‘I understand how loopy it may be’ – Perception however not expectation for Brown at Tour de France Femmes
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If Grace Brown learnt something from the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift final yr, it was that regardless of how nicely ready it is a race the place the stakes are so excessive that there are not any simple pickings. The FDJ-SUEZ rider had been flying by way of the spring of 2022 within the type of her life, however these front-of-field finishes grew to become elusive in France.
That’s why although she’s heading into the Tour mentally refreshed after a break from racing, and with the shape ticking alongside properly, the 31-year-old isn’t taking something as a right for her second yr of racing on the eight-day French tour.
“It is arduous, the Tour de France is simply actually large, and I believe I am extra nervous than I used to be final yr as a result of I do know a bit extra what to anticipate, I understand how loopy it may be,” Brown informed Cyclingnews in a telephone interview throughout the closing week earlier than the race. “I really feel bodily good however I assume slightly bit apprehensive about what I can anticipate from myself as a result of we all know that everybody’s in tremendous kind.
“Final yr I assumed that I used to be in my greatest form of the yr, possibly ever, and I did not get any outcomes in any respect. So it is like it is advisable go in believing that you are able to do one thing, but additionally not anticipating it.”
The brutal slopes of the Col du Tourmalet on stage 7 could also be drawing loads of anticipation, however for Brown it’s the levels earlier than and after that excite her. FDJ-SUEZ is more likely to be backing Marta Cavalli and Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig for the general, and whereas Brown was clear that “she’ll be there to assist the crew”, the Australian can also be more likely to make the most of any stage alternatives that crop up.
“I believe numerous the early levels are pretty nicely suited to me, the arduous levels with numerous elevation however not likely lengthy climbs … that’s the type of profile that fits my talents – it may be actually attritional over arduous terrain,” mentioned Brown.
“I am hopeful that I can strive for a stage outcome early within the race however the extra focussed goal is the time trial on the final day.”
Whereas Brown’s rivals for these stage wins have largely been coaching at altitude within the European summer time, or racing within the warmth of the Giro d’Italia Donne, Brown hasn’t pinned on a quantity because the CIC-Tour Feminin Worldwide des Pyrenees in early June and hasn’t precisely been basking within the heat.
Throughout her race break, Brown went again to Australia, spending time together with her husband within the chilly Melbourne winter. She nonetheless discovered methods of getting ready for what is anticipated to be a Tour de France that would nicely ship temperatures approaching 40 levels Celsius. Together with a little bit of gravel to combine issues up and loads of hours on the time trial bike, Brown threw indoor warmth coaching periods within the combine and is fairly pleased with the way it appears to have labored to date.
“I am not feeling remotely uncomfortable within the warmth now in coaching,” mentioned Brown, who returned from Australia earlier this month and has been situated in northern Italy. She was fast to level out that it is probably not as scorching as anticipated in some a part of France the place the race goes, “however nonetheless to really feel comfy in 30-plus levels is an efficient step”.
She’ll in fact have extra time acclimatising on the way in which to the beginning line in Clermont-Ferrand on Sunday July 23 and past as she heads towards her key objective of the time trial, which is able to come on July 30 in Pau after seven days of arduous racing. In her favour, too, is that many potential rivals in that closing stage could have needed to lay all of it on the road within the earlier testing stage over the Col d’Aspin after which up the Tourmalet.
“Should you’re combating for GC you’re completely going into the pink there and if not, it isn’t simple, however it can save you some vitality,” mentioned Brown. “So, I imply, so long as the crew would not want me to struggle for a GC place, then I can save a little bit of vitality there, which hopefully may also help me on the final day … However in fact you by no means know what might occur.”
There have been definitely challenges for the French squad within the 2022 version, the largest being a devastating crash for Marta Cavalli on stage 2 that took her out of the race. On that stage, their different GC card, Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig, additionally fell and misplaced a substantial period of time. Nonetheless, there have been additionally highs for FDJ-SUEZ, notably an thrilling stage 3 victory for Uttrup Ludwig in Epernay.
In her fifth season as an expert, Brown clearly has targets. When requested what would make it a profitable yr at this yr’s race, her focus in the beginning was on crew targets, not her personal.
“In the long run final yr, it was a extremely satisfying Tour,” mentioned Brown. “With the one stage win of Cecilie that was actually particular for the crew. So I believe if we are able to have one stage win or a extremely stable putting on the GC for the crew, then that will likely be a profitable Tour.”
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