The fifth edition of the Tour de France Femmes starts Saturday in Lausanne with a 138-kilometre circuit, opening a race that will be defined by its queen stage to the summit of Mont Ventoux on August 7 and a final circuit in Nice featuring four ascents of the Col d'Èze.
Demi Vollering, who won the Tour of Flanders, La Flèche Wallonne, Liège–Bastogne–Liège and the Giro d'Italia this season, is among the favourites for the overall title, alongside defending champion Pauline Ferrand-Prévot and challengers Anna van der Breggen and Paula Blasi. A 21-kilometre individual time trial through Burgundy vineyards on Tuesday adds another test before the mountains.
Lotte Kopecky, riding for SD Worx-Protime, is not targeting the general classification but seeks stage victories alongside teammates Lorena Wiebes and Van der Breggen. Kopecky said she looks forward to the Mont Ventoux challenge. Thirty Dutch riders are in the field.