Matt de Neef, Loren Rowney, and Georgie Howe are on the ground at the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift. On the eve of the race, they discuss all the top contenders for the general classification and stages, plus chat with Iris Slappendel, Kim Le Court (AG Insurance-Soudal) and Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (Canyon-SRAM zondacrypto) ahead of the fourth edition of The Femmes.
[Music] Welcome back to the Wheel Talk podcast. I am your guest host for a few days, Lauren Rowy, and I am joined by a couple of my favorite Aussies. This is going to be an Aussie podcast this week, Georgie. How Yeah, Matt and I, we’re looking fantastic, aren’t we? Definitely not straight off the plane after 30 hours of travel. Um, but yeah, really happy to be here on the ground in Van for the grand part of the tours firm AX Swift. And joined by the Doulson tones, is that what Abby always says? Of the lovely Matt Den. Hello. Hello. I probably don’t sound lovely today. I’m very tired. As Georgie said, it’s been a bit of a whirlwind getting here, but uh we’re underway and yeah, very much looking forward to the next nine days of racing and those nine days. Yeah, we’re finally here. The tour to France Fem Evift. It is the day before the Grand Depart here in Bratton and um yeah, we’re on the ground. Why don’t we set the scene actually? Georgie, do you want to tell us a little bit about where we are and what we’ve been doing actually the past few hours cuz it’s a bit of nervous energy going about. We start with the start of the day when you dropped me on a run. uh with Gracie Elvin. Uh but yes, listen, as Georgie did put on running shoes and go running, which is unlike me, but uh yeah, we’re in the beautiful uh city of Vaughn. We’ve walked through the old town. It is a lovely scenescape. And then um arrived here at the chorus of Van to go through to the um yeah to go into the mix zone as the writers do all their photos, all their interviews with the press. Uh and as uh we I ran into Kate Verono, so director of women’s strategy at Swift, and she walked in and first thing she said is like, “Wow, this just keeps getting bigger and bigger every year.” And um I have to attest to that having done the race in 2023 and then coming in here in 2025 is it is a massive event. Um all the presses here from all over the world um and all the riders uh competing and it was uh yeah, you could definitely feel the the nerves like a lot of riders appearing relaxed. Um it was uh but you could see as soon as there was an outlet for some kind of energy they jumped on it. Uh as we saw when we were uh having a chat with Celle. Yeah exactly. Um I think uh yeah it’s it’s the grand depart tomorrow. It’s a later start. So th this afternoon it felt like for us I mean we were doing a lot of work here talking to a lot of writers teams team managers and getting a bit of a you know a vibe of what’s been going on. I think I I said to Georgie if we talked about contenders and what would happen here six weeks ago, I think some of the top contenders are still the top contenders, but I think there’s there’s probably a little bit of a change in in who could have done well, but due to whatever situation, illness, um injury, it’s it’s changed. And actually, that’s what this podcast is about is we’re going to dive a little bit into who the contenders are here for for the overall win, but then we might get into a little bit of a discussion about who we think are really going to be the stage hunters because obviously not every team can come here and win the the tour to France FEM. And we’ve heard it from from team managers and directors that, you know, if you’re not winning a stage um or getting a podium on a GC or a jersey, then you’re not really getting much from this. Yeah. I was chatting with two directors before and they um and and in fact, a lot of writers uh when asked of team strategies, mo more often than not the strategy is stage hunting. Um because yeah these directors are saying unless you’re on the podium of general classification which to them feels like it’s sewn up really the only other option is a stage win because also it is an objective measurement so you can walk away from the tors firm and say we want a stage and that’s a very clear and precise goal. So a lot of teams are going for that and I actually think it will make for some really exciting racing. Um I would saying to Lauren earlier I don’t think we would have seen this strategy so openly stated in years past um because teams have been a bit scared about just hunting for stages when the general classification has been something that everyone should be aiming for. But uh now it’s great that we have um depth and understanding of the sport and how women’s cycling specifically operates compared to the men’s um in how in like yeah we’re just here to hunt for stage wins. We’re going to be opportunistic. we’re going to be brave and we’re going to throw seven riders at trying to win a stage. Is it a little bit defeist the attitude of the GC has already wrapped up? Let’s go for stages. Like I know, you know, finishing at fourth or fifth isn’t as good as getting on the podium or obviously winning the race overall, but I wonder if some of those teams that do have a rider that could finish in the top five where they should still be going for GC. And maybe they are still going for GC. They’re just not talking about that as much. Yeah, I mean for sure. We um we had some discussions with writers who were saying, “Oh yeah, like going for GC, but really just want to win a stage.” Or the the converse is that was also true. It’s like going going for trying to win a stage, but it’d be nice to get up on GC as well. Yeah, I think that’s almost a a bit of a good segue to to my point earlier about how we had some GC contenders that we’ve been talking about all year, but it’s just come out that Marlon Rouso has been sick. she was in fact a little bit sick at the end of the jur and why we didn’t quite see that same pop from her that we’d seen um in the races races leading up to that. Lord Capeeki is another one who who came out and said that she wanted to win this race but has unfortunately not had the season and lead up to to the tour to France that she’d hoped for. The duro she had to pull out of and so she’s come out and said that she wants to stage hunt now. Um so yeah I think for movie start stage hunting Lyanna Lipit I I really think can can do something special here here uh with Marlon Rousa having the pressure taken off her but for SDX Pro why don’t we we start there we’re here to talk about contenders. Yeah, the the SDX Pro time press release in the middle of the week about their plans for the race was really interesting that they they very clearly said, and this is the quote um quote, “The team has abandoned its original plan to go for the general classification with Capeek as its sole leader.” The wording is quite strong, abandoned its original plan. I like that. But then also later in the release, they’re saying um maybe there are still opportunities to comp to compete for the general classification. If so, we will go for it. So, they’re kind of having it both ways a little bit. And I’m interested to see how that plays out because, you know, in the past, Capeeki has not gone for GC and still found herself up there. So, I think they’ll be taking the approach of, yeah, let’s go for stages, but if she’s in yellow after stage one, which she could well be, then and she’s still there later in the week, then who knows? Like, we just don’t know how it’s going to play out. Yeah, I think I was pretty happy to read this this press release come out because the pressure is off now. Um, I’m sure Lotto is putting it still on herself internally and we know these opening stages are good for her. Uh, a lot of Capeeki in in good form and good shape is is like a five-star rider for the coming two stages. So, um, there is team support around her for the the opening stages which is really great. There’s been a lot of support around Webers this year. L has been an integral part part in almost every win I think for Weebas this year. Um, so it’s good to see the team rallying around her and I think for her to take a yellow jersey on the first stage or in these opening stages would be a huge win for the team. Yeah. In the press conference, um, Lauren Avibus was asked how she felt about being a favorite for stage one. And she just laughed and said, I’m I’m not a favorite for stage one. This stage is much better for Capeek. Which, yeah, I think that’s a fair call given that pretty steep ramp towards the end of the stage. Um, yeah. I mean, they’ve just got options everywhere, don’t they? They’ve got options for every single stage. They’ve got Weeus obviously for the flat ones, Cape, you know, they’ve got Yeah. Vanderbre for for later on and just amazing rollers as well. Like I think they’re going to be we’re going to be talking about them a lot throughout the next nine days. That’s for sure. Yeah. And I think um the number one um number one team that I think can challenge uh the reign of SD works at at a race like the tour to France FM. I mean the obvious would be FDJ but I actually think it’s it’s Vizma Lisa Bike with um Pauline Fan Provo and uh that was actually the the uh bet of Irish Lapendelle who we had the joy of talking to with Lauren and I had the joy of talking to earlier. So let’s hear from Iris. All right Iris Lapendelle give us your picks for the tour to France fam axif 2025. Okay, I think the winner is going to be Pen Feron Pereo and I’ll tell you why. And I know because I know she’s an outsider, but I raced with her more than 10 years ago. She was my teammate. She got second in the Jirro behind Mariana, our other teammate. And she said to me, Iris, it’s okay because I have so many opportunities to win a GC still. And you know, things went different her career. And this is I think her first opportunity really back and I think if she has a goal in mind she can do it. So I yeah I put my money on on it’s all or nothing but I put my money on uh PFB. And for the sprinters so we have a few sprint stages fast people. Who you got? Yes of course rebus. We will have to think about rebus. I hope Cole is going to be uh back, but I think we also have some tricky stages where we’ll we’ll see people like maybe Kim Lour, uh Rue, um Digert, uh Bosimo, of course, uh Mariana Force, my pick for for the first stage. Okay. Uh so yeah, I think there’s it’s an interesting mix of uh of fast riders here. And do you think we’re going to see like a similar sort of time difference? I mean, I know it was 4 seconds last year, but do you reckon it’s going to be really close again? I mean, we have some so so hard stages like especially the the cold the motherland is is going to be so hard. So, I I really don’t know if it’s going to be so tight, but I think the contenders that that group of of riders that’s racing for GC is going to be it’s going to be more interesting than ever. It’s not just one or two riders. I can pick five riders to win the GC. And I think following, yes, of course, she’s the out and-out favorite, but I think the competition is uh is really interesting here. So, you briefly mentioned Kim Laord. Do we think she could be a contender? I think so. Yes. Yeah, I think she could be a contender. Well, there you have it, folks. We’ll wait and see. Yeah, it’s uh some really good points there from Iris. And, you know, she she was talking about how she goes way back with with Pauline in the early days when she was a young 21-year-old. I think she was 21 when she got a podium at the Jurro to Mariana Voss and then had that incredible season the next season where she took three world championships stepped away and has come back and so on the topic of of Vizma Lisa bike it’s very clear that the whole goal is just around around Pauline and that GC ambition. So, we we’ve heard uh a few not rumors, but it’s come from a few sources that a lot of people are picking Pauline for the win, and it’s it’s not just Iris. No, it’s not. And again, the directors I was speaking to earlier um have Yeah. said they’ve never seen Pauline in this kind of form. Um she is um yeah, I won’t talk about a writer’s body on this podcast, but um she is apparently in flying form. Um and uh yeah, it’d be going to be really interesting to see how she can uh go against the likes of Demi, against the likes of Alisa um in this race cuz we really haven’t seen her since the Adens. Yeah, I was just going to say we haven’t seen her race since the welter is it I think was her last race. She she pulled out with an ankle injury or something like that was an infection she had. Yeah, I mean the biggest question I have about her is just we haven’t haven’t seen her race, so we don’t know. And you know, we can put a lot of stock in what people are saying about the shape she’s in and and all that, her condition and all that, but I think it’s going to be fascinating to see how she goes out on the road. Yeah, that’s a really good point, Matt. And I think that’s for some people that’d be a red flag. But I think Pauline has been in the sport a really long time and with mountain biking they don’t race that much. So, I think she’s probably someone who I I don’t know Pauline, but I would say she’s probably someone who likes to do those big training blocks. And then I would see that the focus for them is like she’s going to ride into this race, keep her safe, those those first stages. I mean, she’s good in the bunch. So, that will be the goal. Just keep her out of trouble and let the legs start, you know, rolling into it. Um, and then from stage six onwards, again, talking with a lot of the DS’s and just, you know, gauging how they’re feeling about the tour and all the different opinions of where it’s really going to kick off. Um, and the common theme is always, yeah, the race won’t be won in the first few stages, but it can certainly be lost then. The key to that is having a strong team around you. And I think this is a a really good point that um, Cela UT Bludwig uh, brought up when we had a little chat with her. So let’s hear from Cel Cesley Ludwig. Who’s going to who’s going to win? I mean, are we talking stages or the GC? GC, babe. She is. She’s walked past. Um, okay. So, Cassia for the GC. Um, what what do you think’s going to happen? Where’s that where is that battle going to pan out? Oh my god. It’s going to be an insane tour. It’s going to be even first stage 80k and plum leg. It’s going to be fireworks going to and even second stage going to be pam pam pam I’m down rolling then a bitm in the middle and then the mountains at the end and it’s it’s just going to be full action the whole tour. GC starts tomorrow though. Yeah, 100%. Like you might not be able to win the tour but you can lose the tour. That’s a good quote. You heard it here first guys. Um, so cuz the the roads like we’ve had a look at the roads and the parkour like it’s not only the the actual like course like up and down like the 18 km climbs 10% the roads themselves are narrow poley. So what are your thoughts on that? O yeah that’s it gets critical you know being in the front and like like you say small roads small descents like towns you have to be in the front but everyone wants to be in the front you know so it’s a big fight to get there and I am sweating like a pig just talking about it so me too I think as well like you you’re in this luxurious position where Casia is someone who rides very naturally in the bunch other teams with there are a lot of GC contenders here this year I think the most stacked we’ve seen Right. So for for you guys like as a team, how how do you support in these these first couple of stages cuz obviously GC is the goal. You have a really strong team behind her. Yeah, we have to put her in the front at all times. At all. Yeah. Because it’s it really will be critical particularly as like the Bergs hit up, teams take control. Crashes was also a big one cuz like the first stage of the tour to France we we both know is fresh legs particularly tomorrow night. I know. And it’s just a mess. I know. And it’s just hectic cuz everyone wants to be their agame and everyone wants to win the stage. Everyone like it’s going to be full on. So, how many tour to France firms is this for you? This is my fourth. And what has the evolution been? What have you seen from the first one to now? I mean, just like women cycling in general is just getting stronger and stronger and stronger and like it’s just so stacked with like people can win. We had this chat, didn’t we? Yeah. Like it’s insane. You were 10 in the front looking around and now you look around and there can be 40 there. Yeah. Honestly. Yeah. Cuz I mean we’ve seen I don’t want to name any names but we’ve seen someone try old tactics that worked in the past and they have and tried the same thing at the Jurro and there was it didn’t make even a dent. So like do you think like what what’s that going to mean for the racing? I guess it also means that not only like it needs it means you need to have a team like to to put you there to support you to give you bottles to shelter you like or even the stages that you think are like it looks flat like nothing is going to happen that is always when hits the fan look at UAE at the Yeah exactly so just got to be focused all nine days and all hours all seven riders on Exactly. And if there was one thing waiting for you at the top of the cold and maline or the end of that stage, what would it be? Oh, love. I just want love. When we finished on that climb, cuz that’s brutal. Um I just want love and energy. Yeah, that’s it. Can you bring the love, Georgie? I can bring the love, babe. I’ll be there. I’ll be there. Give you a big hug. Yeah, exactly. That’s what I need. Yeah, I got you, babe. Nice. All right. Well, thank you so much for your time and best of luck for these days. Thank you. So, yeah, the the part about the importance of teams, let let’s talk about that. So, we we talk about main contenders, but the standout teams, who are the STE teams that are really going to be able to deliver um their GC riders through all the stages cuz we’ve got quite a mix here. It starts off, we’ve done the preview podcast. Um there are a lot of nerves going into tomorrow. Um, some writers would have preferred a short sharp prologue to be honest, just to get it, you know, the nerves out of the system, get the jerseys on the backs of different riders. But tomorrow, yeah, is has been described to me um a couple of times as uh harder than a Belgian KS with heels. Yeah, exactly. And I think that’s actually causing a lot of stress to riders, particularly those that aren’t great in the bunch. Um, so a team, to your point, will be very important tomorrow. Uh and yeah, when we spoke to CIA, obviously Canyon is a phenomenal team. We heard the same thing from Cassia in the press conference that she has a full faith in her team to keep her safe throughout the race. Um if we think of other teams that have that that good robust environment around them, I’m thinking Little Trek. It comes to mind. Um however, that is a team that is looking for stage wins. Um but keeping those leaders their leaders safe and they’re obviously wanting to keep Ne Fisher Black out of trouble before they hit the mountains. Um that is a team that I think we can watch for an example of what good a good robust team looks like in protecting their leader. Yeah. Speaking of robust strong teams and I’m sure Matt will love to to weigh in on this is AG insurance and Sudal. I mean I think you know chatting with uh it was with Kim Laort and we’re going to throw to her in a moment. Um, you know, she said in in 2024 it was phenomenal that they won that stage and they had a great race, but it’s not like they weren’t a team people looked to. And I think this year what they proved in in the Jurro and now coming here with this team that brought Sarah Jagante along as well to help in the mountains. Kim Lort, let’s talk about that. Yeah, I think we can hear from Kim, but before we do, I just want to apologize to the readers. When she says that I pushed her around in the bunch, it was all in good fun. I it was definitely all in good fun and I definitely was just doing my job. I’m pretty sure she said off mic if she knew what Georgie was like off the bike, she would have just said, “Come on, mate.” Yeah, that’s true. That’s true. As soon as I open my mouth, the facade is shattered. Um, but yeah, let’s hear from Kim Lort now and talk talking about uh her goals for this tour, but also and more importantly the culture that they’re cultivating at AG Insurance and how they will be the next powerhouse soon. Kim Lort, how you doing? Yeah, good. Uh, for introduction, my name is Georgie. I work at the SC. Okay, good. You pushed me around in the bunch many times. Um, so I Yeah, I just want to chat with you about um your journey with AG, the project that you guys are building there. Um, it seems like a really cool place to be. I mean, obviously like you’ve had some phenomenal performances, but the culture that is building at AG seems something really special. Oh yeah. I mean, you would know coming from far away, you want to feel like home straight away, and that’s exactly how I felt with this team. So yeah, for me being with them and staying until 2028 has been yeah, a very easy decision. And congratulations. Big signing. Yeah, really cool. Really exciting. I’m uh Yeah, really excited. Yeah. Yeah, it’s uh I think like from the outside looking in, one of the things that stands out is the cohesion between all the all the teams like you had. Yeah. The Jurro three in the top 10 at one stage. Everyone’s just doing super well, super happy. um like for my former teammates Alex Manley and Oshkaza seem to be doing so like super happy at that team as well. So I’m uh really excited to see what you guys can do at this tour. What uh what is the goal for the team? Yeah, look, I think since last year our team was uh looked at pretty small, you know, uh we we as you know, we fought we fought our way through the bunch every time. Sorry about that. Yeah, multiple times. But um but yeah, but you know now I think with the result we’ve starting to get as a team. I think we may be getting more respect. We’re hoping to get a bit more respect in the bunch. Um and of course after getting good results, it motivates not only the rider that’s getting the result, but the whole team and the staff. So that motivates them to do better and it showed with Belgian champs with justine and Sarah, I mean smashing the JRO and having the girls really fight for top 10 positions and all things like that. So yeah, it’s it’s uh yeah, going into the tour for sure, we have much more confidence and motivation. We believe in ourselves a bit more. But yeah, we’ve been quite open with saying we’re going for GC with me. But yeah, at the same time, we aiming for a stage win and then whatever comes above that then it’s a bonus. But yeah, the end goal I think is for sure to grab yellow like every team in the bunch. So and I mean like good vibes go fast and you guys have plenty of that. So I’m really looking forward to seeing how you go this week. Thank you so much. Yeah, thanks. Yeah, they’re such a fascinating team to watch. I mean the last few years they’ve really risen from being an outside team that overperformed I think in this race to begin with to now one of the teams that we’re actively looking at not just you know for Kim Lort’s chances on the GC but also because of just Nikki who won QM last year who won that stage and of course as you mentioned Sarah Jagante coming off those two stage wins at the the Jurro. So they they’ve got a very strong team. They’ve got great support for Laort. I’m very interested to see where Lort will be on GC by the time they get to stage eight on the cold of Medline and what that means from a you know a selfish Australian point of view. I’d love to see Sarah get her chance to to go for a stage win there but you know that’ll depend on what’s happening on GC and what else is happening in the race. Yeah and as we heard from Kim stages are the priority but cherry on top would be GC. So I think you’re right. Let’s wait and see what’s happening in stage eight and then uh they’ll play their cards. FJ Suez. I mean, I think we’re not saving the best to last, but we we can’t, you know, finish this podcast without really talking about them and a couple of other riders. So, yeah, coming off the back of of the Jurro was probably the most disappointing result for the year in terms of what they expected. Unfortunately, they had riders sick and things just didn’t go well. Um, it was a real shame for Leu because I think that was going to be her opportunity to be leader and actually the work she’s done for Demi and the team this year was just incredible. Like the form that she’s had, the vibe looks good. Um, and then to go to the Jurro and not be able to have that chance because of I think it was illness. So, you know, showing up here they’re very confident. It’s very clear that, you know, Demi wants to go for that second tour to France, firm win, but this year is is a different year, I feel. Yeah, there’s just more more top riders spread across more teams, I think, and just the race is harder this year, more stages. Um, yeah, just there’s a lot to it this year to unpack and there’ll be plenty for us to talk about. But it’s interesting listening to Demi talking in her press conference just a little bit a little bit before and, you know, she seems confident. She seems pretty relaxed and she was asked about whether last year’s result coming so close on Alp has motivated her to to go for the win even more so this year and she was saying it’s not really extra motivation but what she took from the Alp stage um was just how much she suffered that day um you know with a a coxix fracture we found out later she said she’s never dug so deep as she did that stage to win that stage and and to get so close to winning overall She said that when she’s suffering during the race this week, she’s going to have that memory and and will know that she can push through a lot and uh yeah, she’s going to be she’s obviously a contender and she’s going to be a fascinating one to to watch throughout. And on the flip side of that, I think Casio would say the same thing about Elto that she has never suffered more than in her life. She didn’t even see her husband running next to her, which is saying a lot that like I feel I wasn’t in the press conference, but I’m curious to hear what Cassie was feeling because we need to talk about Casio. You know, she said she wants to win I think it was at the end of last year multiple tour to Frances. She’s had really great preparation. The vibe in the team is great. Um I think Canyon Shramm will do a really good job of supporting her. She is a rider who um rides very naturally in the bunch. So that’s not something that I think she’s super nervous about in these coming days. Of course, crashing sometimes you can’t avoid. It happens at the front of the race, but for her, I think compared to some other GC contenders, I think she’ll get through mentally the first stages a little better before all the big stuff starts happening around stage six. Yeah. From what I took away from Casio is that um she was asked about how like will she remember the win last year when she’s racing this year and um she was very firm in saying I think after the first few stages no one will remember last year. So they’ve both Demi and Cashia have said she had the same answer to a question in the sense that when like to this question and saying like they want to just stay present, stay in the now because really that’s all that matters. Um, so I think the I think with with Cassie, we can expect someone who is just focusing on the next day. What’s going to like what is what is directly in front of me? What do I have to accomplish? I don’t think she’s putting any pressure on herself to think further ahead than that. Yeah. And and to that point, chatting with 1DS, he was saying that um for him it’s really there will be some smaller gaps in the GC leading up to the colder matter line, but for for him it was really that’s where it would be Yeah. done and dusted. Yeah. minutes at the quarter mile line. I think we like we won’t see a 4 second gap like we did last year. Um I mean to me that climb looks bloody heinous. Um what is it 9 km at 10%. Um do not sign me up. So uh yeah I was asked to do latap and I was like no they’re going up there. They got the So it’s uh not a climb that I think you can just ride up. Um so I I think the it it’s going to be completely decisive. We’re going yeah 2 3 minutes I think will be the the finishing margin. Um up that climb I do see Cashia Demi Pauline Elisa battling it out. Um I’m not sure who else will be there uh because yeah it was stage eight. um Gigante perhaps, Kim perhaps, but I think we know for sure we will have a quartet heading up that climb and it’s just who can throw who can throw the hardest punch. Yeah, I think that that Eliza is the last major contender. I mean, we can talk about Sedine Cabel and I I think she’s really a GC contender, maybe. Yeah, top uh sorry, a stage hunter um and a top 10 GC contender potentially. Um but Elisa Longini has never been on the podium of the tour to France fem. She’s she’s and she’s had a very like tortured relationship with this race um in terms of just luck. Um so I’m hope if she can have a good run at this race. Who knows what could happen. It almost feels like she’s gone a bit under the radar coming to this race which is a weird thing to say about the woman who just won the Jirro, right? But with all the talk about Demi, with all talk about Casio, with you know Pauline and and now Rosa being sick and all this kind of stuff, it feels like it’s not that long has been forgotten about, but more just like it’s almost like we just expect her to be there in the conversation, but we haven’t really talked that much about her. But yeah, I mean, we saw Anam Vandalutin do the double back in the first edition 2022. Um, I don’t know. I think I think she needs to be watched for sure. I think she’s an absolute contender and I I yeah, she is also one that will get through the first six, seven days of the race very well cuz she rides so well in the bunch. She’s adept at every every sort of terrain. Um will not be phased. Whatever happens, if there’s crosswinds, if there’s splits, whatever, she’ll she’ll be there. So, um she’ll be riding amongst it. Yeah, I think um we’ve got a lot to look forward to tomorrow night. We’ve got a dinner and a show with the riders heading off at uh 5:25 in the in the evening after the men’s race. Um so we’ll be there on the ground covering it all. We’ve got a full day to prepare um looking at bikes, looking at gear, talking to riders, talking to DS’s. Um I personally can’t wait for the vibe um of a Saturday evening in France there is uh in the summer there’s nothing much better. We should talk quickly about um the sprints or at least the green jersey because I we’ve talked about pulling for unprovoke a bunch and we know that the team’s all in for her on GC but um I think Mariana Voss tomorrow is a real chance and remember in the first edition of this race she was so koi about going for the green jersey and refused to say that she was racing for green until she had basically had it locked up. I think she is the big favorite to win green again this year. Um depending on what Capeeki does, but I think she needs to be watched. I think that that battle could be interesting if Capeeki is up for it. Um so yes, definitely something to watch. And then also just other riders to watch throughout the race. Like there there’s so many good rides. We talked about the stage hunting before. So many riders to keep an eye on that aren’t going to be going for GC. Um so like Park Peterson for example, Naomi Rug I think is a really interesting one. Paulina Royakas is another one. like she always slips under the radar. Um, so yeah, third last year. I don’t know why no one talks about her, but she is she’s definitely someone to watch. Yeah, I I can’t believe we didn’t talk. I mean, we’re talking about GC contenders, so I think that’s maybe what slipped our mind, but Puck Peterson, of course. I mean, definitely a stage contender. And why aren’t we talking more about her tomorrow, actually? Yeah, it’s very it’s a very solid solid pick. Um and uh yeah, I think um and I also had a chat with um Shahie Bosett um piece will be coming out later later today about her um returning to the Pelaton and she is someone who yeah world champion in in in the Madison and she’s looking to stage three and four but stage one she’s saying it looks good for her as well. So as Georgie mentioned stage one of the tour to France femiff the grand depart here in Bratannia is kicking off tomorrow evening at 5:25. So, make sure you tune in for that straight after the men’s tour for us finish so you can get your another kick from cycling. Um, contenders. This is a podcast about contenders today, but I think we need to talk about tomorrow. Tomorrow presents a lot of opportunities for a lot of different riders and different teams. I think if we look at it, it’s going to be hectic. It’s going to be fast. It will be chaos. The yellow jersey is up for grabs. I mean, for for a team coming here who don’t have GC contenders, pulling on the yellow jersey tomorrow could be a huge goal. Even if we think about the smaller teams pulling on the polka dot jersey or pulling on the green jersey, any of or the white jersey there, there’s actually a lot of stake at stake tomorrow for such a short stage. And I think that’s why we were feeling so much nervous energy today because, you know, it’s going to be a long drawn out day tomorrow before they even get to start. Yeah, I am uh I am predicting absolute fireworks. Like the first stage of the tour to France is always hectic, but I think you throw in the fact that it’s 78 kilometers. It’s in the evening. Uh it’s essentially a long it’s a KS. Everyone has raced Kermeses. Everyone knows how hectic a KS is. Add the fact that it’s a tour to France on top of that. Um I don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow. I think that’s the most exciting thing. Yeah, it presents the opportunity for a one of those punchier riders to to get up that climb and and take the win. It could also possibly be a reduced bunch if it’s raced the right way. It could be I mean Loren Webas was asked about this in her press conference about how she thought it was going to play out. And while she didn’t think she was going to be winning the stage, she said there is a chance that maybe even the GC riders decide to have a bit of a crack tomorrow and maybe the climb’s not steep enough, maybe it’s not long enough. Who knows? But that would be an interesting possibility as well with the chance to to wear yellow. But as you say, Georgie, the fact that it’s such a short stage and it is the chance to wear yellow, I think just about anything could happen. We could see a solo rider. Who knows? That’s a it’s an exciting way to start the race. Yeah. And I think with women’s grand tours in general, that they’re so much shorter than men’s racing that they’re willing to race the whole tour. Um, and yeah, honestly, I haven’t followed all of the men’s tour this year, so I can’t speak to what’s really happened, but I would say like it is nine stages. It’s the longest tour to France we we have had for the women. Um, but every stage counts and every second counts. And we’ve seen like what uh UAE DQ has done before. they they look for those opportunities to capitalize on on the GC riders that, you know, they know aren’t so good in the bunch. Um, so I wouldn’t I wouldn’t be surprised if we see gaps tomorrow in the GC. No, I think we can really expect the unexpected tomorrow. Um, which is deliciously exciting and I cannot wait to be on the sidelines and watch it. All right, pick. We need to do picks for tomorrow. So, let’s start with Matt Den cuz I know who you’re going to pick, but do you I don’t know who I’m going to pick. I think head pick is probably Capeeki, but I don’t I don’t know. Maybe Voss. My heart pick would be Noami Rug. I’d love to see her win the stage. I think she’s got the characteristics for it. Um I don’t know. Let’s go Capeek. I think Yeah, now you’ve now you’ve swayed me. I think Rugg is my is my pick. Naomi Rugg. I think she uh she’s got the the she’s got the character, the panache to pull off the Ella jersey for for stage one and two. I’m going to go Kim Laort. Of course you are. No, I just I I think like yeah, it’s not not a complete outsider um outside pick, but yeah, I think I’m just going to throw that in. I could just fairy tale pulling on the the yellow jersey for AG would be in completely magical. Um yeah, I think it’s going to be an epic race, but uh we’re keen to bring you on the ground tomorrow. All right. Well, let’s wrap up this podcast for today and uh we will be back tomorrow with the recap of stage one and let’s see whose pick was right. Um but anyway, Oravoir, make sure you sign up to Escape Collective to hear and read all the exclusive stuff we’ve got coming out this week as well as follow us on socials for some fun content. [Music]