2023 Tour de France Femmes: 7 Canadians to race

The Tour de France Femmes will begin on Sunday, coinciding with the conclusion of the men’s race. 22 teams are ready to participate in the second edition, which is undoubtedly the biggest race of the 2023 Women’s WorldTour cycling calendar.

? 8 stages. 22 teams. 1 Yellow Jersey. See you on July, 23.
? 8 étapes. 22 équipes. 1 Maillot Jaune. Rendez-vous dimanche 23 juillet.
#TDFF2023 #WatchTheFemmes l @GoZwift pic.twitter.com/R1cSIjuLVK

— Le Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift (@LeTourFemmes) July 17, 2023

Movistar’s Annemiek van Vleuten is looking to defend the maillot jaune in her final year as a pro cyclist. The Dutch rider has already had a fantastic year, winning the Giro d’Italia Donne for the fourth time, taking several stage wins as well. She will be facing stiff competition from Demi Vollering and her SD Worx squad, however.

UAE Team ADQ’s Olivia Baril is Canada’s best shot for a top result in the overall GC, and has been having a superb lead-up to the race. Other Canadians racing include Arkéa’s Clara Emond, the EF Education-TIBCO-SVB trio of Alison Jackson, Sara Poidevin and Magdeleine Vallieres, Cofidis’s Gabrielle Pilote Fortin, and Simone Boilard (St Michel – Mavic – Auber93.)

The first stage begins on Sunday with a flat 124-km race in Clermont-Ferrand, which could be a good parcours for Jackson. The next day is lumpy, with the 151.7-km stage heading to Mauriac. Although the TdFF alternates with hilly and flat states, it’s the last few days which will prove to be decisive.

There are a few very notable stages in the 2023 Tour, including the penultimate day from Lannemezan to Tourmalet Bagnères-de-Bigorre. The 90-km race will finish on the mythic Tourmalet climb. Unlike the men’s race which ends in a parade stage in Paris, the women will be afforded no such luxury. The last stage is a 22 km TT in Pau.