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Annemiek van Vleuten (Movistar) is keenly conscious that she and compatriot Demi Vollering (SD Worx) have been positioned towards each other as the 2 overwhelming favourites at this yr’s Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift.
Talking with the media on the Maison des Sports activities – Place des Bughes on Saturday in Clermont-Ferrand, Van Vleuten, who traces up because the defending champion, pressured that she hoped the race for the yellow jersey will play out between extra than simply two riders on the roads to Pau.
“I hope that we have now extra riders going for the GC with a much bigger battle than Demi Vollering and me, we want extra nationalities combating one another within the finals to maintain the races extra attention-grabbing,” Van Vleuten stated.
“I hope will probably be a mistake, to date, if you happen to see via the spring and on the uphill, possibly it is practical to say that will probably be a duel and other people like to see it. However generally, we underestimate, a bit, the opposite opponents. I hope there might be extra opponents that make our lives actually onerous and that we see a battle on the Tourmalet.”
Van Vleuten named a number of riders who she felt is also contenders for the general classification, together with Elisa Longo Borghini (Lidl-Trek), Marta Cavalli (FDJ-SUEZ) and time trial specialist Marlen Reusser (SD Worx).
“If you’re not on group Demi Vollering and never on group Annemiek, then for positive, you’re going to make a plan for the primary six levels to disturb that battle between Demi and me, so I anticipate some fireworks, and that’s additionally what makes the racing good.”
Van Vleuten received the general title final yr by a 3:48 over Vollering final yr however revealed that she felt Vollering was the stronger of the 2, given her success on the Ardennes Classics and within the excessive mountains at La Vuelta Femenina, the place she received stage 7 atop Lagos de Covadonga.
She stated that she is not as assured going into the Tour de France Femmes as she was final yr.
“No, for positive not, particularly as a result of Demi Vollering confirmed this yr that she is the primary favorite, I feel. She is at a brilliant robust degree, and I used to be not capable of beat her [on the climbs at La Vuelta]. In the long run, I did win La Vuelta, however it was additionally a particular scenario, and on the uphills, she confirmed that she was stronger,” Van Vleuten stated.
“I feel she is the favorite. I do know that I had the identical preparations as final yr and that I am no less than higher than I used to be at La Vuelta. I recharged my batteries, and I am prepared for the battle. I am curious, however I do know that I did every thing I may to be in my absolute best form.”
Van Vleuten understands why the game is so captivated by race rivalries citing Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert in cyclocross and the Spring Classics. Different current and memorable rivalries have occurred between Lucinda Model and Marianne Vos locked in a battle for the rainbow jersey at Cyclocross Worlds in 2022. And look no additional than the battle between Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogačar at this yr’s males’s Tour de France, till the Vingegaard all however sealed the yellow jersey within the stage 16 time trial from Passy to Combloux.
“I feel folks like to see a duel, whether or not it is Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert, it is what the media like to see. I like seeing a much bigger battle with extra folks. I feel it is extra attention-grabbing,” Van Vleuten countered.
“But when I can entertain lots of people by having a duel between the 2 of us, so be it, a very powerful factor is that I’m within the combat for the yellow jersey. Whoever is becoming a member of me in that combat, I’ll see.”
Defending yellow
Van Vleuten lived as much as each expectation because the favorite for the 2022 Tour de France Femmes, profitable the general title after two outstanding back-to-back levels within the Vosges atop Le Markstein and La Tremendous Planche des Belles Filles.
The primary six levels of this yr’s route are hilly earlier than reaching the summit end at Col du Tourmalet on stage 7 and a person time trial on stage 8. These two levels will, as soon as once more, be well-suited to the defending champion in her purpose to win a second consecutive general title.
“The purpose earlier than we got here right here was to get the most effective out of myself so be optimally ready, and I achieved that purpose. I am right here in the identical form as final yr, similar preparations, similar vitality and with recharged batteries to go full-gas right here for the battle for the yellow jersey,” stated Van Vleuten, who arrives after securing general victories at La Vuelta Femenina and Giro d’Italia Donne.
Van Vleuten stated she’s not involved an excessive amount of with how a lot a second general victory would possibly imply to her. As an alternative, she is wanting ahead to having fun with the chance to compete in what might be her remaining Tour de France earlier than retiring on the finish of the season.
“You will need to pin on the primary in my rainbow jersey and revel in racing and be a part of the battle to win the maillot jaune. I’ll go for it, to be a part of the combat, and we need to placed on a superb present for people who find themselves watching it at dwelling or along side the street to get excited.”
Van Vleuten stated that profitable the Tour de France Femmes has been a spotlight of her profession that has seen her win Spring Classics, Grand Excursions, World Championships and a gold medal on the Olympic Video games.
“I like this race. I can say that it was the most important factor that I received in my profession final yr. I’d have been right here with a distinct mindset if I had not received it final yr as a result of I’d know it’s the final, final, final alternative for me to win the Tour de France. There may be much less stress on my shoulders now, which signifies that I can take pleasure in it a bit extra and race with my coronary heart,” Van Vleuten stated.
Requested how she feels heading into her remaining Tour de France Femmes, Van Vleuten stated, “I really feel relaxed, targeted and desirous to race with a sense of nothing to lose and every thing to win.”
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