Anniina Ahtosalo (Uno-X Mobility) skirted catastrophe and sprinted to second place within the opening stage on the Tour de France Femmes after a contact of wheels left Lorena Wiebes’ (SD Worx-Protime) bike with out a derailleur and a dangling chain unable to dash in The Hague.
The Finnish Champion sprinted to second behind stage winner Charlotte Kool (dsm-firmenich PostNL) and is now positioned second general and, at simply 20 years previous, can be main the younger rider competitors.
While she was happy along with her outcomes on the day, she spoke concerning the hectic nature of the ultimate dash and the way her entrance wheel unintentionally touched Wiebes’ again wheel with 500 metres to go, simply as Wiebes’ drifted to the best facet of the highway, ending the Dutch rider’s probability to dash for a possible stage win.
“I believe it was me who someway touched her again wheel. I believe I rode into her derailleur, so one thing went improper along with her gear and chain. For certain, she was one among and possibly even the quickest within the bunch, so issues might have been completely different,” Ahtosalo stated on the end line.
SD Worx-Protime executed their lead-out to perfection, and Wiebes was ready to dash simply earlier than the contact of wheels with Ahtosalo triggered the mechanical.
Ahtosalo was in a position to manoeuvre round Wiebes and proceed her dash, and whereas Kool had already gained a motorbike size on the run-in to the end line, she sprinted in for second place on the day.
“I used to be proper behind her, however it was alright,” she stated. “I might get handed. I used to be far sufficient within the entrance that it did not trigger any hazard. I believe it was me touching her derailleur. I used to be a bit shocked that I used to be thus far up.”
She thanked her Uno-X teammates, notably Maria Confalonieri, for her preliminary lead-out into the ultimate of the 123km race from Rotterdam to The Hague.
“Today, we thought it was a very good probability for me and to get the younger rider’s jersey. Maria has good phases arising for her; she’s in actually good condition, so we wish to experience for her within the more durable phases,” Ahtosalo stated.
“It went higher than I anticipated, so I’m proud of it. It obtained hectic however it’s the kind of remaining that I like. We nailed the lead-out. It was the very best I might do with the win going away, however I’m proud of the lead-out.”
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