a coveted French champion’s jersey before the Tour

Published on : 25/06/2022 – 11:13

It’s a blue-white-red jersey that makes the whole French peloton dream. While the female version of the Tour de France will start on July 24, one of them will be able to win, on Saturday July 25, the national champion’s tunic in Cholet during the road race.

“A first Tour de France with a jersey of champion of France, it’s dreaming”, delivered in a press conference Thursday Juliette Labous, who will be the main French hope at the start of the Big loop women’s version (July 24-31).

120 km to force the decision

The 23-year-old climber, supported only by a teammate from her DSM team, is not necessarily the favorite on Saturday to cross the first line after the six laps of the 20-kilometre urban circuit (120 km in total), rather promised a massive sprint finish.

“I would prefer there to be an 8 km pass, but I don’t think that will happen anytime soon,” smiled the Bisontine, winner of her first WorldTour race at the end of May with her final victory in the Tour de Burgos.

“We are two against everyone. It is not an ultra-physical circuit, we are outsiders. We will have to try things”, she believes. The rain, which seems to have dogged the French championships since their launch, could reshuffle the cards.

Juliette Labous will in any case have 120 km to try, the longest distance for a French championship for ten years and the coronation in Saint-Amand-les-Eaux of Marion Rousse, who has since become director of the Tour de France women. As a sign of the path traveled by women’s cycling in France.

The profile of the race probably corresponds more to Clara Copponi. The 23-year-old from Aix has just opened her WorldTour counter by winning the first stage of the Women’s Tour. The FDJ-Suez Futuroscope sprinter can count on the number (seven entered), two former French champions (Jade Wiel and defending champion Évita Muzic) and the most powerful team.

On the downside, as there are only six places per team for the Big Loop, these are even more expensive. The blue-white-red tunic could decide a selection.

“There are two places left for the Tour de France (in the FDJ-Suez Futuroscope team), recognizes Clara Copponi. If there is the title, there is necessarily a ticket for the Tour behind. Maybe not, but I’m thinking about it.”

On the side of his team, current 2^e of the women’s peloton, we don’t hide it: counting the French champion in its ranks for a second consecutive year is a stated objective.

With AFP