When the Tour de France Femme departs under the Eiffel Tower on Sunday, it will be the culmination of a multi-year campaign.

times Paralympic champion and Britain's most successful Paralympian, Sarah Storey, says.

Lorena Wiebes (Team DSM) has proven to be the most dominant sprinter this year and she will be the overwhelming favorite to win the first maillot jaune. However, she will face competition from the likes of Chiara Consonni (Valcar Travel & Service) and Elisa Balsamo (Trek-Segafredo).

Story, however, is looking forward to racing a local French team on a course suited to FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuros' Cecile Uttrup-Ludwig and Marta Cavalli, with plenty of short hills and multiple chances to be aggressive.

"It's a race that for the past few years in France, almost a decade, the Internazionale team has campaigned to run a day earlier than the men," says Story.

"Just like the men's race, every French team participating in this race has the opportunity to make a big mark on their home Tour.

Along with the French teams, the Tour de France Femme is another opportunity for French riders to make their mark in their home country. Juliette Labouse (Team DSM) had an impressive run in the Giro Donnay, winning with a summit finish in Passo Maniva. Meanwhile, experienced riders such as Aud Biernik (Movistar) will be tasked with helping Annemiek van Vleuten (Movistar) win the overall.

However, given the grandeur of the stage, it is not only the French riders who will be looking for impressive results.

"I think there will be a lot of firepower from different directions," says Storey. Marianne Vos (Jumbo Visma) would also have a claim, given her history as one of La Course's and the most iconic female cyclists of the past decade or so."

Seeing these athletes on the big stage of cycling will encourage more young women to join the sport.

Story's involvement in youth development dates back to her swimming days when she coached the Northwest Disabled Swim Team. Since making the switch to cycling, she has founded the Skoda DSI Academy, which provides opportunities for young women who do not have the same experience as those who grew up cycling.

The academy is part of a broader trend to reshape the early careers of women in cycling.

"The women's U23 peloton is starting to get more opportunities than ever before, for example, the separate jersey at the national championships and the recently announced Tour of l'Avenir stage race," says Story.

For the peloton lined up in Paris, the women's Tour de France race is something that will be talked about for generations.

"They will be able to stand at the start and explain what it means. Because some of the younger teenagers are less aware of the inequalities that have been at the top of the women's side of the sport over the past 20 years," says Story.

"So I think they are at a turning point and new doors are opening up and that is incredibly exciting for them."

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