Australian elite national champion Mackenzie Coupland will make her Grand Tour debut at the upcoming Tour de France Femmes, running from August 1 to 9. The 20-year-old joins a versatile Liv AlUla Jayco stage-hunting lineup announced ahead of the race start in Lausanne, bringing strong climbing and breakaway capabilities to the squad.
Liv AlUla Jayco Shifts Strategy for the Grand Départ
The women’s peloton arrives at the marquee stage race of the calendar with tactical battles expected from kilometer zero. Australian outfit Liv AlUla Jayco has finalized its eight-rider roster for the upcoming Tour de France Femmes, pivoting toward aggressive stage hunting rather than solely prioritizing a general classification tilt. Head sports director Wim Stroetinga has constructed a versatile group capable of navigating everything from flat crosswind sections to high-altitude mountain passes.
But the roster reveal carries a deeper significance for the team’s long-term project.
The headline selection is undeniably 20-year-old Mackenzie Coupland. Having stepped up directly from the team’s development squad at the start of this year, Coupland has enjoyed a meteoric rise. Her victories include the elite Australian national road title in Perth and the overall classification at the Vuelta a Extremadura. Racing her first-ever Grand Tour, Coupland represents the new wave of Australian cycling talent entering the WorldTour ecosystem.
Fantasy & Market Impact
- GC Positioning: Italian climber Monica Trinca Colonel serves as the team’s primary weapon for the high mountain stages, though she remains an underdog against powerhouse squads.
Tactical Composition and Roster Depth
Stroetinga’s lineup features a calculated mix of youth and veteran savvy. Alongside Coupland, fellow Australian Ruby Roseman-Gannon and Italy’s Letizia Paternoster will spearhead the squad on faster, flatter run-ins. Meanwhile, the Dutch contingent of Jeanne Korevaar and Silke Smulders bring crucial institutional knowledge, having competed in every single edition of the Tour de France Femmes so far.
Canada’s Nadia Gontova and Italy’s Monica Trinca Colonel round out the team sheet. Trinca Colonel, a proven climber, provides the team with a reliable outlet when the route scales the tougher ascents toward the finish in Nice.
| Rider | Nationality | Primary Role | Grand Tour Experience |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mackenzie Coupland | Australia | Breakaway / Puncheur | Debut |
| Ruby Roseman-Gannon | Australia | Sprint / Classics | Multiple Appearances |
| Letizia Paternoster | Italy | Flat Finishes / Lead-out | Multiple Appearances |
| Monica Trinca Colonel | Italy | Climber / GC Support | Experienced |
| Silke Smulders | Netherlands | Domestique / Breakaway | Ridden Every Edition |
| Jeanne Korevaar | Netherlands | Road Captain / Support | Ridden Every Edition |
| Nadia Gontova | Canada | Climbing / Stage Hunter | Debut Tour de France Femmes |
Chasing WorldTour Redemption in Special Edition Colors
The stakes for the Australian outfit extend beyond individual stage glory. Liv AlUla Jayco enters the Grand Tour searching for their first victory at the WorldTour level this season. Their last success at this specific race came via Mavi García’s gritty mountain stage win in Brittany on stage 2 last year. Securing a stage win on cycling’s biggest global stage would completely redefine the team’s season trajectory.
Aesthetically, the squad will feature a striking visual identity, donning a special edition MAAP kit adorned with green flames over their traditional purple base layer—mirroring the design worn by the men’s team for the men’s Tour de France. As the race departs Lausanne and winds its way toward the Mediterranean coast in Nice, the Australian team’s aggressive tactical approach will immediately be put to the test against the peloton’s elite.
Disclaimer: The fantasy and market insights provided are for informational and entertainment purposes only and do not constitute financial or betting advice.
