'The level is higher, and that's something good' - Anna van der Breggen hails progress of women's cycling ahead of Tour de France Femmes debut

Anna van der Breggen, returning from retirement after three years, notes the significant advancements in women's cycling, highlighting increased competition and professionalism. Competing for SD Worx-Protime in the Tour de France Femmes, she points out that racing is now more intense, with stronger riders and faster paces. Despite not achieving the desired result at the Giro d'Italia, she emphasizes the positive developments in the sport. Van der Breggen identifies improvements in team strategies and overall race dynamics, indicating a higher level of training commitment among athletes.

Van der Breggen stated, "For sure, it is harder now. The level went up and there are more strong riders... it's totally different from before."

She noted that women's racing has ascended, mentioning, "...the pace in general - in the past, it was comfortable to go over some small climbs, but now sometimes you're really already on the limit before the real race has even started."

Read at Cyclingnews