FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope team manager Stephane Delcourt praised the "instinct" and "spirit" of new rider Grace Brown, who is entering a big race on the Women's World Tour. In an interview with Cycling Press on Tuesday, Delcourt said he has high hopes for the Australian rider in the spring classics and Tour de France femme.

"Grace is one of the best riders in the world. Last year, in every race, our sport director told Cecilie [Uttrup-Ludwig] and Marta [Cavalli], 'If Grace attacks, follow her.

"We want Grace to keep attacking. I am happy to have a rider as instinctive as Grace and I really love her spirit."

Brown won the Australian championship time trial and finished second in the road race this season. She was unable to attend the team camp in Altea, Spain, but spoke to the press via video call from her home in Australia.

"I'm a little sad that I won't be able to join the camp with the rest of the team. I am looking forward to joining the team and starting to work together for this year," Brown said.

"I already have a few races under my belt and I feel ready to start the season and I'm proud to have won the time trial at the national championships, my first win of the year.

"I think this is going to be an exciting year. I'm looking forward to having a strong team with multiple leaders working in important races."

Delcourt explained that Braun will join the team's three existing leaders, Cecilie Uttrup-Ludwig, Marta Cavalli, and French champion Evita Mujic. Cavalli will concentrate on the Giro d'Italia Donnay, July 1-10, and Uttrup-Ludwig on the Tour de France Femme, July 24-31.

Brown's main targets are the Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix Femme, Tour de France Femme, and the UCI Road World Championships in Australia.

"My first priority is the Tour de Flanders and the Paris-Roubaix cobbled classics. We'll look at some stages in the Tour de France, and the World Championships in Australia will be my main goal," Brown said.

The Tour de France Féme route features a balance of flat and punchy stages, gravel sections, and two mountain finishes over the eight-day race. Brown said the punchy stages in the middle part of the race suited him best.

"I haven't looked at the 'Tour de France Femme' in detail yet, so I don't know which stages suit me best, but the middle stages are a bit more classic style racing, punchy and dynamic."

More importantly, Braun said he is looking forward to continuing to improve in top-class racing and is excited to race for a team that he believes has multiple options in the big race finals.

"The FDJ team is always fun and we celebrate each other's success. We also get to play in the finals ...... In many races last year, I was on my own in the finals.

When asked how he keeps from burning out this season, which begins in Australia in January and returns to his hometown for the World Championships in September, Brown said rest and recovery are key to his success.

"It can be difficult when you have goals all year long. I've had this kind of start to the season before with the Australian race and the Classics. If you plan properly, don't try to make it all year long, take some time off to let your body recover, and then make it up again, I think you will be fine.