GCN's Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift Predictions

With the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift about to start, the GCN editorial team penned their predictions for the Grande Boucle. Who will finish on the podium? Who will take home each jersey? Who will be this year's breakout star? Find out what the team thinks.

Daniel Benson - Editor in Chief

Who will be on the final podium?

1. Annemiek van Vleuten (Movistar)
2. Demi Vollering (SD Worx)
3. Juliette Labous (dsm-firmenich)

Who else will be competing for the top five?

As one might expect for the biggest women’s race on the calendar, there’s real depth and talent to the GC contenders, with most teams holding a candidate who can legitimately push for a top-ten place or even higher. The first two steps of the podium look relatively locked in but ASO has created such a dynamic route that there’s always the chance of a surprise package taking yellow via a break and using that buffer to build a solid run at the overall classification. Cédrine Kerbaol is my breakout rider for the race but she’s a genuine top-five contender and hasn’t finished below 10th in GC, in any stage race she’s started, since March of this year. I’m not sure Elisa Longo Borghini has the form but her teammate Amanda Spratt will be looking to make up for a DNF last year, and has the experience to shine. Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig and Évita Muzic will be in the mix, while Ashleigh Moolman Pasio will push for the podium if she has a clear run. Kasia Niewiadoma’s sheer consistency will keep her in the running, and she’s a dark horse for a stage win.

Who will be the breakout rider of the race?

This is such a hard category to pick because you’re instinctively drawn to the younger riders who are on the cusp of greatness but the name on the start list that sticks out to me most of all is Jenny Rissveds. Of course, an Olympic champion can’t be labelled as an unknown or ‘yet to breakthrough star’ but this is the Swedish rider’s first foray into major road racing, and she only signed a contract with Team Coop - Hitec Products a couple of months ago. In terms of pure road and stage racing at the highest level, she’s quite the novice - and I mean no disrespect with that. Perhaps what I find so inspiring about her is the fact that she’s come back from such difficult hurdles, and has talked openly and honestly about battles with eating disorders. I would dearly enjoy watching her take a stage in the Tour de France, and use that platform to spread awareness, and continue to be a huge inspiration for the next generation of riders.

Who will have the most sprint success?

This is arguably the closest competition in the race with Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx) and Charlotte Kool (dsm-firmenich) both vying for the title of best sprinter in the race. This year Kool has enjoyed an outstanding campaign, winning more races in the last few months than she had for the first few years of her career. The dsm leadout is the most refined group in the entire race, and while Wiebes undoubtedly has more experience, and can target some of the punchier stages, Kool may have the edge on her former teammate if she can survive the pockets of climbs on stages 1, 3, 5 and 6.

Who will win the other classifications?

White: Cédrine Kerbaol (Ceratizit-WNT)

Green: Marianne Vos (Jumbo-Visma)

Polka dot: Elise Chabbey (Canyon-SRAM)

Teams: SD Worx

What are you most looking forward to from the race?

ASO have put together a really exciting route that lends itself to aggressive racing right from the very first stage. There are sprint chances, for sure, but almost everyday could define and shape the battle of the yellow jersey. That said, the Tourmalet will be the crowning moment of this year’s race, and it’s a climb that will leave a lasting impression.

Patrick Fletcher - Deputy Editor

Who will be on the final podium?

1. Demi Vollering (Team SD Worx)
2. Annemiek van Vleuten (Movistar)
3. Juliette Labous (dsm-firmenich)

Who else will be competing for the top five?

As with the men’s Tour de France, it’s hard to see this as anything other than a two-horse race, with a much more open battle for that final podium spot and the top five. Labous continues to improve and so the Frenchwoman - runner-up at the Giro - gets my nod for the podium. Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM), last year’s podium finisher, should be in the thick of it again, while FDJ Suez have an eye-catching trio of cards in Marta Cavalli, Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig and Evita Muzic. Ashleigh Moolman Pasio (AG Insurance-Soudal QuickStep) has flirted with retirement in recent years but is looking fresh as ever and possesses the raw climbing talent to thrive on the Tourmalet.

Who will be the breakout rider of the race?

I hope I’m allowed to pick a 36-year-old, because I’m excited to see how Claire Steels goes for Israel-Premier Tech. She may be advanced in age but not in experience, having spent most of her career racing as a duathlete alongside her day job as a personal trainer. Her eye-catching displays at Continental level earned her a ticket to the WorldTour this year and she has not looked out of place, with victory at ReVolta, 6th at Suisse, and 2nd at Nationals. The upward curve is clear and we’re yet to really discover where its limits lie.

Who will have the most sprint success?

It’s hard to choose between Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx) and Charlotte Kool (dsm-firmenich), but that’s the rivalry that has defined sprinting this season and should be the key duel once again here. Kool has well and truly emerged from the shadow of her former leader, adapting to being the star of the show and proving more than a match in terms of pure speed. Plus, DSM have been the most impressive lead-out unit this year. That said, Wiebes has looked so good on short climbs and may well simply earn herself more opportunities to sprint.

Who will win the other classifications?

White: Ricarda Bauernfeind (Canyon-SRAM)

Green: Marianne Vos (Jumbo-Visma)

Polka dot: Demi Vollering (SD Worx)

Teams: FDJ-SUEZ

What are you most looking forward to from the race?

The Tourmalet is the most-visited mountain in the history of the men’s Tour de France and also a personal favourite, so I’m really excited to see the race head up there. It’s nothing short of iconic, and it’s a great opportunity for the women’s peloton to contribute to that legend. The Vosges last year were spectacular but it’s the Pyrenees and Alps that define the Tour, so this will mark a milestone moment in the growth of this event.

Matilda Price - Racing News Editor

Who will be on the final podium?

1. Demi Vollering (SD Worx)
2. Annemiek van Vleuten (Movistar)
3. Ashleigh Moolman Pasio (AG Insurance-Soudal QuickStep)

Who else will be competing for the top five?

Vollering and Van Vleuten are likely to be a step above as the top two in this race, but below them the battle for the podium and the top five will be really hot with lots of riders coming into this race at a similar level. Moolman Pasio is my favourite for the podium, but I’m also expected to see the likes of Juliette Labous (dsm-firmenich) do well after her second place at the Giro, and Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM), though we haven’t seen her race much recently, has been away training hard and always pulls out the stops for the biggest event. All eyes have been on the Elisas at Lidl-Trek, but I actually think their strongest rider at this race will be Amanda Spratt, who should be a real threat for the top five as at her best, she is one of the most talented climbers in the peloton.

Who will be the breakout rider of the race?

Predictably, the start list is so packed that it’s hard to pick out a rider who isn’t already well-known, but I’m backing Yara Kastelijn (Fenix-Deceuninck) to have a really good race. If you’ve been watching, you will have noticed Kastelijn at the pointy end of some big races already, but I think she’s going to really shine at the Tour. She’s a rider who’s really suited to one-day style racing, with punchy climbs, so I think there are a lot of chances for her to do very well here, and hopefully even collect a good result on the Tourmalet as one of her team’s strongest climbers.

Who will have the most sprint success?

Since there are so few very pure sprints in this year’s race, I’m going to go with Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx), because she’ll be able to mix it in the tougher finishes when other riders can’t. That said, I think on stage 6 that we’re expecting to be a pure bunch finish, Charlotte Kool (dsm-firmenich) will actually prove faster. Whilst Kool may lack the climbing and punchy ability that Wiebes has, I think she is actually faster and more powerful in a straight-up flat sprint, but dsm-firmenich are sending a better lead-out than SD Worx, who are trying to balance GC goals and stage ambitions.

Who will win the other classifications?

White: Cédrine Kerbaol (Ceratizit-WNT)

Green: Marianne Vos (Jumbo-Visma)

Polka dot: Demi Vollering (SD Worx)

Teams: SD Worx

What are you most looking forward to from the race?

It’s got to be the Tourmalet, hasn’t it? It may be the obvious answer, but it’s the headline stage for a reason, and it’s going to be epic. It’s been a long time since the women’s peloton have raced up such an iconic Tour de France climb, and I can’t wait to see the peloton race on such a big climb, on the biggest stage, in the biggest race in the world. It’s going to be a special moment.

Rider-wise, I must also say I’m super excited to see Jenny Rissveds racing. As a huge mountain bike fan, I love when the disciplines cross over, and if Rissveds’ road performances so far are anything to go off of, she’s going to be an exciting prospect at the Tour.

Logan Jones-Wilkins - North American Writer

Who will be on the final podium?

1. Demi Vollering (SD Worx)
2. Annemiek van Vleuten (Movistar)
3. Veronica Ewers (EF Education-TIBCO-SVB)

Who else will be competing for the top five?

Juliette Labous (dsm-firmenich), Ashliegh Moolman Pasio (AG Insurance - Soudal Quick-Step), Marlen Reausser (SD Worx), Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM) and Silvia Persico (UAE Team ADQ). My heart, and country pride, says Ewers. My head sees Labous as a really good pick as well.

Who will be the breakout rider of the race?

Veronica Ewers. I am showing my country loyalty here, but Ewers has a fascinating career and story, with last season being only her second season as a pro despite being 28 years old. She has had a steady build to this year’s Tour and her season has been entirely built around success in July. With her climbing prowess, she should do well with the challenges of the eight stages. The big question for Ewers, and for many of the podium contenders at this Tour, will be the time trial. Ewers has done a grand total of one race on the TT bike this year, and that was a team time trial. If she can manage her losses, the podium should be within her potential and would be a massive success for the American team and Ewers herself.

Who will have the most sprint success?

I really believe that this Tour de France Femmes will be heavy on aggressive racing and action on all sides which will lead to unorthodox sprints. Yes, there will be a couple of chances for the likes of Lorena Wiebes, Charlotte Kool and, hopefully, Elisa Balsamo to duke it out. But there will also be days for Marianne Vos and Lotte Kopecky. In short, I don't see any rider dominating and taking more than two stage wins. Thus, the fight for the green jersey should be a tight one and may have more to do with strength than speed.

Who will win the other classifications?

Green: Chloé Dygert (Canyon-SRAM)

Polka dot: Marta Cavalli (FDJ-Suez)

White: Eleonora Gasparrini (UAE Team ADQ)

Teams: SD Worx

What are you most looking forward to from the race?

Parity in women’s cycling? Maybe? Please? It has been something of a slog to get through some of the spring series with the dominance of SD Worx and while Demi Vollering is my pick to win the yellow jersey, I believe that there may be ample stage opportunities for the other teams as SD Worx focus on the biggest goal. Or, at least Vollering thinks so after her pre-Tour press conference.

Lidl-Trek is coming with a strong team with Balsamo returning after injury and Lizzie Deignan riding well of late. Charlotte Kool is on an absolute heater right now and has a strong lead out duo to deliver her in good stead to the finish where it will be her and Lorena Wiebes fighting for the win. On all sides, SD Worx will have challenges. I doubt they will be able to hold all of them off.

George Poole - Junior Race Writer

Who will be on the final podium?

1. Annemiek van Vleuten (Movistar)
2. Demi Vollering (SD Worx)
3. Ashleigh Moolman Pasio (AG Insurance-Soudal Quick-Step)

Who else will be competing for the top five?

As with the men’s Tour de France, the top two riders pick themselves in Annemiek van Vleuten and Demi Vollering, whilst Moolman Pasio will flourish on the Tourmalet summit finish. As for the other contenders for the top five and podium, I fancy Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (FDJ-SUEZ) to go well on the Tourmalet, with her teammate Marta Cavalli providing FDJ-SUEZ with a fantastic 1-2 attack. Juliette Labous (dsm-firmenich) and Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM) will both have ambitions in the top five, whilst Elisa Longo Borghini’s (Lidl-Trek) chances depend on how well she has recovered from her Giro d’Italia Donne abandon.

Who will be the breakout rider of the race?

Arkéa Samsic head to the race hoping to fly the French flag in their home race and have a squad full of talents looking to make their mark on the grandest stage. Marie-Morgane Le Deunff is a rider with lots of grinta - her spirited ride at the 2021 Paris-Roubaix Femmes avec Zwift comes to mind - and a fast finish, two ingredients which could see the 21-year-old achieving a notable result at this year’s race. It will be Le Deunff’s debut at the Tour and with many of the ‘stars’ of the sport already established heading into the race, Le Deunff is as strong a candidate as any to come away from the Tour as a breakout rider. I’d love to see it!

Who will have the most sprint success?

There are pretenders to the sprinting throne in the likes of Elisa Balsamo (Lidl-Trek), Chiara Consonni (UAE Team ADQ) and Marianne Vos (Jumbo-Visma), but if we’re being honest, everybody is salivating at the prospect of a Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx) vs Charlotte Kool (dsm-firmenich) showdown. In a master vs apprentice battle igniting the spirit of Obi-Wan Kenobi vs Anakin Skywalker, Wiebes will be seeking to hold off the challenge of her former lead-out star.

Kool has proved a fine replacement for the departing Wiebes at dsm-firmenich, but it remains the SD Worx sprinter who deserves the tag of the greatest sprinter in the peloton. SD Worx have the strongest team at the race to deliver Wiebes to success, whilst the 24-year-old has an explosive kick that is reminiscent of Mark Cavendish in his pomp. She will win the green jersey and the majority of the sprints at this year’s Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift.

Who will win the other classifications?

White: Ricarda Bauernfeind (Canyon-SRAM)

Green: Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx)

Polka dot: Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (FDJ-SUEZ)

Teams: Canyon-SRAM

What are you most looking forward to from the race?

My only hope is that SD Worx don’t dominate proceedings, so I am looking forward to a far more competitive race than we have seen at the majority of WorldTour events thus far in 2023. Every team knows that the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift is the biggest event of the year in cycling, and so they will all be eager to leave their mark on the race. For that reason, I have my fingers crossed for a very competitive edition that sees many faces come to the fore and reaches a crescendo with the historic summit finish atop the Col du Tourmalet - that is what the Tour de France is all about!

Nancy Arreola - Digital Content Manager

Who will be on the final podium?

1. Demi Vollering (SD Worx)

2. Annemiek van Vleuten (Movistar)

3. Ricarda Bauernfeind (Canyon//SRAM Racing)

Who else will be competing for the top five?

This is the biggest race in the world and the competition will be fierce. They all want this race in their palmares, but it seems that the fight for the yellow will be exclusive to Demi Vollering and Annemiek van Vleuten. I think Ricarda Bauernfeind will surprise on the podium; at 23 she has shown a lot of maturity and we have already seen what she is capable of in the Vuelta Femenina. The riders that should compete for the top 5 include: Elisa Longo Borghini (Lidl-Trek) , Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (AG Insurance - Soudal Quick-Step), Riejanne Markus (Jumbo-Visma), Veronica Ewers (EF Education-TIBCO-SVB) an Juliette Labous (dsm-firmenich).

Who will be the breakout rider of the race?

Claire Steels (Israel Premier Tech Roland) has been flying under the radar for so long, but she’s an excellent climber and she’s had time to focus and work towards this race. I think she can do something good in the Tourmalet stage. Also look out for Yara Kastelijn (Fenix-Deceuninck). She's a cyclocross rider, but climbing is her specialty and with her CX background, the intense TT effort the last day shouldn’t be an issue.

Who will have the most sprint success?

Apart from the fight for the yellow, the battle between the sprinters will also be exciting. Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx) and her ex-teammate Charlotte Kool (dsm-firmenich) will fight for the crown to confirm who is the queen of the sprint. But Elisa Balsamo (Lidl-Trek), Chiara Consonni (UAE Team ADQ), Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx) and Marianne Vos (Jumbo-Visma) will be in the fight for green. While I think Wiebes will prevail in the sprints, I think the green will go to a more versatile rider.

Who will win the other classifications?

White: Ricarda Bauernfeind (Canyon-SRAM)

Green: Marianne Vos (Jumbo-Visma)

Polka dot: Demi Vollering (SD Worx)

Teams: SD Worx

What are you most looking forward to from the race?

Everything! I'm looking forward to seeing all the best riders come together in one race, it's been a long time since we've seen them all line up at the same time. I would love to see a fierce battle between the two favourites (Vollering and Van Vleuten), but I also want to see the peloton tackle each of the stages as if they were one day races. This is going to be the most entertaining race of the season and I just can’t wait to see the women in the spotlight.

Antoine Maret - Digital Content Creator

Who will be on the final podium?

1. Demi Vollering (Team SD Worx)
2. Annemiek van Vleuten (Movistar)
3. Juliette Labous (dsm-firmenich)

Who else will be competing for the top five?

Kasia Niewadoma - she’s always in the mix ! I believe Marta Cavalli (FDJ-SUEZ) is also back to her best, after tough times due to her terrible accident on the Tour last year. Ricarda Bauernfeind (Canyon-SRAM) and Elisa Longo Borghini (Lidl-Trek) should be there too, but they can have a bad day and this cannot be in such a hard race. And Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (AG Insurance–Soudal–Quick-Step) is still the third best climber in the world, no reason for her not to be competing for top 5, and maybe even the podium. But I think Labous, with the ITT and the long climb of the Tourmalet, plus the urge to be in the front of the peloton working for her sprinter Kool, will be very close on GC coming into the weekend.

Who will be the breakout rider of the race?

With the absence of Gaia Realini, I think another pocket climber will take the spotlights: Ricarda Bauernfeind. She’s in brilliant form as we speak, and by helping her team leader Kasia Niewadoma, she could be Canyon SRAM’s big asset if the Pole doesn’t deliver as expected.

Who will have the most sprint success?

It comes between Charlotte Kool (dsm-firmenich) and Lorena Wiebes (Team SD Worx), as it has been for most of the season. Both teams have multiple goals, and could lose themselves by pursuing all of them. There are not too many occasions for sprinters, and I think the one who’ll win the first sprint will win all the following. I’d go for Charlotte Kool, who has a better organised leadout.

Who will win the other classifications?

White: Ricarda Bauernfeind (Canyon-SRAM)

Green: Charlotte Kool (dsm-firmenich)

Polka dot: Demi Vollering (SD Worx)

Teams: Canyon SRAM

What are you most looking forward to from the race?

Tourmalet and Pau are two of the most visited places by the men’s Tour. I definitely think the most important thing for women’s cycling is to have the ambiance of the Tour: and those are two places where it will be hectic, feverish even. The Tour is unique for that, and that’s what we should be looking for to make the sport grow.

Vanessa Pfohmann -  Digital Content Creator

Who will be on the final podium?

1. Demi Vollering (SD Worx)

2. Annemiek van Vleuten (Movistar)

3. Ashleigh Moolman Pasio (AG Insurance-Soudal QuickStep)

Who else will be competing for the top five?

The riders I think will fight for the top 5 are Juliette Labous, Kasia Niewiadoma, Silvia Persico, Marta Cavalli, Elisa Longo Borghini and Ricarda Bauernfeind. It is hard to predict which of them will be the strongest, but my bet is on Juliette Labous and Ricarda Bauernfeind. Labous finished fourth in last year's Tour de France Femmes and second in this year's Giro Donne. Bauernfeind has only ridden one Grand Tour, but made it into the top 5 straight away.  I think she will achieve the same result here. She is strong and talented, next year I expect her to be on the podium.

Who will have the most sprint success?

I think it will mainly be a duel between Lorena Wiebes and Charlotte Kool, but I think Wiebes will come out on top.  But they have strong competition in the form of Elisa Balsamo, Chiara Consonni and Marianne Vos, who will at least fight for the last podium place or hope to outsprint Wiebes and Kool.

Who will win the other classifications?

White: Ricarda Bauerfeind (Canyon-SRAM)

Green: Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx)

Polka dot: Demi Vollering (SD Worx)

Teams: Canyon-SRAM

What are you most looking forward to from the race?

I would prefer to say here, for everything, the whole race. But if I had to choose one thing, it would be the Tourmalet stage. The Tourmalet is one of the most iconic climbs in cycling and I'm looking forward to seeing a thrilling battle there between the strongest women in the sport.