Ghekiere, still a stage winner last year, often gets a supporting role. “Our main goal is to always bring Kim in the front. So I don’t have to break myself every day in the attack. But in the hill rides there are opportunities for myself. A whole day on and off, that is me. I want to choose a few journeys to races attractively. If I see a chance, I will take them.”
The scoop sweater that Ghekiere won last year is not a goal now: “I like my Belgian sweater,” she grins. “If I can easily take mountain points, it would be nice to ride a day in the bulbs, but the mountain classification is certainly not a main goal this year.”
The Tour de France Femmes will start on Saturday 26 July in Vannes and ends on Sunday 3 August in Châtel.