Both are looking forward to the start of the Tour de France. "It is the greatest race in the world. We are counting down to the start. We have prepared in detail”, they say in unison.

Like the first edition, the 2023 Tour de France Femmes will consist of eight stages. The sprinters are likely to battle for victory in four of them. Additionally, there are two hilly stages, two mountain stages and - new this year - a final time trial in and around Pau.

"This year, I have been preparing specifically for this race”, said Markus. "I've had three altitude training camps this season. I have found that alternating training at altitude with a short racing period helps my form. This is the case again, so I'm ready for the start.”

"We explored the course back in February”, Small adds. "All the riders know exactly what to expect. The route is quite different from the last edition, but again we see a lot of opportunities. Our main goal is to chase stage wins. We also want to see how far Riejanne can go in the general classification. A good result in the GC is achievable if she maintains her daily concentration and alertness and does well in the time trial.”

The 28-year-old Markus finished 12th overall last year. "This year, my biggest goal is to win a stage. It won't be easy at this level. I'm looking forward to the time trial, not least because I'll be wearing the national tricolour. I hope to confirm my ambitions in the time trial. The competition will be tough, but I will do my best. Then we will see if a good classification is possible. A top-ten finish would be great”, Markus says.

The rider has fond memories of the first edition. "The Tour is the biggest race of the year, as is evident from everything. It is so much bigger than other races in every way. I don't mind that. Every stage here is a big and tough battle. It won't be easy to match last year's performance, but we will try anyway.”

"The focus is on the penultimate day”, said Small, referring to the stage that includes the Col d'Aspin and the Col du Tourmalet. "We'll try to work as a team next week. If we can do that, the results will likely follow. We are well prepared, and we all have the same goals and ambitions.”

Finally, Markus and Small agree on one thing. "The men's team's current form is motivating us. It's a good learning opportunity for us. It's exhilarating even if we don't have the same objectives. We’re eager.”