We’re looking at the first ‘Grand Tour’ of the season in this Arrivée episode from The Cycling Podcast Féminin. Rose Manley and Denny Gray of The British Continental pick out the big stories from a week of varied and exhilarating racing.

SD Worx came to the race looking for redemption after being narrowly denied the Vuelta title in last year’s controversial edition, but their leader Demi Vollering had a lot to prove after a disappointing Spring campaign. Her closest rivals - Kasia Niewiadoma and Elisa Longo Borghini - had both already taken landmark wins this year and were on confident form. 

There’s also plenty to discuss away from the GC race, in a course that offered up high mountains, a team time trial, breakaway success and chaos causing crosswinds.

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