FDJ-SUEZ

In 2017, FDJ joined forces with one of the oldest teams in the women’s peloton - Vienne Futuroscope - to become FDJ-Nouvelle Aquitaine-Futuroscope, the biggest French women’s team. Since the merger, the FDJ team has both strengthened and diversified its squad, turning what was once an all-French team into a multinational team with riders from Italy, Australia, Denmark and Sweden. 

Signing in 2020, Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig has become one of the team’s key riders, and the additions of Marta Cavalli and Grace Brown have created a team that has plenty of options for the biggest races on the calendar. In 2022, the team had success at the inaugural edition of their home Grand Tour, the Tour de France Femmes, winning a stage with Uttrup Ludwig. The Dane also finished seventh overall, ahead of teammate Évita Muzic in eighth. 

Going into 2023, the team made two new signings, eSports world champion Loes Adegeest and developing French sprinter Gladys Verhulst. They lost road captain Brodie Chapman to Trek-Segafredo, but with a mix of developing and proven riders, the team have a varied and talented squad in 2023.

Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig

Grace Brown

Evita Muzic

Marta Cavalli

Vittoria Guazzini

Victorie Guilman

Loes Adegeest

Jade Wiel

Emilia Fahlin

Marie Le Net

Gladys Verhulst-Wild

Clara Copponi

Eugénie Duval

Stine Borgli

Maëlle Grossetête

Tech

Features

Tech Features

2024 Women’s WorldTour bikes, wheels and groupsets: A complete guide

With 28 events spread across 82 days of racing, the 

 is set to deliver another blockbuster year of racing in 2024. 

As is usual when a new season begins, there will be a period of acclimatisation as fans get used to the changes in kits, riders and, in some instances, bikes too. While most teams are tied into long-term partnerships with their brands and will be sticking with the same bikes for 2024, there are a few who will be sporting new equipment.

To help, we've pulled together this complete guide to the bikes, groupsets, wheels and tyres every Women’s WorldTour team will be using during the 2024 season. 

2024 Men's WorldTour bikes: A guide to the bikes, groupsets, and tech of the top-tier teams

Factor on the move, Specialized here to stay

The start of a new season can be a confusing time for fans. There are new names and kits to get used to, not to mention all of the rider transfers to remember. There will also be new teams on the WorldTour roster in 2024, with 

 being awarded the two free WorldTour licences. Those spots became free following the closure of the EF Education-TIBCO-SVB team and the merger between Jayco-AlUla and Liv Racing TeqFind to form 

Things are much simpler in the world of bike tech where, barring the odd change, most things stay the same season-to-season. 2024 is no different and the majority of teams will be using the same bikes and equipment as they did in 2023.

 whose all-conquering exploits in 2023 bagged them an incredible 40 WorldTour wins. At the end of the season they topped the UCI rankings, finishing over 10,000 points clear of second-placed Lidl-Trek. Those victories and points were delivered atop 

 bikes and they’ll be linking up for plenty more wins over the coming season, having extended their partnership with the American brand until the end of 2028.

Only two team has swapped bike brands for the 2024 season, with 

Human Powered Health agreeing a three-year deal with Factor

, bringing to an end their five-year partnership with Felt. Roland Cycling, meanwhile, will step off their 

, which marks a historic moment as the Italian brand is used by a Women's WorldTeam 

Elsewhere, Liv will only sponsor one team after Jayco-AlUla and Liv Racing TeqFind - both of whom it sponsored in 2023 - merged to form Liv AlUla Jayco.

 is the most popular brand in the Women’s WorldTour, used by three different teams: Canyon-SRAM, Fenix-Deceuninck and Movistar. Specialized follows closely behind with two teams, along with the aforementioned Factor. 

 is a new addition to the list for 2024 following Ceratizit-WNT's step up to the highest tier.

Which bikes won the most races in the 2023 Women’s WorldTour?

Shimano edges SRAM, Campagnolo absent from Women’s WorldTour

 dominates the men’s WorldTour, but in the women’s peloton there’s a slightly more even split with 

, although the Japanese brand still enjoys the slight upper hand.

It currently sponsors nine of the 15 Women's WorldTour teams, while SRAM lays claim to the remaining six. 

 will once again be absent from the Women’s WorldTour in 2024. That’s indicative of its wider woes in elite cycling and the historic Italian brand will also be absent from the men's WorldTour peloton after 

While it loses out on the numbers stake, SRAM currently sponsors SD Worx who won virtually everything in 2023. That’s a slight exaggeration as Movistar halted that progress at two of the three Grand Tours, but the Spanish outfit also uses SRAM components, as do Lidl-Trek who finished second in the UCI rankings in 2023.

UAE Team Emirates and SD Worx top UCI world rankings

Fresh off the back of their most successful season to date, 

 are stepping up to WorldTour level in 2024. The team’s tally of seven wins in 2023, or 10 if you include National Championships, were taken atop the Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL7 and S-Works Shiv TT bikes. Since they last triumphed in June, the team has moved over to the new Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL8 which they’ll hope will propel their star riders, including 

Stiffer, lighter, more aerodynamic – Specialized launches new Tarmac SL8

Canyon-SRAM and - no points for guessing this one - their Canyon bikes teamed up to claim three WorldTour wins in 2023. Two of those were stage wins at Grand Tours, but their biggest victory arguably came after the road season when 

 was crowned the gravel world champion atop the then-unreleased 

. Just as unsurprisingly, the team uses the SRAM Red groupset along with 

All-new Canyon Grail gains in-frame storage and seamless bar integration

 wasn’t present in the Women’s WorldTour in 2023 but that will change in 2024 with 

 making the jump from the Continental ranks.

Willing to buck common trends, the Spanish brand 

launched its latest Orca climbing bike in 2023

. Purely built to be lightweight, it wasn’t accompanied by any aero claims - a rarity in modern cycling. It made its racing debut at the Tour de France Femmes where Ceratizit-WNT’s 

 won the best young rider’s white jersey.

Pro bike: Kathrin Schweinberger’s Orbea Orca

 to SD Worx, who claimed the majority of their wins in 2022. If that left question marks over the team’s winning potential, they were quickly answered by 

 Foil to devastating effect. By the end of the season, the flying Dutchwoman had 13 wins and she’ll be hoping to take many more in 2024, once again atop Scott’s bikes.

In the world of cycling tech, the biggest surprise of the off-season came when

 and Groupama-FDJ ended their 22-year collaboration. That doesn’t extend to the 

 who are also supported by FDJ, as they will continue to use the French brand’s bikes in 2024. Their riders will use the Xelius SL, which will be paired with Shimano’s Dura-Ace groupset and wheels.

Lapierre and Groupama-FDJ split after 22 years of collaboration

’s upwards trajectory continued in 2023 as the team made the step up to WorldTour level, along with their Canyon bikes. 

’s stage victory at the Tour de France Femmes was the pinnacle of the team’s year on the road, but it was an equally seismic moment for Canyon who shared a clean sweep of stage wins at the French Grand Tour with Specialized. By the end of the race, both brands had four stage wins apiece, although Specialized also claimed the overall yellow jersey through Demi Vollering.

Fenix-Deceuninck Team Talk: Few wins but promising signs for WorldTour debutants

It’s was a hectic year in 2023 for the 

 umbrella whose men’s team folded. Things are more stable for the women’s team which continues in 2024, although they've done so atop Factor bikes having ended their long five-year partnership with 

. The American outfit will get to choose between the 

released in 2023 with claims that it’s “the world’s lightest climbing bike”

. The team will also make the switch to Black Inc wheels for 2024.

Human Powered Health switch to Factor bikes for 2024

With one of the strongest rosters in the WorldTour, 

 are a powerhouse of women’s cycling, although they struggled to convert that into WorldTour wins in 2023 against the might of SD Worx. Their six WorldTour wins isn’t too shabby, but they’ll hope to take more in 2024 atop their 

 and Madone which have both been around for a while, although they’ve adapted over the years. Most recently the Madone has undergone a makeover, leading to a hole in its seat tube that helps it to stand out from the WorldTour crowd. 

Pro bike: Elisa Longo Borghini’s Trek Émonda SLR

Mergers between teams can be chaotic, especially when there are conflicting brands to accommodate. Of course, a team can only have one bike sponsor, so one brand usually loses out. Things were much simpler in the merger between Jayco AlUla and Liv Racing TeqFind who both rode 

 bikes in 2023, and the Giant-owned brand will continue to serve the newly merged Liv AlUla Jayco outfit.

Liv is the only women-specific bike brand in the pro peloton, with the team choosing between the Langma Advanced and EnviLiv advanced bikes for road stages, and the Avow Advanced for time trials.

 Liv Langma Advanced and EnviLiv Advanced

Racing

Analysis

FDJ-SUEZ Team Talk: Plenty of success, but were there enough big race wins? 

FDJ-SUEZ keep chipping away as one of the more successful WorldTeams, but perhaps they are missing something special to propel them to the very top

, few teams can claim to have enjoyed an upward trajectory as successful as 

’s in recent years. Founded in 2006, for a long time the team was a largely French-focused affair, but has grown into a truly international team, featuring stars from Denmark to Australia and taking wins in Grand Tours and Classics.

, as well as the ever-present contingent of French riders, FDJ-SUEZ have become one of the strongest and most aggressive riders in the peloton, with riders suited to every terrain. They may not be considered one of the huge teams like 

, but anyone watching a race will see the blue and red jerseys getting in and amongst the action.

In 2023, the team had a lot to build on, coming off the back of a 2022 whose highlights included a stage win at the 

 and victory in two of the three Ardennes Classics. Did they step up a level this year, and where can they go 2024? Let’s take a closer look.

In 2023, FDJ-SUEZ took 17 wins as a team, plus two of their number claimed national titles, to earn a points haul that saw them finish sixth in the 

Based purely on numbers, it’s hard to fault FDJ-SUEZ’s 2023 season, with leaders Brown, Cavalli and Uttrup Ludwig all winning consistently, but on closer inspection, none of those wins came in the biggest races, namely Grand Tours and Classics. What they did have, though, was a lot of home success, whether that was in French races or in Australia and Scandinavia for Brown and Uttrup Ludwig.

The year started off with an almost perfect trip to Australia, with Brown winning the overall of the Tour Down Under before Loes Adegeest took victory at the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race - it doesn’t get much better than winning the first two WorldTour races of the season.

Going into the Classics, FDJ-SUEZ’s momentum definitely slowed down, and some gaps were exposed in their roster - once a strong Classics-type rouleur, Brown has definitely evolved into a different type of rider, and wasn’t quite delivering in the cobbled races. The cobbled and Belgian races were forgettable, with the team finishing outside the top 10 on most occasions.

The spring highlights came outside of Belgium, pinpointed by Uttrup Ludwig’s third at Strade Bianche (after Kristen Faulkner’s disqualification), Vittoria Guazzini’s third in the Trofeo Alfredo Binda, and then sixth for Brown in the Amstel Gold Race. Eugénie Duval also took fourth in Paris-Roubaix Femmes, as part of the breakaway that survived all the way to the end.

Cavalli, who in 2022 won two of the three Ardennes races, struggled in the spring, returning from illness and still feeling the effects of her dramatic crash in the Tour de France Femmes last year.

Things picked up again away from the Classics, with FDJ-SUEZ winning a series of French races. Through May, whilst most teams were heavily focusing on the Spanish block of stage races, FDJ-SUEZ put more of their efforts into a French block, whilst Uttrup Ludwig took a rest from racing and only rode the Vuelta a Burgos, where she finished 11th.

Into June, Cavalli made her return with a victory atop the Hautacam in the Tour des Pyrénees in another strong race for the team, and again an example of them prioritising French events. Going into the Giro and the Tour, FDJ-SUEZ were thereabouts in the action and in the top 10 overall, but missed either winning or podiuming in either, which is perhaps a disappointment.

After a slightly quieter June and July, then, they came back strong for the end of the season, winning three stages of the Tour of Scandinavia, Cavalli taking the overall at the tough Tour de l’Ardèche, and Uttrup Ludwig taking a big win at the Giro dell’Emilia and second at Tre Valli Varesine to round things off well.

Whilst the wins came, and came consistently, off the back of strong team performances, FDJ’s decision to focus slightly more on the French races did cost them when they went against the biggest WorldTour squads, and next year we would like them to convert those wins into success at the very top level.

FDJ-SUEZ should be proud of their successes in 2023, and top-level wins aren’t the only ones that matter, but the lack of a Grand Tour stage victory or big Classics title leaves a clear gap in their palmarès.

FDJ-SUEZ's Top Five in 2024

On the surface, there aren’t too many big changes at FDJ-SUEZ, but they’ve quietly made some very canny moves for 2023. They’re saying goodbye to five riders, as Stine Borgli opts for retirement and four others move on to other teams. Clara Copponi is perhaps the biggest loss, taking her sprinting abilities to Lidl-Trek, whilst Victorie Guilman, Maëlle Grossetête and Emilia Fahlin will be in St Michel-Mavic-Auber93, Human Powered Health and Arkéa - B&B Hotels colours, respectively, in 2024.

The riders they’re bringing in more than make up for those losses, though, with six brand-new names joining the squad for 2024. Most of the arrivals are quite young, but they’re talented riders who will bring value beyond their age to the team. 

The headline move is perhaps Amber Kraak, from Jumbo-Visma. A former rower, Kraak is a very strong rider, and perhaps one of the most underrated riders on Jumbo-Visma. Her attacking style means she’s often in the break or active at the front, and this year she’s really been converting that into strong GC finishes. It remains to be seen how she’ll fit in with the leaders FDJ already have, but she is a very useful addition to the team.

Nina Buijsman and Coralie Demay also bring experience to the team, whilst Alessia Vigilia, Léa Curinier and Lauren Molengraaf mark an influx of new and young talent, with both climbing and Classics potential. At only 18, Molengraaf won’t be taking wins straight away, but Curinier and Vigilia could be in line for some break-out rides, especially when the stage races come around, which is perhaps where FDJ lacked depth this year.

With no dramatic line-up changes, FDJ-SUEZ will likely have a similar approach to their racing and goals in 2024 as in 2023. Uttrup Ludwig, Brown and Cavalli will remain the key leaders in stage races and hilly one-days, where their success is proven. Uttrup Ludwig and Brown are perhaps near a ceiling of what they can achieve - though they should continue to take those kinds of results for a few years - but the rider who could really step up further is Marta Cavalli.

Cavalli’s success in the Ardennes in 2022, beating Annemiek van Vleuten and Demi Vollering on two occasions, proved how strong she can be, and her climbing results this year - in smaller races, but on very hard climbs such as the Hautacam - have reconfirmed her climbing strength. She was very much still overcoming some mental and physical limitations in 2023, so with those hopefully in her rearview mirror in 2024, the Italian is more than capable of becoming a climber ready to rival the likes of Vollering in the biggest stage races and climbs. 

The additions of Alessia Vigilia and Léa Curinier will also add to their climbing contingent.

When it comes to their Classics weakness, FDJ have somewhat combatted that for 2024 with Amber Kraak. We would expect her to be up there in the cobbled Classics, and Vittoria Guazzini also looks to be on a path towards one-day strength. Rather than hoping Brown or Uttrup Ludwig can pull something out, FDJ-SUEZ should really start to tap into new talent with their approach to the Belgian races in 2024.

The loss of Clara Copponi may mean we see FDJ jerseys a little less in sprint finishes, but they still have Gladys Verhulst who is handy in a bunch kick, and Guazzini is learning her trade as a solid lead-out rider.

The only question mark is in which races these wins will come. FDJ-SUEZ definitely have the depth of riders to target races all across the season, but it depends on whether they make the top WorldTour races their real focus - races that are definitely harder to win but are much more prestigious additions to their palmarès.

Now building on a more experienced base, FDJ-SUEZ don’t have a great wealth of young riders in their roster, with all but one aged 22 or over. The one who isn’t is Lauren Molengraaf, the junior cyclo-cross world champion and mountain biker, but with plans to continue a multidisciplinary programme, a breakout road season is quite an ask for the first-year elite rider.

Instead, our pick for a name who is going to breakthrough onto the WorldTour scene is Alessia Vigilia. Particularly attentive women’s cycling fans will already be aware of Vigilia, who has ridden for Top Girls Fassa Bortolo for the last two seasons and had a lot of success in lower-level races, as well as being ever-active in bigger events. In the year that she came fourth in Durango-Durango Emakumeen Saria and won the overall at the Giro Toscana, the 24-year-old earned herself a step up to the WorldTour with FDJ-SUEZ.

Though she already has a handful of wins to her name from 2023, we’re predicting that, with the trajectory she is on, 2024 could see Vigilia turn those wins into success at WorldTour level. She can climb well, and also has an aggressive approach to racing, and though FDJ may expect her to put in some team support for bigger names, she should also be given her own opportunities and that should translate into a breakout ride.

Do you agree with our assessment of FDJ-SUEZ's 2023 campaign, and what do you think will be their main targets in 2024?

News

Race News

Grace Brown and Amanda Spratt confirmed for Tour Down Under battle

Grace Brown and Amanda Spratt finished first and second overall in the 2023 Tour Down Under

The two Australian riders are the first two names to be confirmed on the startlist for the 

Last year, the first year the women’s race was a WorldTour event, the women’s Tour Down Under featured tougher parcours with a Corkscrew Road finale, the biggest climb featured in the previously fairly flat race since its inception in 2016.

The battle on Corkscrew Road came down to a head-to-head sprint between Grace Brown and Amanda Spratt, with Brown winning on the line to seal the overall title ahead of Spratt. With the two confirmed for the 2024 race, and a visit to Willunga Hill on the cards, the pair will once again be expected to be at the forefront of the GC battle.

“The 2023 Tour Down Under was a perfect season start for me and my FDJ SUEZ team,” Brown said as defending champion. “It was really special and exciting for me to take the lead of the race on the final day surrounded by Aussie fans and my family.

“We are hoping for similar success in the upcoming edition and will bring another strong team to challenge for the victory. The three stages look well rounded, with opportunities for sprinters, puncheurs, and climbers.”

Though she missed out on the overall win in 2023, Spratt is the most decorated rider at the Tour Down Under, having won three consecutive titles between 2016 and 2018. With more climbing on the route, the 36-year-old may be eyeing the possibility of adding a fourth title to her palmarès, especially with the chance of winning on Willunga Hill up for grabs.

Stuart O’Grady expecting an ‘epic finale’ at Tour Down Under

For race director Stuart O’Grady, being able to attract the likes of Brown and Spratt to the early season race, many miles away from the European hub of racing, reflects positive signs for the race.

“To have so many world-class riders is a testament to our event and the continued growth and popularity of women’s cycling,” he commented.

O'Grady also confirmed that eight Women’s WorldTour teams had so far confirmed their attendance for the 2024 race, with FDJ-SUEZ and Lidl-Trek among them. Historically, not all teams have made the long trip to the southern hemisphere in January, but this increased in 2023 with the race moving up to WorldTour status.

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FDJ-SUEZ

FDJ-SUEZ

The Team

Top FDJ-SUEZ Stories

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Grace Brown and Amanda Spratt confirmed for Tour Down Under battle

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Name	Age	UCI Career Wins	UCI Points
Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig	28	18	2233
Grace Brown	31	20	1484
Evita Muzic	24	5	1283
Marta Cavalli	26	9	745
Vittoria Guazzini	23	3	580