"To ride through the Netherlands in yellow would be a dream" - Charlotte Kool focuses preparation at openning stages of Tour de France Femmes

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."