Do you feel that cycling is the best sports ever?
Have never felt that entertained by an event other than this July?
Do you fear withdrawal on the 25th July?
If you have never watch women cycling, you should! It is all packed in action with the riders always in rush mode.
The women take on the route in France for 8 days for the first and hopefully not the last edition of the greatest women cycling ever!!!
Stage 1 - 24th July 2022
Prior to the men final stage, the women will take on 12 laps of the Champs Elysées circuit. Nothing but to reward the fastest women on earth.
★★★★★ Elisa Balsamo
★★★★☆ Lorena Wiebes
★★★☆☆ Marianne Vos
★★☆☆☆ Emma Norsgaard
★☆☆☆☆ Chiara Consonni
Stage 2 - 25th July 2022
A repeat of the previous day. It will go down to the wire between Lorena Wiebes and Elisa Balsamo.
★★★★★ Lorena Wiebes
★★★★☆ Elisa Balsamo
★★★☆☆ Marianne Vos
★★☆☆☆ Emma Norsgaard
★☆☆☆☆ Chiara Consonni
Stage 3 - 26th July 2022
This little jewel with 5 km to go will reward the best puncheurs!
★★★★★ Marianne Vos
★★★★☆ Marta Bastianelli
★★★☆☆ Demi Vollering
★★☆☆☆ Cecile Ludwig
★☆☆☆☆ Shirin Van Anrooij
Stage 4 - 27 July 2022
The women will also have their unpaved roads. There will be around 13km of gravel ‘chemins blancs’ to cover. In addition, the road is bumpy with an accumulation of shallow climbs.
★★★★★ Elisa Longo Borghini
★★★★☆ Marianne Vos
★★★☆☆ Lotte Kopecky
★★☆☆☆ Demi Vollering
★☆☆☆☆ Annemiek Van Vleuten
Stage 5 - 28th July 2022
The pure sprinters will return to have a chance to strike back!
★★★★★ Elisa Balsamo
★★★★☆ Lorena Wiebes
★★★☆☆ Chiara Consonni
★★☆☆☆ Lotte Kopecky
★☆☆☆☆ Emma Norsgaard
Stage 6 - 29th July 2022
The return of those little kicker in the finale. The aim of which is to make like hard for those pure sprinters.
★★★★★ Lotte Kopecky
★★★★☆ Lorena Wiebes
★★★☆☆ Elisa Balsamo
★★☆☆☆ Marianne Vos
★☆☆☆☆ Emma Norsgaard
Stage 7 - 30th July 2022
3 category- 1 climbs on the menu for the day. It is impossible to beat Annemiek Van Vleuten unless someone like Anna Henderson, Alexandra Manly or Shirin Van Antooij tries something from the breakaway.
★★★★★ Annemiek Van Vleuten
★★★★☆ Katarzyna Niewiadoma
★★★☆☆ Mavi Garcia
★★☆☆☆ Marta Cavalli
★☆☆☆☆ Demi Vollering
Stage 8 - 31st July 2022
The winner of the Tou de France Femmes will be crowned at top of La Super Planche de Belles Filles. There might be a slighter, very slighter, hope of getting the best of Annemiek Van Vleuten due to the nature of the final climb.
★★★★★ Annemiek Van Vleuten
★★★★☆ Marianne Vos
★★★☆☆ Mavi Garcia
★★☆☆☆ Marta Cavalli
★☆☆☆☆ Demi Vollering
The final podiums:
The fight for the best team will go down between Trek-Segafredo and Team Sd- Works. Team DSM with its dynamic team should not be underestimated.
Shirin Van Anrooij would like to confirm her status as the best young rider in the world but with the white jersey also including riders up to 25, she will face some serious competition, starting with her teammate Elisa Balsamo. Marta Cavalli is nevertheless the firm favourite for standing on the final podium. Team DSM come in with a very young a strong team. Finally Ruby Roseman Gannon of Team Bike Exchange and Anna Henderson of Team Jumbo Visma will also have a say.
The green jersey should be a straight down affair between Lorena Weibes and world champion Elisa Balsamo. Chiarea Consonni and Emma Norsgaard would also want to have a say in this fight.
Le Maillot à Pois will be a prize strongly desired by many teams. Anna Henderson lead the way of many riders that have been working for this prize. Winner of the Giro KOM, Kristen Faulkner would want to repeat her feat. Elise Chabbey will also join the fight was will French girls Juliette Labous and the majestic Audrey Cordot-Ragot.
Annemiek Van Vleuten looks poised for the Maillot Jaune but this is cycling and anything can happen. The heat wave has just join the list of party-pooper, already including Covid, Crashes and stomach bugs. Training in the shadows with her boy friend, is Katarzyna Niewiadoma. We have not seen her racing for a long time as she was preparing for this race. The same can be said of Team Sd works Demi Vollering and Ashley Moolman-Pasio. Cecile Ludwig, Marta Cavalli and Grace Brown form an infernal trio that could trouble Annemiek Van Vleuten. Team Trek Segafredo will put all their hopes on Elisa Longo Borghini as a podium place seem a more realistic objective. Pauliena Rooijakers of Canyon SRAM and Marta Bastianelli are riders to also consider for a top 10 final although Team UAE will likely be more focused on a podium with Mavi Garcia
Velogames Guide
Annemiek Van Vleuten Movistar Team 26 The Ultimate Favourite that will only lose the race due to illness or crash
Demi Vollering Team SD Worx 22 We have not seen her for a long time but she has been building her form to challenge for a podium. It will really be hard for her to beat her AVV.
Lorena Wiebes Team DSM 18 She could get 6 out of the 8 stages win against Vos and Balsamo
Elisa Longo Borghini Trek - Segafredo 18 Stage 4 is destined for her and her latest form suggest she will aim for a podium
Marta Cavalli FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope 16 2nd of the last giro, she will be among a long list of rest of the best contenders
Elisa Balsamo Trek - Segafredo 16 The world champion Will be aiming for the maillot vert and she has her A team to lead her for a maximum stage victories
Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope 14 Riders of excellent talent who usually do well in Gc and punchy finishes. She has not been great this season but a final 6th at the Giro Donne suggest she is on the right track
Marianne Vos Team Jumbo-Visma 14 She left the Giro after 2 stage wins to focus on the Tour but what will her main objective be? Maillot vert ou Jaune? At 35, she will want to well in this first official Tour de France
Katarzyna Niewiadoma Canyon//SRAM Racing 12 We have not seen her racing for a long long time. She has neither been been sick or injured meaning she was optimizing her form riding along climbs with Tyler Farrar.
Lotte Kopecky Team SD Worx 12 She started the season with a bang but her form recently has been quite disappointing
Ashleigh Moolman Team SD Worx 12 Team SD Works option 2 for the general
Marlen Reusser Team SD Worx 12 An all rounder who will is mainly here as support
Mavi García UAE Team ADQ 12 Perhaps the only rider who will be able to follow Van Vleuten on the climbs. Her Final GC standings will however depend more on her performances in that unpaved stage
Elise Chabbey Canyon//SRAM Racing 10 Another good all rounder and powerful rider that can climb fairly. She will be supporting Niewadona and Rooijakers though
Lisa Brennauer Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling 10 Sadly,one of the best TT riders wont be having much fun in this TT less stage
Emma Norsgaard Movistar Team 10 Used to be considered the best sprinter on the world, she seems to be a step lower than the likes of Balsamo and Wiebes at the moment
Arlenis Sierra Movistar Team 10 A rider that loves hily stages and can win punchy sprints
Kristen Faulkner Team BikeExchange - Jayco 10 One of the revelation of the season, she will be aiming for a top 10 finish
Juliette Labous Team DSM 10 The young frenchwoman's main aim will be a stage win, no matter the type and manner
Liane Lippert Team DSM 10 one of the most essential part of Lorena Wiebes sprint train
Coryn Labecki Team Jumbo-Visma 10 A good punchuer with a good sprint, it will be interesting to see her role on the same team as Vos
Chantal Van Den Broek-Blaak Team SD Worx 10 A real lieutenant who will pace Vollering and Moolman Pasio as high as possible in the hopeless scenario of dropping Van Vleuten
Ellen Van Dijk Trek - Segafredo 10 With no time trial, her best chance of shining will be stgae 4. She is however one of the most important piece of the train that delivers Balsamo
Marta Bastianelli UAE Team ADQ 10 A more than decent climber with a good sprint
Sofia BertizzoloUAE Team ADQ 10 UAE's main sprinter
Chiara Consonni Valcar - Travel & Service 10 A powerful sprinter that can challenge Balsamo And Wiebes on flat fast days
Ally Wollaston AG Insurance - NXTG Team She will be the star of her team and she will be delivered to contest sprints. She has the capacity to finish in many top 5
Soraya Paladin Canyon//SRAM Racing 8 One of the greatest climbers of recent years, she seems to be stuggling for form this season
Pauliena Rooijakkers Canyon//SRAM Racing 8 one of the revelation of the season, she is a very affordable option for a top 10
Maria Giulia Confalonieri Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling 8 A good sprinter that will find it hard to upset the hierarchy
Kristabel Doebel-Hickok EF Education-TIBCO-SVB 8 one of the better climbers, she always seem to be lacking something in stage races though
Veronica Ewers EF Education-TIBCO-SVB 8
The American has been slowly and quietly been growing into shape. A true all rounder that can climb well. An excellent 8 points bet
Grace Brown FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope 8 8 points for someone who finished with Niewadoma and Longo Borghini at the top of the black mountain. What are you waiting for?
Vittoria Guazzini FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope 8 The portuguese will her team's sprinter
Évita Muzic FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope 8 She will be on strict duty to guide her trio of leaders
Rachele Barbieri Liv Racing Xstra 8 One of the top sprinters on flat
Alexandra Manly Team BikeExchange - Jayco 8 A real fighter of a rider who can follow the best climbers, destined for an overall top 10
Ane Santesteban Team BikeExchange - Jayco 8 another good 8 points options. An excellent climber that was having a great season until covis struck
Amanda Spratt Team BikeExchange - Jayco 8 She does not seem to be on the same form we know her, will likely be helping Manly and Sanesteban
Pfeiffer Georgi Team DSM 8
She will aiming for that white jersey and maybe the polka dot?
Anna Henderson Team Jumbo-Visma 8
She has been developing her KOM game recently. She has eyes set on that Maillot a pois!
Riejanne Markus Team Jumbo-Visma 8 She will mostly be used to lead out Marriane Vos
Christine Majerus Team SD Worx 8 on strict domestique duty
Audrey Cordon-Ragot Trek - Segafredo 8 The most luxurious domestique in the world has never been on better form. She is the France champion and will be allowed to chase a stage victory of her won
Leah Thomas Trek - Segafredo 8 She will be on strict domestique duty
Shirin Van Anrooij Trek - Segafredo 8 The revelation of the year on road cycling. She just keep improving everytime we see her. We just don't know where is her limit. She is an aggressive rider who will be in lot of break aways. Maillot a pois battle potential?
Erica Magnaldi UAE 8 A good rider that could to be a bargain for the braves
Olivia Baril Valcar - Travel & Service 8 The Canadian had an excellent season before leaving the giro donne prematurely she is a good bet at 8 but they are better bargains
Eleonora Camilla Gasparrini Valcar - Travel & Service 8 She is far from her form of last year where she was regularly challenging for classics win
Silvia Persico Valcar - Travel & Service 8 8 Points rider: 7 th at the Giro Donne, Vuelta Burgos, Ride London classique. Nothing more to add
Alena Amialiusik Canyon//SRAM Racing 6 one of Niewadoma most trusted lieutenant
Marta Lach Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling 6 A sprinter who will be in the mix regulalrly
Marie Le Net FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope 6 A rider who loves being on the attack. She is in good form and will hopefull be alowed to entertain
Julie De Wilde Plantur-Pura 6 The 19 year old will be at the first stage race. She is poised to do well after a series of top 10 places in the spring classics
Yara Kastelijn Plantur-Pura 6 another good classic rider that has been overshadowed by her younger teamates this season
Ruby Roseman-Gannon Team BikeExchange - Jayco 6 An excellent sprinter that will be Leading out Alexandra Manly.
Karlijn Swinkels Team Jumbo-Visma 6 A very good sprint that will have limited chaces with Marianne Vos
Julia Borgström AG Insurance - NXTG Team 6 The Swedish will lead her team front in sprints with a couple of top10 stage finishes
Jesse Vandenbulcke Le Col - Wahoo 6 Top 10 sprint finishes arepossible for her
Mischa Bredewold Parkhotel Valkenburg 6 The designated GC rider of the team
Nicole Frain Parkhotel Valkenburg 6 Another option for the team that will be trying to get into break aways
Femke Gerritse Parkhotel Valkenburg 6 An excellent spinter who will be in the mix
Femke Markus Parkhotel Valkenburg 6 Another option for the team that will be trying to get into break aways
Urška Žigart Team BikeExchange - Jayco 6 can she pull out one of those inspirational moves, like someone close to her , for a stage win?
Noemie Abgrall stade Rochelais 4 She finished 3rd of the recent french championship. The confidence is here to try something from breakaways
Anne Van Rooijen Parkhotel Valkenburg 4 A cheaper option in a otherwise balanced team who will be looking for break aways
Kim De Baat/ Laura Süßemilch Plantur-Pura 4 Either could bring some assist points with persico and consonni
Sandrine Bideau St Michel - Auber93 WE 4 A very experineced rider that finished 6th in the recent French National Championship
Maeva Squiban Stade Rochelais Charente-Maritime 4 At only 20, she has shown some potential in the Tour de Suisse with Final GC of 16. will try to get into breakaway to show what she can do
Being rather new to the Women's cycling that I enjoy so much, my thoughts on 4 and 6 points are close to nil. As such, I would very much welcome any insight to be shared!
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