Lucie Fityus, an exciting young Newcastle-based talent, is preparing to make her debut at the Tour de France Femmes. She will return to the stage for the opening act on Saturday evening, AEST. The event has developed a cult-like following and is held in the stunning Brittany region of northwestern France. Fityus sprints for the French professional men’s team St Michel-Preference Home-Auber93. She is looking forward to facing the challenges ahead with her teammates, including her fellow Australian teammate Emily Watts.
Fityus’s cycling advocacy career started long before repping Orbea at races like Leadville. It was friends who first opened up the sport to her at race meetings in the Velodrome in Newcastle. With no family background in cycling—”My parents aren’t cycling people at all, so I wasn’t introduced to it through my parents,” she noted—Fityus embraced the sport and dedicated herself to honing her skills.
Preparation and Expectations
As she prepares for the Tour de France Femmes, Fityus reflects on the significance of competing in such a prestigious event. They’ve long been curious about her racing in the Tour de France. Now, she’s eager to step inside and feel it all come alive! The opening stage spans 78.8 kilometers from Vannes to Plumelec, and Fityus views this opportunity as a milestone in her career.
“It’s quite special to be competing in the biggest French race with a French team,” Fityus remarked, expressing her excitement about representing St Michel-Preference Home-Auber93. Fityus feels that support from home through the race will be priceless, with people on the sidelines rooting for her squad.
Her participation in major races this year, including Paris-Roubaix Femmes and Liège-Bastogne-Liège Femmes, has prepared her for the challenges that lie ahead in the Tour de France Femmes.
Life in Spain and Support from Home
Now living in Spain full time as a pro racer, Fityus has made the transition into this new world of independence and self sufficiency. This move has opened the door for her to train more seriously and effectively while competing at higher levels. The move hasn’t been without its bumps, but she’s got her eye on the prize.
Fityus is grateful to have the support she gets from her local small town community. As she takes on this new and exciting journey, we have no doubt that she’ll do her best to make all of her supporters proud. “It’s been a really long journey. I started when I was 11 or 12 back in Newcastle on the Velodrome,” she recounted, highlighting her dedication and resilience.
Looking Ahead
With the Tour de France Femmes on the horizon, it will be an exciting time for Fityus and her team. The race finishes with two brutally steep mountain stages, offering great challenges and opportunities for these athletes.
As she continues to train in preparation for this historic race, Fityus is more than ready to rise to the physical challenge of competing in a race. She has emphasized the importance of maximizing her physical capabilities, noting how certain training techniques can enhance performance: “This assists in sort of naturally raising your red blood cell level in your body, so that you then have more oxygen going around your blood.”
