The hierarchy of the FDJ-SUEZ-Futuroscope changes at the start of this weekend's Tour de France Femmes Avec Zwift, with Giro d'Italia Donnay runner-up Marta Cavalli supporting teammate Cecilie Uttrup-Ludwig She will take on the role of.

Cavalli has defeated Annemiek van Vleuten (Movistar) twice in the spring and has faced her directly in the Giro. Her knowledge will be put to good use in helping Uttrup-Ludwig in his overall ambitions.

"I'm not in the race to fight on [Van Vleuten's] side," she said. 'We will switch roles on the team and Cecilie will be the leader. So she will fight Van Vleuten.

In addition to riding the Giro together, Cavalli and Uttrup-Ludwig adjusted their calendar early in the year with the specific goal of fine-tuning their teamwork before the big race in July.

"We started in the spring to find each other in the races and to understand when and where she could help me and when I could help her," Cavalli said.

"We've been practicing a lot more this year, and the Giro was really good training for this feeling. We have improved a lot. We always had good communication during the race and I always want to know what she needs and where she is so I can give her good support."

"It's never easy because it's hard to be one when you're gassed.

Despite his commitment to Uttrup-Ludwig, Cavalli has his eyes on a series of climbing days at the end of the eight-day stage race.

"At the end of the Tour, maybe I can ride for more stage wins," he said. 'If I have a good chance to be up there in the final, I want to be ready for it. I recontoured two months ago and I know the climbs. I like the course a lot and I hope to have a good fight."

The finale of stage 8, the Planche des Belles Filles, is considered the landmark climb of the race, but Cavalli said the 3,000m elevation of stage 7 is harder and could determine the GC's shape before the final day.

"I don't think all the racers want to wait until the last day for the real battle. 'I think the fight will happen during stages 4, 6, and 7. On the final day of the GC, the battle may already be decided."

"Players like Anne-Mike don't want to wait too long. Athletes like Anne-Mike don't want to wait too long. Usually in the first race they attack and try to make a difference right from the start. We don't know about stages 1 and 2, but something could already happen on stage 3. This Tour is full of danger points.

"You have to be on your toes every day, see what happens in each stage, and be ready to react quickly if something changes or if another team's tactics are different from what you expected.

The Tour is probably the biggest race on the calendar, but Cavalli says he has no leadership responsibilities and that the success of the Giro has lightened the pressure for Sunday's start.

"The Giro was tough. I had the whole team on my back and the final result was up to me. In my own country, in front of my family.

"But now I have more confidence in the Giro. I know I'm in pretty good shape and I'll fly to Paris tomorrow without too much stress."