Stefan Tabeling, dpa
When Franziska Koch thinks back to her triumph in the cobbled classic Paris–Roubaix, her eyes light up. “That was definitely an absolute highlight – and, of course, the biggest victory of my career so far. It makes me really proud. And I’ve definitely gained more confidence that I can win even in the very biggest races. It was a great motivational boost,” says Germany’s current top female cyclist, who is also set to prove her mettle in the Women’s Tour de France starting on Saturday.
With her victory in the Hell of the North, where she beat Marianne Vos – the grande dame of women’s cycling – in the sprint and also left Tour winner Pauline Ferrand-Prévot behind, she has made a name for herself internationally. “She’s a beast,” said Ferrand-Prévot admiringly. Koch doesn’t want to read too much into such compliments: “I think I was already quite well known in the peloton before that, but more as a really good domestique who does everything for her team-mates.”
The yellow jersey is the goal for captain Vollering
She will have to step into this role once again during the nine-day tour. Since the start of this season, Koch has been riding for the top French team FDJ United-Suez, alongside the Dutch favourite Demi Vollering. “Our goal is the yellow jersey, but not for me. The main goal is for Demi to win the yellow,” says Koch, who comes from a family of cyclists.
The German road and time trial champion is putting her own ambitions on hold. Yet the opening stage in Switzerland would suit her well, and she would have a chance of taking the yellow jersey. Koch had already worn the red jersey as race leader for two days during the Vuelta.
The 26-year-old from Mettmann has enjoyed a meteoric rise in recent years. She has won the national championship three times in a row and has also featured among the leaders in other classics such as the Strade Bianche gravel race.
A professional working environment at FDJ
For team manager Stephen Delcourt, she is “the powerhouse” of the team. Koch has taken another step forward with the FDJ team. The conditions are highly professional. Whilst last year she undertook her own high-altitude training camp ahead of the Tour de France, this time she headed into the mountains with the whole team for three weeks.
She’ll certainly need it when the Tour takes her up the legendary Mont Ventoux on the seventh stage. The Giant of Provence, which has so often been the scene of drama, tragedy and legendary triumphs in the men’s race, is on the women’s programme for the first time. “It’s really lovely to see how women’s cycling is growing. For example, this year on the Angliru (a steep climb in Asturias), we’ve already shown that we can achieve anything, and that it’s not just men who can conquer the big mountains,” says Koch.
High mountains are not Koch’s forte
Koch once cycled up Mont Ventoux on a mountain bike. “But I must have been about 16 or 17 at the time. To be honest, I can’t remember exactly. All I remember is that it was a very long climb,” says Koch. High mountains aren’t her favourite terrain. “I manage the climbs well enough, but I’m not really a climber by nature. Short, sharp climbs suit me best.”
Take, for example, the final stage to Nice, where the Tour finishes. Her dream would be to have a Tour finale in Paris one day, just like the men’s race. “I was actually there for the very first Tour de France. It started on the Champs-Élysées. The atmosphere is simply incredible. I really hope that one day we’ll be able to finish in Paris too, or perhaps even start there. Something like that would be really cool, because it’s simply unique.”
Copyright 2026, dpa (www.dpa.de). All rights reserved
