A dose of impatience, a lot of excitement and a little pressure... On the eve of the start of the Women's Tour de France, the 144 riders who will take the start of the event, Sunday July 24, in Paris, are experiencing a profusion of emotions during the presentation of the 24 teams.

The very existence of this ceremonial meeting, on the eve of the race, is already a novelty for most runners.

Like Barbara Fonseca, one of the Saint-Michel Auber 93 runners: "Everything is a little bigger. For example, we come to take official photos. Usually, we are more in our little bubble at the hotel “, she smiles.

For her, running this women's Tour de France finally created is an accomplishment.

The 31-year-old woman indeed resumed cycling in 2017 with the operation "Donnons des Elles au vélo D-1", which ran through the stages the day before the men to campaign for a women's Tour.

"With this Tour de France, the circle is complete," she jokes.

The French at the center of attention

The runners profit from their new notoriety, in particular the French ones who attract the attention of the media.

Like Juliette Labous, among the best French chances in the final general classification, who responds to all requests, under the amused eye of her DSM teammate, Liane Lippert, yet dressed in the German champion's tunic.

"I can't wait for tomorrow. There is excitement and also a bit of pressure", admits the stage winner on the Tour of Italy 2022. "It's all going to be decided on the last two stages, so than on that of the vineyard paths between Troyes and Bar-sur-Aube."

The Franc-Comtoise will be able to count on an additional source of motivation for the last two days: the route of the Tour de France 2022 ends at home, at the top of a Planche des Belles filles which she knows well.

To read also: Women's Tour de France: in the wheel of Cofidis, scouting on the Planche des Belles Filles

An end to the course with the summits of the Markstein and the Planche des Belles Filles which frightened part of the peloton: "We are happy to be there but there is also a little fear. The best in the world are there. Everything the world has made it a goal, the week is going to be long and painful," warns Morgane Coston, of the Arkea Pro Cycling team.

We had left Gladys Verhulst during a tearful press conference in June at the French championships in Cholet.

The Normande had finished for the third time on the podium, beaten by a hair by Audrey Cordon-Ragot.

She arrives on this Tour revitalized and ready to do battle: "I would have liked to wear the blue-white-red jersey on this Tour, that's for sure... But that means that I have my revenge to take on this Tour", she explains.

"I think I still don't fully realize that I'm going to run the Tour de France. It will probably be tomorrow, when we'll start fighting for victory on the Champs-Élysées", admits the one who has always dreamed of running the Tour, confessing to having "goosebumps".

Audrey Cordon-Ragot measures the progress made

At the height of her 32 years, Audrey Cordon-Ragot already has a long career behind her.

The 2022 French champion was even beginning to despair that the Tour de France Women would see the light of day.

"It was time for the wait to end! We were extremely busy and now it's time for it to stop: it's time for sport", says the Breton woman.

"We are going to prove to everyone that we are doing as well as the boys."

"My objective was to arrive on this Tour with the blue-white-red jersey. So I can already say that it is successful. Now, I will work (as a teammate, editor's note) to the maximum so that Elisa Balsamo (the world champion, nldr) and Elisa Longo Borghini win", she explains, confident that she has no personal ambitions.

Before setting off for the Grande Boucle, the French champion takes the time to measure the path traveled for women's cycling: "I know where we come from, I experienced the years of hardship, I changed Back of my car, I had colleagues who had to stop due to lack of money… And today, with the Tour de France, we are far from all that”, she notes.

La Bretonne also hopes that the public will be there on the roadside, as it is every year for men: "I admit that I am a little afraid that we will be disappointed... But I tell myself that it will always be better than usual. And it's up to us to make them want to come and see us next year!"

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