"Eleonora Ciabocco will be our point of reference for the general classification, but we will approach the race day by day, without putting pressure on her after the unfortunate season she has had". This is how Picnic PostNL's sports director, Callum Ferguson, clarifies the plans of the Dutch team for the Tour de France Femmes, which will start on Saturday from Lausanne

The 22-year-old rider from Macerata has put behind her the accident that forced her to abandon the Vuelta Espana Femenina and, after competing in the Italian road championships in Pordenone where she won the U23 title and the Tour of Poland, will make her debut in the French stage race.

Alongside Eleonora at the 2026 Tour de France Femmes, we will also see Gaia Masetti: the 24-year-old from Emilia, competing in her third Grand Tour this season, already has two previous participations in the French race and will put her experience at the service of the team in various race situations.

Beyond the Italian duo, the Picnic PostNL lineup will be completed by three British athletes: Josie Nelson, fresh from the Tour of Poland where she achieved fourth place in the first stage, Robyn Clay, already fielded at the Giro d'Italia Women, and Pfeiffer Georgi, fourth at the national road championship.

The team's reference for sprint finishes is Mia Griffin: Irish champion in 2025, the rider from Kilkenny has achieved a new podium this year in the road race won by Lara Gillespie. Completing the Picnic PostNL lineup for the Tour de France will be 25-year-old Australian Lucie Fityus.

"The Tour de France Femmes is one of our main objectives of the season, so we arrive at the start with great motivation. We want to continue building on the solid foundations we have laid so far and seize every opportunity that presents itself," said Ferguson again, presenting the challenge that awaits the Dutch team in the coming days.