If Grace Brown learned anything from last year's Tour de France Femmes Avec Zwift, it's that no matter how well prepared you are, it's not an easy win. the FDJ-SUEZ rider was in great shape until spring 2022, but France In France, it became difficult to finish in the top ranks.

So despite coming into the Tour mentally refreshed and in good shape after a break from racing, the 31-year-old is taking nothing for granted heading into the second year of the eight-day French Tour.

"The Tour de France is a really big event and I think I'm more nervous than last year. Physically I feel good, but everyone is in great shape, so I'm a little nervous about what I can expect from myself."

"Last year, I thought maybe I was in the best shape I've ever been in, but I didn't get any results at all. So I need to go into it believing that I can do something, but I also need to not get my hopes up."

The brutal slopes of the Col du Tourmalet on stage 7 may raise many expectations, but it is the stages before and after that will be exciting for Braun, with FDJ-SUEZ likely to support Marta Cavalli and Cecilie-Uttrup-Ludwig in the overall battle. Brown has made it clear that he is "there to help the team," but as an Australian rider, he will likely take advantage of any stage opportunities that arise.

"I think a lot of the early stages suit me. It's a hard stage with some elevation changes, but not too long of a climb. ......

"I would like to aim for a stage result in the early stages of the race, but my more focused goal is the time trial on the last day."

Brown's rivals for these stage wins are racing mainly in the heat of Europe's summer high altitude training and the Giro d'Italia Donne, but Brown has not worn a number since the CIC-Tour Féminine Internationale des Pyrenees in early June. He has not worn it and is not soaking up the warmth.

During her race vacation, Brown returned to Australia to spend the cold Melbourne winter with her husband. Still, she found ways to prepare for the Tour de France, where temperatures of nearly 40 degrees are expected. In addition to mixing it up on gravel and riding her time trial bike for hours on end, Brown has incorporated indoor heat training and is pleased with the results.

"I don't feel uncomfortable in the heat in my training now," said Brown, who returned from Australia earlier this month and is staying in northern Italy. She was quick to point out that while it may not be as hot as expected in parts of France where the race will take place, "it's still a good step to feel comfortable even when it's over 30 degrees."

She will, of course, have time to acclimatize on her way to the start line in Clermont-Ferrand on Sunday, July 23, and beyond, after seven days of hard racing, with the important goal of a time trial in Pau on Sunday, July 30. To her advantage, many of her potential rivals for the final stage will have had to gamble everything on the Col d'Aspin and the previous stage over the Tourmalet pass.

"If you're in contention for GC, you're definitely in the red. I mean, as long as teams don't have to fight to get into GC, they can save energy there." "

The 2022 edition certainly had its difficulties for the French team. The biggest problem was Marta Cavalli's devastating crash on stage 2, which took her out of the race. Another GC card, Cecilie Uttrup-Ludwig, also crashed on this stage, losing a considerable amount of time. However, some of the best things happened for FDJ-SUEZ, including Uttrup-Ludwig's victory in Epernay on stage 3.

In his fifth professional season, Braun clearly has a goal in mind. When asked what it would take to succeed in this year's race, she focused first and foremost on the team's goals, not her own.

"Last year was a really satisfying Tour," she said. Cecilie's stage win was very special for the team." Cecilie's stage win was really special for the team. So if we can get a stage win or a GC finish for the team, then I would say the Tour was a success."