As the Lotto Dstny Ladies gear up for their inaugural appearance at the 2024 Tour de France Femmes, there’s a palpable sense of anticipation surrounding the team. With a mix of young talent and experienced leadership, the squad has set its sights on making a significant impact at this year’s race, which begins in Rotterdam.
The team’s inclusion in the race was somewhat unexpected, as Dutch rider Thalita de Jong revealed when the announcement was made in April. “I thought that as a continental team, we would just fall short,” she admitted. However, the team has embraced the opportunity and is determined to make the most of their debut.
Sports director Grace Verbeke is optimistic about the team’s chances, particularly in the early stages that suit their riders’ strengths. “With Thalita, we have a Dutch leader, and with Anna Van Wersch and Maureen Arens, we have two more Dutch women in the selection. The rest are Belgian, apart from the Finnish Wilma Aintila. The fact that this Tour passes through the Netherlands and Belgium before heading to France makes the experience even greater for us,” Verbeke explained.
Verbeke sees De Jong as a strong contender for the general classification, pointing to her solid time-trialling abilities, as evidenced by her recent performance in the Baloise Ladies Tour. “We should definitely keep the options open for a good classification with Thalita. She has a strong time trial, and that short time trial from Rotterdam on day two will certainly not hold her back—quite the opposite. She has proven that she can climb well and isn’t slow at the finish either,” Verbeke said.
In addition to De Jong, Verbeke has confidence in the entire team’s ability to compete across various stages. “The first stages are tailor-made for Van Wersch. Audrey De Keersmaeker and Fauve Bastiaenssen are perfect for breakaways, and Maureen Arens is a good climber. Aintila can compete for the white young rider’s jersey. We have a strong leader, and the others will mainly ride in support, but we will not hide ourselves. We’re going to the Tour to make our presence felt, not just to blend in,” she emphasised.
The team’s preparation has been varied, with riders taking different approaches to ensure they arrive at the Tour in peak condition. Some chose to train in the warmer climates of Spain, while others used the Baloise Ladies Tour as a final rehearsal. Verbeke noted the importance of these preparations, saying, “We learned a lot from the Vuelta and Baloise. Our women learned to fight even harder for their position, to communicate, and to trust each other as well. Those were good tryouts. We made a conscious choice to start here with a young team, and I’m very curious to see how everything will unfold.”
Main photo credit: Photonews
