After another year of impressive growth, Cecilie Uttrup-Ludwig has her sights set on the spring classics, the Giro d'Italia, and the Olympics, with her sights set on even more success in 2020.

The Dane recently announced her move from Bigla to FDJ, where the French team hopes to develop the 24-year-old into one of its future main leaders. This season, Uttrup-Ludwig finished third in the Tour de Flanders and was consistent in the spring races. He also finished third in La Course and won the mountain prize in the women's Tour of Scotland.

"The spring classics were obviously the highlight of my season, and Flanders was a very cool race.

"La Course was another highlight, a good race with lots of fans along the way."

Uttrup Ludwig is happy with her continued growth as a rider, but she is firmly focused on winning major races and breaking the Dutch dominance at the top of women's cycling.

"I am growing, slowly, getting closer every year. I still need a few more to get to the big wins and I would be really happy to do that. Next year I want to get closer and I want to get a little bit closer to the Dutch players.

"Of course, they're great and you're going to think 'wow,' but on the other hand, there's a little fire inside me that wants to beat them one day. Maybe not next year or the year after, but someday I hope to."

The move to FDJ was well-timed for Uttrup Ludwig, who had been wearing Bigla's colors for three years, and who would assume more responsibility at FDJ, "I've been working with the FDJ for a long time, and I'm very happy to be here.

"It should be a natural progression. For me, there is a lot to look at, from time trials to getting in shape. I wouldn't say there is one thing I do best, and there is always room to learn and improve."

"It was a good opportunity to change my environment and experience new motivations; I think FDJ will be a good platform for me. They are very ambitious, their sponsors are very enthusiastic, and they are applying for a four-year World Tour license."

"I am very happy to be here.

They will be a strong team in a hilly race and I am excited to be there. They trust me and I think I have a good chance in terms of leadership. But one thing I need to improve on is my French. That's my goal for the off-season. Someone will have to teach me, but I may go to school. It was just time for a new environment and some good stimulation."

Uttrup Ludwig is excited about the immediate future but disappointed that La Course has been downgraded to a criterium in Paris, coinciding with the final day of the men's Tour de France.

The La Course race provides a unique platform for women's cycling and a rare chance for an elite women's race to share an equal platform with the men. While crit races in urban centers draw large crowds, they are arguably less attractive than women's races, where women compete over several days on a variety of terrain.

"I think it's unfortunate that they've moved to criteriums. There is no equivalent of a World Tour race in men's cycling. I don't think this move is going to showcase the excellence of women's cycling. A stage race with flat stages, mountain stages, and time trials would be cool.

"If you want to show women's cycling on a big stage, the Tour gets a lot of media. So we very much want a women's Tour de France. We don't have to ride the same lengths as the men, but if we can do mountain races and extraordinary races, we can prove how great women's cycling can be."