Annemiek van Vleuten: Giro Donne win 'takes away the pressure' ahead of Tour de France Femmes

Annemiek van Vleuten is seen as the favourite for the Tour de France Femme but she described much of the pressure as ‘hype’ and insisted she was not worried. It is easy to see why the Dutchwoman is the favourite going into the relaunched tournament, which was previously run in different formats. Ad/> Van Vleuten has won two of the shorter formats — La Course — in 2017 and then 2018, and is the Olympic time trial champion.

/> Tour de France FemmesTour de France Femmes 2022: The route for inaugural eight-stage extravaganza4 HOURS AGO This season, she was second at Strade Bianche and the Tour of Flanders, and has won both Liege-Bastogne-Liege and another Grand tour, the 2022 Giro Donne in Italy. Speaking to Eurosport’s Orla Chennouai, the Movistar rider welcomed the return of a major women’s event in France. “Excited for the first time Tour de France, or the renewal, but it’s a milestone I think for woe’s cycling that we have it back on the calendar,” she began.

Vingegaard set to win maiden Tour as Van Aert claims stunning Stage 20 TT win Stage 20 — as it happened 'Just shows how close we are!' — Vingegaard on 'brother' Van Aert's tears “I really hope that some spectators who are following the Tour de France for the guys will be disappointed and then attract new people to follow our races and then new people who will see that women’s cycling is also interesting. I really like the concept they made for this Tour de France.” However, while keen to get started, she admitted the pacing of the course may not be in her favour. “I think I love the build-up of the course,” she stated.

“Maybe not for me, personally, but for the spectators. I would like to have the hilly stages a bit earlier. For me now it’s a bit of a waiting game.