Cycling: Oranje start at the Tour de France Femmes

Cycling never takes a break. The Tour de France Femmes began the day after the Olympic closing ceremony in Paris. For the first time in its history it started abroad, in Rotterdam. A Grand Depart in the Netherlands makes sense: the two previous editions of the race were won by two Dutch women, Annemiek van Vleuten and Demi Vollering. And in the eleven previous editions of a women’s Tour de France – Tour de France feminine and Tour de la CEE – two Orange athletes were among the winners. The Netherlands is the heart of women’s cycling.

This dominance was also reflected in the opening stage of this edition. Top Dutch sprinter Lorena Wiebes lost her stride upon arrival after 123 predominantly flat kilometers between Rotterdam and The Hague. Her compatriot Charlotte Kool saved the day for the hosts and also took over the yellow jersey with the day’s victory.

Dutch dominance

Another two of the eight stages lead entirely on Dutch roads. This Tuesday, Wiebes is likely to want to take revenge on the almost 70 kilometer short half stage between Doordrecht and Rotterdam, before the candidates for the overall ranking are put to the test for the first time in the afternoon in the 6.3 kilometer time trial, also in Rotterdam. Here another Dutch woman – defending champion Vollering – is the favorite.

Belgium will then be reached on Wednesday, with a hilly course that contains numerous elements of the one-day classics Liège–Bastogne–Liège and the Amstel Gold Race. Only from the fifth stage onwards France is the home of the race again. Stages 7 and 8 in particular offer real challenges for the riders. On Saturday, after four mountain classifications, they have to climb the Montée du Chinaillon to the Alpine resort of Le Grand-Bornand. Finally, on Sunday, after the 1924 meter high Col du Glandon, the infamous hairpin bends of Alpe-d’Huez are on the agenda.

Alpe d’Huez as the crowning glory

Defending champion Vollering was very impressed when exploring the route. »I found it steeper than expected. We got to know each other for a while. “You shouldn’t overestimate yourself, because then you’ll come across yourself,” she carefully explained to Dutch television.

By the way, the captain of the SD Worx team traveled freely to the old, rustic cycling school in the Alps. Instead of being surrounded by a staff of masseurs, mechanics and trainers, she inspected the route with her partner and dog and spent the night in the van. »There’s something about washing in a nice, clean stream too. That gives a lot of energy. You don’t have to worry about anything. Back to basics. “Pure life,” she enthused.

Her presumably toughest challenger, Kasia Niewiadoma, also watched the queen stage in advance – and said full of ambition: “I want to win in Alpe d’Huez. I want my name on one of the chicanes on the way up.”

German riders are hoping for stage wins

The season’s newcomer, teammate Neve Bradbury, could help her. The Australian won the queen stage of the Giro d’Italia at the Blockhaus and came a strong third overall. With Chloe Dygert, an Olympic champion from Paris is also in the squad of Niewiadoma’s Canyon SRAM racing team. Dygert won gold with the USA in the team pursuit on the track and bronze in the time trial on the road. Other medal winners on the tour include Kristen Faulkner, the road race and team pursuit winner, and Olympic time trial champion Grace Brown. Also Marianne Vos (silver in the road race), her British Visma Lease-a-Bike teammate Anna Henderson (silver in the time trial) and the silver medalist in the omnium, Daria Pikulik from Poland.

The German squad is quite small, not at all decorated with medals and will at best cause a sensation at individual stages. Movistar captain Liane Lippert, last year’s Tour stage winner and this year’s day winner at the Giro, is particularly suitable here. Also taking part are German champion Franziska Koch, young talent Linda Riedmann, sprint veteran Romy Kasper and Hannah Ludwig.

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