Kasia Niewiadoma will lead the Canyon-SRAM team along with Pauliena Loijackers in the Tour de France Femmes-Avec Zwift, which begins Sunday in Paris.

Of note is North American Chloe Dygert, who had hoped to compete in the eight-day race but has yet to recover from the Epstein-Barr virus she contracted this spring.

"With Chloe, due to some setbacks in her recovery process, our team had to decide that she, along with Chloe, was not physically and health-wise ready to compete in the Tour de France Femme's Zwift Avec 8-day race," Canyon-SRAM told Cycling News.

"She will continue to focus on her recovery and her exact program for the remainder of the season cannot yet be predicted.

Dygert has gone through multiple surgeries and a lengthy rehab to recover from a leg injury suffered in a horribly debilitating crash at the 2020 Imola World Championships. She joined Canyon-SRAM at Omloop Het Niusbrod in February, but upon returning to the US in March, her health began to fail.

"There was a lack of energy and fatigue. The breaking point was a low threshold workout where Chloe couldn't even get on tempo. She had a blood test for mononucleosis and the antibody test was positive, well above normal. The first symptoms were lack of energy and fatigue, followed by the typical symptoms of mononucleosis," Canyon-SRAM told Cycling News after her early diagnosis.

Diggart had hoped to return to racing in time for her goal at the Tour de France Femme, but Canyon-SRAM acknowledged that she was not yet ready to return to racing and that her program for the rest of the season was undecided.

"Recovery varies from person to person and cannot be predicted at this time," Canyon-SRAM told Cycling News after Daigert's diagnosis. Recovery from EBV can take weeks to months, depending on the persistence of symptoms and blood tests."

Daigert took to social media to express his frustration regarding the recovery process.

"Mono is one of the most frustrating illnesses/injuries, just like my leg. No matter how many times I tell myself I'm fine now, my body reminds me otherwise. The unknown, the uncontrollable, is my greatest weakness and the one I try so hard to make into a strength," Daigert wrote last Thursday.

Niewiadoma and Roy Jackers will lead Canyon-SRAM at the Tour de France Femme with a support team that includes Tiffany Cromwell, Alena Amialiushik, Elise Shaby, and Soraya Paladin.

Niewiadoma finished third overall in her last women's Tour and skipped the Giro Donnay to focus on the Tour de France Femme. Roy Jackers is having a strong season, finishing second overall in the Ituria women's race, third overall in the Tour de Suisse, and winning the Durango Emacmen Sarria.

"The Tour de France is the biggest bicycle race and the most extensive brand in the sport. By hosting the Tour de France Femme on Zwift, we are able to benefit from its prestige. It will allow more people to see that women are competing in cycling races at the highest level, worldwide. This is groundbreaking. The entire sport will benefit and those who have already been running and investing in the sport for years will be rewarded by the increased attention," said team manager and sport director Ronnie Lauke.

"For us, the Tour de France Femme Avec Zwift has been a major goal since it was first announced. We believe we have chosen a strong and experienced team for the Tour. This is a versatile lineup that can handle the additional demands of a race like this. Our goal is a stage win and a top five GC finish. The riders we have selected have prepared well through a variety of pathways. I am confident that the entire team is well prepared and can tackle the eight stages with confidence. 0]

Cromwell, one of the peloton's most experienced on-road captains, confirmed that preparations for the eight-day stage race are well underway.

"We have been training long and hard since the Women's Tour. During this time we have scouted the course and we know what is in store for us on the hard stages. In the last two weeks things have started to fall into place. My form is solid and I feel good on the bike. My main role is to support the team and be road captain. The team is especially strong on tough stages with a lot of climbing. I know the last two stages are not for me, but until then I believe I can make it all the way to the deep end of the final stage. My goal is to contribute to a stage win and overall victory for my teammates. Of course, if I get a chance on a non-GC day, I'll gladly raise my hand if it fits into the team's plan."