The 2024 Tour de France Femmes is set to be a thrilling edition, with all eyes on defending champion Demi Vollering as she aims to retain her title. The race, spanning 946 kilometres from August 12th to 18th, features a route that promises to challenge even the most seasoned riders. This year’s course begins in the Netherlands and Belgium, providing early opportunities for sprinters before the race makes its way into France, where the real battle for the general classification will begin.
The early stages will see riders navigate flatter terrain, with the first two stages likely to favour the sprinters. However, the third stage introduces a short time trial that could start to shake up the overall standings. As the race progresses into stages 4 and 5, the terrain becomes more undulating, setting the stage for the climbers to begin asserting themselves as the peloton moves closer to the heart of France.
The true test begins on stage 6, where the categorised climbs make their first significant appearance. Although the stage ends with a downhill run to Morteau, it will serve as a prelude to the brutal mountain challenges that lie ahead. The final two stages are where the 2024 Tour de France Femmes will likely be decided. Stage 7 finishes atop Le Grand-Bornand, and the race concludes with the iconic climb of Alpe d’Huez on stage 8, a legendary ascent that has crowned many champions in the past.
Demi Vollering enters the race as the overwhelming favourite. After dominating the Col du Tourmalet in 2023 and continuing her winning streak in stage races this spring, Vollering has solidified her position as the top climber in the women’s peloton. Her performances this year in events like La Vuelta Femenina have left little doubt that she is the rider to beat. However, the unpredictable nature of cycling means that anything can happen, and the question on everyone’s mind is: if not Vollering, then who?
The pressure will undoubtedly be immense, as it was last year when Vollering faced challenges from rivals like Annemiek van Vleuten and Kasia Niewiadoma. Despite these challenges, she rose to the occasion, leaving everyone behind on the highest pass of the Tour and securing the yellow jersey. But with no concluding time trial in this year’s edition to recover from any setbacks in the mountains, the door is slightly ajar for other contenders to challenge Vollering’s dominance on those final gruelling climbs.
As the Tour de France Femmes returns with this demanding route, it’s time to assess which riders might step up to challenge Vollering or seize the opportunity should she falter. With a route designed to build towards a dramatic and unpredictable finale, the race promises to be a showcase of the world’s best women cyclists, each vying for their place in history on the legendary roads of France.
2024 Tour de France Femmes GC Favourites
Photo Credit: ASO-Thomas MaheuxDemi Vollering
Demi Vollering, the reigning champion of the Tour de France Femmes, returns in 2024 with a formidable track record and the backing of SD Worx-Protime. Vollering, who clinched the overall title last year with a dominant performance on the Col du Tourmalet and a solid time trial, will be looking to replicate her success as the race hits the mountains of the French Alps, culminating in the iconic Alpe d’Huez climb.
At 27, Vollering has firmly established herself as one of the top riders in the women’s peloton. Her victories this season at La Vuelta Femenina, Itzulia Women, Vuelta a Burgos, and Tour de Suisse only reinforce her standing as the rider to beat. While her teammate Lotte Kopecky will not be racing alongside her this time, SD Worx-Protime has lined up a strong squad, including Giro stage-winning climbing talent Niamh Fisher-Black, to support Vollering’s ambitions. The Dutch rider has repeatedly proven that when it matters most, she can summon extraordinary focus and power, making her the overwhelming favourite to retain her title.
Kasia Niewiadoma
Kasia Niewiadoma has consistently been among the top contenders at the Tour de France Femmes, finishing third overall in both 2022 and 2023. The 29-year-old Canyon SRAM rider made significant strides last year, particularly in the time trial, which was crucial in securing her podium spot despite the challenges posed by the high mountains. Niewiadoma’s spectacular solo attack on the Col d’Aspin last year earned her the polka-dot jersey, and she remains one of the most consistent climbers in the peloton.
Niewiadoma’s 2023 Tour was highlighted by that bold attack on the Col d’Aspin descent, which saw her finish second to Vollering on the Col du Tourmalet. She also claimed the mountain classification’s polka-dot jersey, underlining her consistency in the tough mountain stages. Niewiadoma, fresh off a victory at the UCI Gravel World Championships and a win at Flèche Wallonne this spring, looks set to be a key player once again. However, while the yellow jersey may be out of reach if Vollering stays strong, another podium finish is certainly within her grasp.
Photo Credit: GettyNeve Bradbury
Neve Bradbury, the 22-year-old Canyon SRAM rider, is set to make her Tour de France Femmes debut in 2024. Bradbury, who secured a major victory at the Giro d’Italia Women with a solo win on the queen stage to Blockhaus, has been in excellent form this season. After her third-place finish in the Giro, Bradbury immediately turned her focus to the Tour.
Bradbury was a late addition to the Tour team but has proven her potential with strong results at the UAE Tour and Tour de Suisse. As a second general classification contender for Canyon SRAM alongside Niewiadoma, Bradbury could surprise many with her performance, particularly in the mountain stages. While she may not yet be on Vollering’s level in the mountains, Bradbury is one of the young riders who could challenge the dominance of the current leaders in the coming years.
Riejanne Markus
Riejanne Markus has been just outside the top 10 in the last two editions of the Tour de France Femmes, but the 29-year-old Visma-Lease a Bike rider has made noticeable improvements this season, particularly in the mountains. Markus finished second overall at La Vuelta Femenina, holding her own against Vollering in the final stages. Her strong performance at the Vuelta, where she was the best of the rest behind Vollering, indicates that she has taken another step in her development.
Markus’s consistency in the mountain stages, including a third-place finish on the final stage to Valdesquí, Comunidad de Madrid, will be crucial as she aims to crack the top 10 this time around. Her ‘Operation Yellow’ campaign saw her prepare meticulously, including a reconnaissance road trip over the Tour’s parcours and altitude training in Tignes. With the support of a strong team that includes the experienced Marianne Vos, Markus will have the backing needed to make her mark on this year’s Tour. Her preparation and determination to convert the disappointment of missing the Olympics into a positive result at the Tour could see her achieve a career-best performance.
Juliette Labous
Juliette Labous, the French favourite, is aiming for another strong performance at her home Tour de France Femmes. The 25-year-old dsm-firmenich PostNL rider has steadily climbed the ranks, finishing 4th overall in 2022 and 5th in 2023. Labous has made significant improvements in her climbing and time trialling, which have helped her secure podium finishes at La Vuelta Femenina and Itzulia Women this season.
Labous will be supported by a team also eyeing sprint stage victories with Charlotte Kool. The French rider is expected to come into her own once the race hits the mountains, particularly at Le Grand-Bornand and Alpe d’Huez, where she will look to improve on her past performances. As a special touch, a fan zone will be set up by her old cycling club in Morteau, which will undoubtedly give her a boost as she tackles the final climb of the stage.
Gaia Realini
Gaia Realini, one of the brightest young talents in the women’s peloton, is set to make her Tour de France Femmes debut in 2024. The 23-year-old Lidl-Trek rider has already made her mark with podium finishes at the Giro d’Italia Women and La Vuelta Femenina. Realini’s climbing abilities will be a significant asset as the race heads into the Alps.
Realini has shown her strength on the toughest climbs, and with the support of experienced riders like Elisa Longo Borghini, she could be a reasonably dark horse for a top-three finish. Lidl-Trek’s multi-faceted approach gives them a strong hand to play in the battle for the yellow jersey. While Realini is a pure climber, her versatility makes her a valuable asset to the team, and she could potentially play a key role in the mountains.
Mavi Garcia
Mavi Garcia, the 40-year-old Liv AlUla Jayco rider, is a seasoned contender in the women’s peloton, known for her strength on hilly terrain and in breakaways. Although Garcia’s 2023 season has had its ups and downs, she seems to be hitting her stride just in time for the Tour de France Femmes. Garcia, who impressed with her strong performance in the Olympic road race, could once again show that experience counts in these demanding stages.
Garcia’s best performance at the Tour came in 2022 when she finished 10th overall, despite being involved in an unfortunate incident with her team car during the gravel stage. This year, she has shown promising form with a victory at the Vuelta Ciclista Andalucia and a 9th-place finish at the Giro d’Italia Women. As the race heads into the final stages at La Grand Bornand and Alpe d’Huez, Garcia’s climbing ability will make her a contender for a strong finish in the overall standings.
Elisa Longo Borghini
Elisa Longo Borghini returns to the Tour de France Femmes in 2024 after a challenging season last year, where she was forced to abandon the race due to a skin infection. The Lidl-Trek rider, however, comes into the race with renewed confidence after winning the Giro d’Italia Women earlier this year, a victory that solidified her position as one of the top general classification riders. Longo Borghini, who finally achieved her long-held dream of winning the Giro, will look to carry that momentum into the Tour.
Longo Borghini, 32, has shown her strength on long mountain passes and in time trials, making her a formidable opponent in any stage race. Her Lidl-Trek team also boasts rising star Gaia Realini, who could provide strong support in the mountains. Longo Borghini’s all-round abilities will be crucial as the race heads into the decisive stages, including the gruelling climbs to Le Grand Bornand and Alpe d’Huez. However, her true chances may lie in the hilly mid-stages like Liège and Morteau, where she could use her descending skills to gain an advantage.
Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig
Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig, the 28-year-old Danish rider for FDJ-SUEZ, is known for her aggressive racing style and has a stage win from the 2022 Tour de France Femmes to her name. Her victory on the steep slopes into Épernay remains one of the most memorable moments of her career. This year, she returns after recovering from a fractured sacrum and is eager to make her mark once again.
Uttrup Ludwig’s form has been building, and she is likely to be a contender for both stage wins and a high overall finish. Alongside her, FDJ-SUEZ also fields Èvita Muzic, who will be looking to improve on her 8th-place finish in 2022, making the team a dual threat in the general classification.
