"To ride through the Netherlands in yellow would be a dream" - Charlotte Kool focuses preparation at openning stages of Tour de France Femmes
Cycling
Charlotte Kool was one of the most victorious ladies in 2023, yet she does not yet describe herself as the best sprinter in the world. Not yet, because if it were up to her, she would become that during the upcoming season, where Kool aims to break her bad luck at Tour de France Femmes, she tells WielerFlits.
Who does she see as the main challengers? Lorena Wiebes and Elisa Balsamo? "Certainly. I don't think Chiara Consonni had a very good season last year, but she is always someone to take into account. And it could well be that someone else joins in, but to be honest, I'm not really concerned with that. I also don't have any lists of names that could become opponents in the coming years. What matters most to me is that I become the best version of myself."
Even though things were going great in 2023, not everything she touched turned to gold. Tour stage win is missing in her palmares. "That was a bit sad," says Kool. The taste of victory will be all the sweeter if she succeeds, especially since the Tour de France Femmes starts in the Netherlands.
"The first days of the Tour are the main goal for this year," she makes no bones about it. "These have been in my head for a long time. They really suit me. I'm going to do everything I can to win there. It would be very cool to be able to ride through the Netherlands in yellow."
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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