Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig hails the Tour de France Femme as "just the beginning" as the Dane prepares to lead the team's overall effort toward its biggest goal yet.

Uttrup-Ludwig signed with the team in 2020 as a stage race leader and has been instrumental in the team's development over the past three seasons. The journey is heading to the Tour de France Femme as the biggest race on the calendar for the French team.

"A lot has happened since I joined the team. It's great to be on this journey with the team. When I joined the team my goals were to be the best in the world, to build a strong team, to have it all, a service course, and to scale.

"It is amazing to see what has happened in just two and a half years and I feel we are just beginning, not ending."

As a result of the team's development, Uttrup-Ludwig starts the Tour with a talented support group, including Giro runner-up Marta Cavalli, and is optimistic about its chances.

"I'm really happy and confident with a strong team for the Tour. It's a great team for all the stages. It's a strong team and I have strong riders behind me. I'm very confident and happy."

The Tour has been a long-awaited goal for Uttrup-Ludwig, but she has had a difficult first half of the year, missing big targets but recording promising results in Spanish stage races.

"It has not been the best season for me. It was a bit of a roller coaster, winning Covid and unfortunately having to skip all the classics. 'It was disappointing, but luckily the team did a great job. I haven't raced much this year, so it's been tough getting back into racing."

Uttrup-Ludwig returned to racing in the All-Japan Championships (where he won) and supported teammate Cavalli in the Giro d'Italia Donne. He finished sixth overall, but his main success in the race was getting back into race shape.

"It was really good to be able to race the Giro. I've recovered a little bit and hopefully I'll be fit and sharp."

"I felt pretty good. I felt good considering I haven't raced much this year." I felt good and I think I prepared well for the Giro."

In addition to physical training, the Giro was part of an ongoing partnership between Uttrup-Ludwig and Cavalli, honing communication and understanding to best help each other in such a big race.

"It's worked out well," he said. It's nice to have that yin and yang balance in our relationship as well." It's not just between me and Marta, but the whole team. There are a lot of different personalities, but it's a good mix.

Cavalli will be an important climbing support in the Tour's final mountain stage after Uttrup-Ludwig fought hard for Cavalli in the Giro.

Not surprisingly, one of the peloton's biggest personalities, Uttrup Ludwig, is full of excitement ahead of the relaunched Tour de France femme.

"I'm a mixture of emotion and excitement, and to be honest, I'm kind of pinching myself," she says. 'Is this really happening? Are we going to be able to compete in the Tour de France?

"There is nothing bigger than riding with the French team in the Tour de France. On top of that, to wear the national team jersey and run with the national flag, that's huge."