Deep Impact

Unstoppable Annemiek

On the cusp of 40, van Vleuten remains the rider to beat

Thirty-nine-year-old Annemiek van Vleuten (Movistar), ranked number one in the world as we go to press, will go into the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift (TDFF) as the outright favourite to win the general classification. The 2019 world champion, who has won just about everything, has her name written all over the parcours, in particular that final stage summit finish, and has proven herself over long stage races on myriad occasions, including two Giro Rosa overall wins. Long climbs are what van Vleuten does best and the Super Planche des Belles Filles will play into her hands, giving her a springboard to surge up the classification or a chance to cement her superiority.

Standing in her way, however, will be a fortified peloton, the collective strength of which has proven a much tougher nut to crack for the