There is enormous interest from all over the world in starting at the Tour de Feminin. The organizers have selected twenty-nine teams from thirteen countries
The Tour de Feminin takes place this year from May 15 to May 18, and there is exceptional interest in racing during the spring season. Foreign teams gladly return to northern Bohemia because of their excellent experiences with course security, the attractiveness of the stages, and the quality of the starting field. Four days of racing in the beautiful surroundings of Bohemian Switzerland, the Šluknov Uplands, and the Lusatian Mountains serve as a great motivation for teams from various corners of the world.
The organizers have accepted twenty-nine applications from teams representing thirteen countries this year. Twelve teams belong to the UCI Continental category, and four national selections are also included, including the Czech national team. The presence of Czech teams will be significantly strengthened this year, as in addition to the national squad, the Prague-based Dukla team is returning, featuring the reigning Czech road race champion Barbora Němcová. A brand-new team, VIF Cycling, is also making its debut, with cyclocross champion Kristýna Zemanová and promising Czech talents Štěpánka Dubcová and Eliška Kvasničková (3rd overall in 2023) in its ranks.
There are three Czech teams on the start list. © Josef Vaishar/Cycling.photography
For young and talented cyclists, the Tour de Feminin is an opportunity to make a name for themselves, just as the top two riders of last year’s edition did. Winner Julia Kopecky has been racing for WorldTeam SD Worx ProTime since this year, and runner-up Femke de Vries has also made it to the top tier, joining Team Visma-Lease a Bike.
The always-strong Polish team MAT Atom Deweloper will return to the start of the Tour de Feminin, including 2023 stage winner Malwina Mul. The German club Wheel Divas will also be present, featuring the experienced Corinna Lechner, a stage winner in 2021. Among the favorites for the overall classification will be Karoline Goldschmidt from the Continental team LKT, who finished fourth in last year's edition.
The competition at the Tour de Feminin will once again be exceptionally tough. © Josef Vaishar/Cycling.photography
In addition to the Czech national team, selections from Slovenia, Austria, and the exceptionally strong Belgium will also compete. Two more national teams are on the Tour de Feminin waiting list. “There are eleven teams on standby, ready to step in immediately if any of the confirmed squads are unable to participate,” explains Simona Davídková, the race director of Tour de Feminin. “Another ten teams initially expressed interest and registered but later withdrew, including the USA national team,” she adds, highlighting the exceptional level of interest from teams this year.
The confirmed start list features the most teams from the Netherlands, the stronghold of women's road cycling, with six squads set to compete. Four teams will come from both the United Kingdom and Belgium, while three are from Germany. Other European representatives include Italy, Denmark, and Slovenia. Teams from outside Europe will also take on the roads of northern Bohemia, with entries from Mexico, South Korea, and even New Zealand.
You can find the complete list of confirmed teams at the link below: