In 2019, Franziska Koch gained stage 4 of the Boels Ladies Tour (now Simac Ladies Tour) as a 19-year-old neo-pro. Five years on, the DSM-Firmenich PostNL rider discovered herself to be the best-placed rider of a 14-rider breakaway on stage 4 of the 2024 version and labored arduous to carry off the peloton and take the general race lead, donning her career-first GC chief’s jersey.
“The group was fairly large, and my DS instructed me that I used to be the best-placed rider in GC within the group. Then I used to be desperate to trip arduous. I attempted to maintain the gap to the peloton as large as attainable and went full fuel,” Koch mentioned after the stage.
At the end, the breakaway nonetheless had a bonus of 36 seconds, and since Koch began the stage 31 seconds behind GC chief Zoe Bäckstedt (Canyon-SRAM), the German champion took over the yellow jersey, now main by 5 seconds on Bäckstedt.
“It did come a bit sudden, however my motivation continues to be good on the finish of the season, and it’s additionally my first GC chief’s jersey. It’s a brand new expertise, and I’m excited for the subsequent days,” mentioned Koch.
Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime) is lurking in third place total, eight seconds behind Koch. The World champion’s workforce has gained three levels in a row with Wiebes and Guarischi who stepped up from the breakaway, and Kopecky may take the yellow jersey from Koch if she gained sufficient bonus seconds within the two levels nonetheless to return.
“It can be coming full circle. A stage win in 2019, if I may add the GC now, that may be nice. Everything is feasible. It goes to be tough, however I’ll give my greatest and see what occurs. I’m nonetheless in fine condition, so I’m assured for the subsequent two days,” Koch is able to tackle the competitors.