Grace Brown will be competing in her first time trial since winning Olympic gold earlier this month. The time trial on stage 3 of the Tour de France is one of the best chances for FDJ-Suez to win.

Still, given that the stage is only 6.3 km long, it will be no easy task to maintain momentum when she fends off her rivals and bids farewell to the eight-stage race that is the heart of the French team's season.

“It's a lot shorter than the race two weeks ago, and I haven't trained for this,” she said.

“Some of the time trials favor the sprinter types, so I don't know if it will be enough to win.

“We'll have to see what it takes, but it will be fun to be the first Olympic champion to do a time trial at the Tour. Regardless of the outcome, it will be a special moment.”

The time trial will be the second stage on Tuesday afternoon, followed on Wednesday by a lumpy 122.7-km stage finishing in Liège-Bastogne-Liège, where Brown won his first Monument victory in April.

“Liege was a good race for me, even though it doesn't suit a rider like me,” Brown added. I'm looking forward to the stages in the Tour.” Being in the middle of a hard stage race is another story, but we'll see what I can do.”

There is no doubt that Brown has the form to make the most of his last Tour de France fam and the last few months of racing. Even before his Olympic gold medal, it was clear that the 32-year-old, who is retiring after his sixth season as a professional, was full of motivation and energy to make it an unforgettable farewell.

“To be able to leave at the top is pretty cool,” he said. Not many people can do that.” You hope your final year will be a good year, but to actually have a good year is a dream come true.”

“It also means that when I'm done I still love cycling. A lot of pro cyclists get burned out at the end of their careers. I still want to ride my bike. I still love the sport and I feel like it makes a big difference to be able to leave with good memories."

And not only will the Tour de France femme unfold in the coming days, but there is still time to accomplish more in the road world championships. Brown, who has finished second in the Rainbow Bands race for the past two years, will have one last chance to take the top step at the World Championships in Zurich on September 22.

“If I can win the time trial, everything will be complete. I'm happy with what I've achieved so far, but I'd be really happy to get the rainbow jersey as well.”