Human Powered Health has unveiled its seven riders for the third edition of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift. The race, reintroduced to the Women’s WorldTour calendar in 2022, begins in Rotterdam, passes through Belgium, and culminates in France with a demanding route featuring sprints, a time trial, rolling terrain, and a finale on the iconic Alpe d’Huez.
In her final season, French star Audrey Cordon-Ragot is set for a memorable summer. Reflecting on her journey, the 34-year-old shared, “I’m so proud to be here at my third Tour, the best stage race in the world. I hope we’re going to surf on the amazing wave of public support we saw at the Olympics. It helps people discover our sport and I think it will boost the amount of people by the side of the road. These crowds make me so motivated.” Cordon-Ragot, the French national TT champion, narrowly missed wearing the Maillot Jaune last year and has her sights set on it again with an early time trial in the mix.
Ruth Edwards, fresh off a standout performance at the Giro, is another key figure in the team. Her return to the sport was marked by two second-place finishes in Italy, showcasing her knack for successful breakaways. Edwards is poised to make a significant impact on similar profiles in the Tour this year.
Romy Kasper, the team’s road captain, brings a wealth of experience, having raced in the Vuelta, Giro, and Tour this year. Kasper remarked, “It’s fascinating to race the Tour again. Especially starting in the Netherlands as the team has our European base and Service Course in Belgium so it feels like a local race for us. I do like racing in the Netherlands and Belgium a lot so it’s a good start for me. There will be massive crowds at the start and also my parents will follow along for the first three days so it’s super special.” With 4,658 km over 42 days under her belt, she will play a crucial role in guiding the team.
Barbara Malcotti is set to tackle the high mountains, aiming to replicate her 15th place finish at the Giro d’Italia Women. The 24-year-old, who has participated in all three editions of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift for Human Powered Health, admitted, “This is the race, the most important one of the year. It’s a very high level and for sure I’m a bit nervous but I also know that I have to stay calm and focus on the race and try to do my best as always. It’s going to be hard but I’m glad to start my third Tour de France. Every year it’s growing, different, and more exciting.”
Daria Pikulik, the team’s sprinter, enters the race ranked 13th in the WorldTour and is the fifth-best sprinter on paper. With five wins this year and fresh from competing in the Omnium at Paris 2024, Pikulik is expected to shine in the early stages in the Netherlands.
Marit Raaijmakers, in her second Tour de France, brings invaluable local knowledge as a Dutch rider. Her familiarity with the roads of the Grand Depart will be crucial in supporting Pikulik in the sprints and transitioning into the mountains.
Lastly, Lily Williams, who has had a breakthrough year with a podium at Nokere Koerse and multiple top-10 finishes, expressed her excitement. “This is the biggest race in the world. To back it up after the Olympics makes me feel like I’ve properly made it as a cyclist. I think we have a really strong roster for the Tour and I’m excited to see what Human Powered Health can do.” The Tallahassee-native, now a French resident, will be looking to contribute both in breakaways and as a lead-out rider for Pikulik.
2024 Tour de France Femmes Human Powered Health line-up
- Audrey Cordon-Ragot
- Ruth Edwards
- Romy Kasper
- Barbara Malcotti
- Daria Pikulik
- Marit Raaijmakers
- Lily Williams
