Bonus Episode: Heidi Franz on Finally Reaching Her Tour Debut

Nine years after entering the pro peloton, Heidi Franz is lining up for her first Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift. Rook sits down with the St Michel–Preference Home–Auber 93 rider ahead of the start in Vannes to talk about the road that got her here, a path that ran through team collapses, missed contracts and one very last minute decision to fly to Girona anyway. Heidi walks through the wreckage of the B'n'B Hotels Paris Cycling collapse, the December 2022 call that came six hours before her flight, and how she chose to go to Europe regardless and figure it out on the ground. From there, a run through Zaaf, DN'A, Life Plus Wahoo and Cynisca before a contract with St Michel finally came together in December, made possible in part by Scratch Labs joining as a nutrition and sports science partner. She talks about what a Tour start means for a team that finished last in the classifications the year before, the French squad's new emphasis on data and hydration science under Dr Alan Lim, and the North American contingent's push to learn French (Duolingo streak included). She previews the stages that suit her best, shares which teammates to watch (Allison Jackson, Emily Morier and Alicia Gonzalez all get a mention), and admits she is still a little starstruck riding alongside Marianne Vos, even while being coached by Lizzie Deignan and Phil. **In this episode:** - The B'n'B Hotels collapse and the decision to move to Girona anyway - Five team changes in five years, and what kept her going - How St Michel's contract came together, and Scratch Labs' role in making it happen - Training camp in Boulder and the team's new sports science approach - Stage previews, from the QOM-friendly opening days to Mont Ventoux and the Nice finish - Teammates to watch: Allison Jackson, Emily Morier, Alicia Gonzalez - What it felt like watching last year's race from the roadside instead of racing it **Support the Show** The best way to support Queen Stage is to subscribe and leave a rating or review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Have a question, a hot take, or just want to say hello? Email us at [**info@queenstage.cc**](mailto:info@queenstage.cc) or find us on Instagram at @queenstage.cc. Join our new Queen Stage WhatsApp community for behind-the-scenes conversation during every stage of the Tour, and catch our TdFFaZ preview episode if you missed it last week.