Wheel Talk

With only eight seconds separating two riders, the final stage of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift came down to one final, absolutely brutal, stage in Nice. It was short, but packed a punch, and the overall classification was decided definitively. 

Abby, Loren, and Anna are here to talk about the stage and the final GC standings, with audio diaries from Nat Quinn (Mayenne Monbana My Pie), Franzi Koch (FDJ United-Suez), and Amanda Spratt (with a cameo from Niamh Fisher-Black) (Lidl-Trek). 

Every person in the race, from mechanics to riders to directors, has a unique story from each stage of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift. Stage 7 was particularly chaotic, and we highlighted it on our episode from the stage, but Abby wanted to share two alternative views on the race: Shawn Clarke, Director for Liv AlUla Jayco, and Fiona Mangan, who rides for Mayenne Monbana My Pie.

If there's anything we've learned in the past eight days, it's to expect the unexpected. Any stage can become a GC stage if it's played right. The race is finally in Nice, with the final stage set on a hilly course in the hills, but FDJ United-Suez aren't here to wait for the finale, and 400 metres of road is all they need to flip the script. 

Abby, Loren, and Anna have made it to Nice, mostly in one piece, but can hardly belive the stage they just watched. 

With audio diaries from Marianne Vos (Visma-Lease a Bike), Nadia Gontova (Liv AlUla Jayco), Heidi Franz (St Michel-Preference Home-Auber93), and Pfeiffer Georgi (Picnic PostNL). Thank you to Lizzie Deignan for previewing the final stage and to Magdeleine Vallieres (EF Education-Oatly) for kicking off the episode. 

Atop the iconic Mont Ventoux, the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift shattered. Favourites suffered and celebrated; all while the roadside party chanted and cheered. 

Today, Abby, Loren, and Anna stopped by the Cheer Squad to talk to some old friends, including Iris Slappendel, Alice Wood, and Matilda Raynolds. They also ran into the Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney cheer squad, who perhaps just had the best day of their lives.

With audio diaries from Pfeiffer Georgi (Picnic PostNL), Marion Bunel (Visma-Lease a Bike), and Amanda Spratt (Lidl-Trek). Stage analysis for stage 8 by Georgie Howe and Gracie Elvin, and a big thank you to Pauline Ferrand-Prévot for the stage introduction. 

The race is far from over, and far from wrapped. With two stages remaining, can the yellow jersey change hands (again)? 

Sandwiched between a brutal stage on Wednesday and Mont Ventoux on Friday, the sixth stage could have gone to an early breakaway, a group of gutsy riders who attacked early and stayed away, allowing the GC favorites a break. Instead, eight women, all with something to prove, made the day theirs. 

After a season of setbacks, one woman earned redemption, as Mont Ventoux looms in the distance. 

The sixth stage of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift saw Kim Le Court-Pienaar take an incredible victory ahead of Cédrine Kerbaol and Puck Pieterse. The win was one she had to fight for, and even though she had some bad luck, the race repaid her in kind. 

With audio diaries from Liane Lippert (Movistar), Alice Towers (EF Education-Oatly), Alison Jackson (St Michel-Preference Home-Auber93), and a stage 7 preview from Sarah Gigante (AG Insurance-Soudal).

Stage 5 of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift was set to be a stage where the plan was mostly just a piece of paper, but as the day unfolded, a few teams found themselves in the perfect situation. After the hardest day at the Tour so far, three riders soared while others sank, and the general classification battle became a little bit clearer. 

With audio diaries from Sigrid Haugset (Uno-X Mobility), Alison Jackson (St Michel-Preference Home-Auber93), Lily Williams (Human Powered Health), and Alice Towers (EF Education-Oatly).  

The race against the clock on stage 4 of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift shook the general classification and ruptured quite a few hopes. Abby and Loren saw the course before the riders raced on it from the follow cars of Liv AlUla Jayco and EF Education-Oatly, and it was not one for the faint of heart. It was for the pure time trialists, and they proved it. The yellow jersey changed hands, and Abby, Loren, and Alex were joined by the one and only Anna Shackley to talk about it.

With audio diaries from Marlen Reusser (Movistar), Heidi Franz (St Michel-Preference Home-Auber93), and Juliette Berthet (FDJ United-Suez).

Sandwiched between a brutal stage on Wednesday and Mont Ventoux on Friday, the sixth stage could have gone to an early breakaway, a group of gutsy riders who attacked early and stayed away, allowing the GC favorites a break. Instead, eight women, all with something to prove, made the day theirs. 

After a season of setbacks, one woman earned redemption, as Mont Ventoux looms in the distance. 

The sixth stage of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift saw Kim Le Court-Pienaar take an incredible victory ahead of Cédrine Kerbaol and Puck Pieterse. The win was one she had to fight for, and even though she had some bad luck, the race repaid her in kind. 

With audio diaries from Liane Lippert (Movistar), Alice Towers (EF Education-Oatly), Alison Jackson (St Michel-Preference Home-Auber93), and a stage 7 preview from Sarah Gigante (AG Insurance-Soudal).

Abby and Loren are back from the third stage of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, alongside Escape Collective Tech Reporter Alex Hunt. After driving the entirety of stage three, the trio discuss the real condition of the roads, how the winner perhaps had the upper hand, and more. Plus...bras?

With audio diaries from Alison Jackson (St Michel-Preference Home-Auber93), Lily Williams (Human Powered Health), and Nadia Gontova (Liv AlUla Jayco).

Abby and Loren talk about the second stage of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift with a little help from an old friend. Lidl-Trek tried to shake up SD Worx-Protime, and it almost worked. One of the best in the world continues to show why she has that title. 

With audio diaries from Amanda "Spratty" Spratt (Lidl-Trek), Lily Williams (Human Powered Health), and Pfeiffer Georgi (Picnic PostNL).