Canyon SRAM has revealed its line-up for the 2024 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, featuring a balanced roster of seasoned riders and debutants. Kasia Niewiadoma, fresh from the Olympic Games in Paris, leads the team with her eyes set on the general classification. She will be supported by Neve Bradbury, Elise Chabbey, Chloé Dygert, Soraya Paladin, Alice Towers, and Agnieszka Skalniak-Sójka.
Kasia Niewiadoma, discussing the upcoming race, noted the demanding nature of the stages, saying, “This year’s edition is very tiring from one stage to another. It won’t be possible to ride the stages thinking only about the last climbs, as every day is demanding and challenging. Finishing on Alpe D’Huez will be about strength and fatigue resistance that will gradually build up throughout the previous seven stages. I’m a bigger fan of finishing the Tour on an iconic mountain than a time trial as I’m not a time trial specialist, so I feel more comfortable knowing it will all come down to our pure strengths. I want to approach the race knowing I will be on top of not losing a second here or there. I know my level is higher than last year, and I want to show it, give my best, and not let any opportunity for a great result slip by.”
The race, spanning 949.7 kilometres with 10,700 metres of elevation, starts in Rotterdam and finishes at the iconic Alpe D’Huez. It includes stages across the Netherlands, Belgium, and France over seven days. Highlights include an individual time trial in Rotterdam and two summit finishes, promising intense competition and strategic racing.
Neve Bradbury expressed her excitement and anticipation for her debut at the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift. “The Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift is the season’s biggest race and has the most attention. Naturally, this has the potential to cause more nerves. I’m proud to be selected to race the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift. I have been aiming for consistently good results, hoping to make the team. Overall, it’s a challenging parcours but quite heavy ended, and the GC battle will mostly be decided on the last stage. I’m looking forward to stage eight, which finishes up Alpe D’Huez. It’s similar to the stage I won at the Giro, and I think the crowd will be insane on the hilltop. I want to continue riding aggressively with a “no regrets” attitude. I’m confident I’ll be in good form for the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift.”
Canyon SRAM Racing’s mix of youth and experience is expected to perform strongly across various terrains, from the windswept flats of the Netherlands to the gruelling climbs of the Alps. Chloé Dygert and Neve Bradbury bring recent accolades, including Dygert’s bronze in the Olympic Time Trial and Bradbury’s third place on GC at the Giro d’Italia.
Alice Towers shared her journey to the race, overcoming a knee injury from a crash at the Giro. “I’m proud to have been selected for the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift for the second time. To make the team selection, it shows the rider’s value and level to the team. I have great memories of last year’s race and hope for the same again in 2024. My preparation for the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift has been challenging. After my crash at the Giro, I injured my knee, and I’ve been working hard with my coach and daily physiotherapy to reach the race in good shape. I’m happy to say that I’m on track. This year’s Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift is heavily loaded towards the end, with the GC mountain days being on the last couple of stages. The parcours can work well for us, as we have shown in last year’s Tour and this year’s Giro that we are still riding strongly towards the end of a hard stage race. Our team can look towards the mountain stages with a sparkle in our eyes. We have a strong team for this and are there for a yellow jersey!”
The team’s strategy is clear: seize every opportunity from the Grand Départ in Rotterdam to the climactic finish at Alpe D’Huez, showcasing their capabilities and aiming for stage wins and the overall title. With a robust line-up and determined spirit, Canyon SRAM Racing is set to make its mark on this year’s Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift.
Canyon SRAM 2024 Tour de France Femmes line-up
- Kasia Niewiadoma
- Neve Bradbury
- Elise Chabbey
- Chloé Dygert
- Soraya Paladin
- Alice Towers
- Agnieszka Skalniak-Sójka
Main photo credit: Getty
