Tour de France Fém organizers have consistently raised the bar with each edition, especially when it comes to mountain passes: in 2022, they climbed Le Marckstein and La Super-Planche des Belle Filles, and last year, they took the Col d'Espin and Col du Tourmalet.

This year, they will up the ante and finish on the Alpe d'Huez, the most iconic climb in Tour de France history.

For the first time in cycling history, a victorious woman will have her name engraved on one of these legendary climbs. Evita Mujic is one of a handful of French riders, along with Juliette Laboux (dsm-Farmenich-Post NL) and Marion Bunel (Saint-Michel-Mavic-Ober 93), who will be looking for a stage win and recognition.

“It will be a stage I want to win. I know the climbs, but it's more about the legs. I think having my family and friends there will help,” Mujic told Cycling News.

In men's Tour de France tradition, each of the 21 hairpin bends is named after at least one rider; the 21st bend is named after Fausto Coppi, who won the Tour de France in 1949 and 1952. Other names include Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, and Bernard Hinault.

“It's great, especially for a French rider, to win and have your name engraved on the top. I'm excited and will give my best for the win and the best result in the standings. It is only natural that the player with the strongest legs wins,” said Mujic.

Mujic enters the Tour de France femme as one of the key contenders for the overall classification and currently sits in ninth place overall, 1:25 behind yellow jersey winner Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM). Defending champion Demi Vollering (SD Worx), who lost the yellow jersey in a crash on stage 5, is in 8th place, 1:15 back.

The peloton completed the first of two final mountain stages on Saturday. It is the longest of the Tour at 166.4 km, with a final climb to Le Grand-Bornand. The stage surprisingly ended in a stalemate between Nieuwadma and Vollering, with Justine Géquière (AG Insurance-Sourdal) taking the win from the breakaway group. [Especially Cassia and Demy. Demi may be a little afraid of Cassia. I thought she was going to come up with full gas, but in the end it didn't work out,” Mujic said.

“I tried to attack too, but everyone was behind me. It wasn't that steep, so I couldn't climb with full gas. The team did a good job. It's a strong team. Grace [Brown] was strong. Tomorrow it will be easier to close the time gap."

The FDJ-Suez team, to which Mujic belongs, was the strongest on the climb of Le Grand-Bornand, and several riders were still in the selection process to support the leader. In contrast, Niwiadma and Vollaring were down to one each and were ultimately isolated on the climb.

“It was our strategy and we are a strong team. That's why we wanted to attack to try to make some difference,” she said.

On Sunday, the peloton will tackle 149.9 km starting in Le Grand-Bornand: the Col de Tamiers (9.5 km, 4%), the Col du Grandon (19.7 km, 7.2%) and then the Alpe d'Huez (13.8 km, 8.1%).

“It's going to be a small group, and the last 3km are steep, so there's no need to go full throttle. Only the pure climbers will be at the top,” said Mujic.

“The last climb will be full gas. If Demi wants to win the yellow jersey, he will have to do so.

It remains to be seen who will win the Alpe d'Huez and etch his name on one of its curves, or win the overall title in the 2024 Tour de France Fam.

For Mujic, a stage win in his home Grand Tour is his last chance this season, and he is looking to add a stage win in the Tour to his wins in the Vuelta and Giro.

“I want to win a stage and make it three Grand Tour victories.

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