This Sunday marks the end of the men’s Tour de France segment and the start of the women’s edition. The event opens in Clermont-Ferrand, a city that has long served as both the starting line and the finish of the first stage, setting the tone for what lies ahead in the race’s final major phase.
Sandra Alonso, a trailblazer in Alicante cycling
JA Galvanized
A rider from Torrevieja, in the Alicante region, will join Sandra Alonso as part of a continuing presence on the Tour, aiming to replicate last year’s solid performance. The team Ceratizit—WNT has supported her along the way, helping her secure a place among the competing climbers and sprinters who challenge the peloton on each stage.
Alonso and her fellow cyclists will tackle a total of eight stages, accumulating roughly 960.4 kilometers of racing that test sprinting pace, time-trial legs, and endurance across varied terrains. Dutch cyclist Annemiek van Vleuten and Dutch teammate Lotte Kopecky Gronen are often highlighted as top contenders in the general classification, especially given their recent form and results. However, the women’s race remains fiercely competitive, with a blend of emerging talents and seasoned veterans all eyeing podium finishes and stage wins.
A personal challenge for Alonso
The seasoned rider from the Valencia area will once again support a younger French team leader, Kerbaol, who steers his squad with a steady hand and strategic mindset. In the 2023 season, Alonso placed third in the national time trial and fifth in the road race, displaying consistency across different formats. In the professional circuit, her strongest result on the current parcours was a fifth-place finish at the Women’s Cycling Pro Costa de Almería, a race that often features high-intensity climbs and technical descents that suit riders with precise power output and bike-handling skills. She previously competed in Paris-Roubaix, a brutal test of endurance, but a crash led to injuries that required surgery after a collarbone fracture, emphasizing the resilience needed to return to elite competition.
Sandra Alonso, podium prospect in the National Time Trial
Caesar Hernandez
Now 24 years old and approaching her 25th birthday in August, Alonso is focused on reclaiming momentum after her injury recovery. With renewed confidence, she aims to draw attention throughout the Tour and remind fans and teams alike of her ability to impact the race’s critical moments. Earlier in her career, she celebrated a professional victory on the Valencia Community Tour in 2021, a milestone that underscored her potential to peak at the right moments during stage racing and multi-day events. Her preparation this season has been marked by careful training cycles, targeted strength work, and strategic race selection designed to optimize performance across varied demands within the tour format.
As the women’s Tour progresses, Alonso’s role is not only to pursue personal results but also to contribute to the team’s broader objectives. Her experience helps guide younger riders, while her determination adds depth to Ceratizit’s ambitions on every stage. The season’s travel, altitude acclimation, and sprint-friendly routes will all factor into her planning as she seeks to maximize opportunities for stage results and potential high placements in the general classification.