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Kasia Niewiadoma will line up on the 2023 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift aiming to defend her podium place from final yr the place she completed third behind total winner Annemiek van Vleuten (Movistar) and runner-up Demi Vollering (SD Worx).
Niewiadoma says she remembers the hassle it took to safe that podium end, significantly as a result of occasion’s magnitude because the first edition held in 33 years, a whirlwind expertise that included full of life fanfare and difficult levels. This time round, she is prepared for all of it and plans to soak it up.
“I am actually wanting ahead to happening one other journey by way of France, which is able to certainly deliver many good reminiscences whatever the last outcomes. The race is an enormous purpose of mine, and I am excited and able to be on the beginning line in Clermont-Ferrand,” Niewiadoma mentioned.
“I wish to arrive in France and absorb no matter vitality the race, the workforce and the followers will give me. I do know will probably be a tough race, busy days and scorching climate!”
Canyon-SRAM will ship a help workforce that features Ricarda Bauernfeind, Elise Chabbey, Soraya Paladin, Agnieszka Skalniak-Sójka, Alice Towers and Maike van der Duin, which additionally offers the workforce choices for stage wins and particular jerseys.
“The programs are exhausting, everyone seems to be in high form, and the media consideration is huge, so there might be a battle every day for the stage victory and classifications. All the things can occur proper till the final day,” mentioned Chabbey, who is without doubt one of the workforce’s most opportunistic riders and who repeatedly in key breakaways and amassing factors towards the mountains classification.
Chabbey famous the key stages for her along the 956km route that features dash and puncheur levels, together with a grand finale within the Pyrenees with a mountaintop finish on the iconic Tourmalet on stage 7 and a last stage 8 time trial in Pau.
“Specifically, I am wanting ahead to stage 4 as it is a lengthy and hard day with over 2,300m elevation, all within the second half. General, we’ll maintain combating for one another to deliver the perfect success to the workforce. We’re mentally ready for eight tremendous exhausting days.
“It is the primary yr in my profession that I actually have had the time to arrange for an occasion. I spent a number of time away from house at altitude, and I really feel my form is nice. I consider we will attain the GC podium, and I hope there are alternatives the place I can go for a stage win. I am assured we will obtain a great outcome once we race with out concern.”
This spring, Niewiadoma took the top-10s at Strade Bianche, Tour of Flanders and Amstel Gold Race, tenth total at La Vuelta Femenina, third at Itzulia Ladies, and fourth at Tour de Suisse, indicating her type is on the rise.
She has not raced since mid-June and opted to skip the Giro d’Italia Donne this yr, however revealed that she spent most of her coaching forward of the Tour de France Femmes in Andorra.
“Final yr, I ready very well along with my coach, so having that good reminiscence undoubtedly makes it simpler for us to navigate the coaching program this yr. I’ve ready once more in Andorra, coaching exhausting and recovering tougher. I am solely centered on biking and having fun with it, understanding such an necessary race is coming,” mentioned Niewiadoma, who anticipates one other robust version of the Tour de France Femmes with temperatures anticipated to soar into the 40-degree warmth on the roads.
“After doing the course recon, each GC contenders and riders focusing on solely stage victories, are going to go all out every single day. On daily basis, there is a chance to influence GC, which might be thrilling for followers to comply with. I am aiming to be extra invisible and fewer predictable within the peloton. I goal to defend my podium spot on GC and win a stage. As a workforce, I consider we will obtain a GC podium and workforce classification like in 2022, and I need that we will add a stage win to our success.”
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