For Marianne Vos, stage 1 of the Tour de France Femmes wasn’t the house fairytale within the Netherlands she’d hoped for, beginning her dash too far again on Charlotte Kool and being compelled to accept fifth when her legs “exploded”.
Visma-Lease A Bike opted to not attempt to lead out the two-time stage winner on the Tour, aiming merely to latch onto the wheel of pre-stage favorite Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime) to attempt to struggle for the win. Wiebes had an premature mechanical within the closing 500 metres which dominated her out of the working however Vos wasn’t within the place she wished when that occurred.
As the favorite stopped her effort with no rear-derailleur or chain on her bike and Charlotte Kool (DSM-Firmenich PostNL) launched away for victory and the primary yellow jersey, Vos was barely in display screen on the published, some 5 locations again and a good distance from preventing together with her compatriot.
“We had been a bit too far, she moved up however then the legs exploded and she or he was not sturdy sufficient – the utmost was a fifth place,” DS Jan Boven informed Cyclingnews on the Visma workforce bus.
“Fifth is just not actually satisfying but it surely’s a bunch dash so something can occur,” mentioned Vos, earlier than agreeing that positioning was the issue. “I used to be a bit too far again within the closing kilometre, so I could not dash for the win. I nonetheless did every part I might, however Kool turned out to be the quickest at this time.”
Boven additionally prompt that whereas nearing her absolute peak kind. some hangover of the commitments and energy that include successful an Olympic silver medal only a week in the past, in a gruelling Paris highway race no much less, might have performed into Vos lacking these closing few per cent to problem on stage 1.
“She is in good kind, I imply final week was the Olympics and I believe she confirmed [her strength] there however there was lots of emotion after the Olympics,” mentioned Boven.
“The travelling, after the race, all of the ceremonies for certain she is just not 100% match – effectively she is match, he corrected himself, “however just a little bit nonetheless the Olympics are there. But will probably be coming and the form is OK.”
While having no lead-out because the pre-planned technique on stage 1 didn’t work out, Boven mentioned nothing ought to change on stage 2’s flat 67.9km take a look at from Dordrecht to Rotterdam, besides perhaps the practice they goal to comply with.
“We didn’t do a lead-out, nothing on it. Marianne is admittedly on instinct and following the fitting strikes. That’s the tactic for her which works the very best,” mentioned Boven, confirming Vos will comply with go well with on Tuesday however that Kool could possibly be an possibility given her energy on the opener.
“Today the main focus was on Lorena’s wheel, I imply it’s the primary time Charlotte did a dash like that this 12 months and it was actually shocking and actually sturdy – it was good to see however tomorrow we make a brand new plan for that.”
Get limitless entry to all of our protection of the 2024 Tour de France Femmes – together with breaking information and evaluation reported by our journalists on the bottom from each stage because it occurs and extra. Find out extra.