-Des-Vosges >Rosheim
The first of the three hilly finishing stages, stage six, should serve as an interesting appetiser before the main course and dessert of stages seven and eight. The least challenging of the three, this rollercoaster of a stage should suit the Puncheurs.
With four categorised climbs, there is plenty for the breakaway specialists to get their teeth into. The first of these, the Col d'Urbeis (4km at 3%), arrives early on the stage after just 19.2km, Côte de Klingenthal (1km at 6.1%) at 59.7km, Côte de Grendelbruch (1.2km at 8%) and the Côte Boersch (2km at 4.4%) just before the descent to the finish in Rosheim.
Stage 7 - Sélestat > Le Markestein Fellering
The Tour de France Femmes Avec Zwift is set to end with an almighty bang. The first of two mountainous finishing stages, stage 7 features three category one ascents. The first is the Petit Ballon (9.3km at 8.1%), which arrives after 48.6km. Next is the Col du Platzerwasel (7.1km at 8.3%) after 65.8km; last but not least, the highest mountain in the Vosges range - the Grand Ballon (13.5km at 6.7%).
Stage 8 - Lure > La Super Planche Des Belles Filles
The Queen stage of the Tour De France Femmes Avec Zwift promises another epic day of attacking racing. After the riders have dispensed with the small matter of the category two Côte d'Esmoulières (2.3km at 8.5%) and category one Ballon d'Alsace (8.7km at 6.9%) climbs, they are faced with a hilltop finish. But not just any old hilltop finish.
The traditional 5.9km climb to La Planche Des Belles Filles ski station averages 8.5% and maxes out at 14%. You may be forgiven for thinking that doesn't sound too bad. Towards the summit, however, the gradients reach 22% to 28%. And the torture doesn't stop there.
The final section of the climb continues past the traditional finish line and up a steep gravel ascent. At this point, the riders will simply struggle to get enough oxygen into their lungs and suffer the calf-crushing effects of lactic build-up. On top of this, they will also have to cope with wheels slipping through a lack of traction on the loose surface and choking clouds of dust thrown up by their competitors.
Le Col-Wahoo is in the midst of their best season; keep up to date with all the latest race updates in our results blog.
Discover how a team bike is born in our 'The making of a Ribble Weldtite Team Bike' blog.
Check out the Tour de France Femmes results blog for daily updates on the Le Col-Wahoo riders.