‘Virage Juliette!’ – Labous celebrates with a bend devoted in her identify at Tour de France Femmes

Crowds of individuals chanting, ‘Allez Juliette’ reached a crescendo when Juliette Labous (Team dsm-firmenich PostNL) attacked on the backside of Côte des Fins in pursuit of the day’s victory close to the tip of stage 6 on the Tour de France Femmes. 

The French Champion had little alternative to absorb her devoted fanfare when she reached the ultimate 15km, however she heard their cheers and noticed glimpses of their faces as she raced into the bottom of the climb.

Her former membership group, Le Vélo Club Morteau Montbenoit (VCMM), positioned themselves on the ultimate climb waving devoted indicators, her face on a large billboard and bikes embellished with flowers standing alongside the course. Labous grew to become the primary feminine rider to have a bend devoted in her identify on the Côte des Fins.

“It was superb; there have been so many indicators, and so many individuals have been saying, ‘Allez Juliette’ It was actually nice. They named a nook after me, which was superb and particular,” Labous advised Cyclingnews on the end line in Morteau.

Labous’ compatriot Thibaut Pinot was honoured with a bend named after him on the 2023 Tour de France and Il Lombardia, whereas Romain Bardet and Julien Bernard obtained recognition on the 2024 Tour de France. 

Labous shaped a part of a range on the Côte des Fins, a results of her assault on the base of the climb. Many normal classification contenders have been within the group, together with race chief Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM) and defending champion Demi Vollering (SD Worx-Protime).

“It was not so onerous till then, so I assumed, if I need to attempt one thing, it is there or nowhere. There have been lots of people cheering for me, so I’m going to make use of this to attempt to assault. It was not selective sufficient this time, and it did not work, however I attempted, and it was a pleasant ambiance,” she mentioned.

In the tip, her compatriot Cédrine Kerbaol (Ceratizit-WNT) stole away excessive of the ascent with 14.5km to go and held off the small chase group to take the win. Her victory marked the primary for French riders on the Tour de France Femmes in its first three editions.

“I’m actually completely satisfied for Cédrine. She’s a superb rider. She is typically loopy robust, so I’m completely satisfied for her,” Labous mentioned.

Labous has positioned within the high 10 general within the final two editions and is at present sitting in fifth at 56 seconds behind Niewiadoma. She is among the contenders to win on the ultimate stage and poised to complete on the rostrum when the race finishes atop Alpe d’Huez on Sunday. 

“I’m trying ahead to the mountains. We will see who has the very best legs. I’ve already achieved Le Grand-Bornand when it was a part of La Course by Le Tour just a few years in the past, so I do know a part of it. I additionally went once more to do recon in June to get a bit extra impressed from it,” Labous mentioned.

“I do know Alpe d’Huez effectively. I’ve ridden it 5 occasions. Not just lately however the final time was in 2018 after I did a coaching camp with my boyfriend earlier than some races. When I used to be a junior, we used to go practice there and rode it quite a bit.”

Labous mentioned the finale stage 8’s 149.9km race might be difficult, with the peloton climbing Col de Glandon and the Alpe d’Huez within the second half of the race.

“It might be a really onerous stage with nearly 4,000 metres of elevation. It might be one of many hardest, subsequent to the Blockhaus stage on the Giro, it’s fairly much like this,” she mentioned.

“It is a well-known climb and an honour to have the ability to end there. There might be lots of people who will cheer for us there. It is an honour to race there, and we should always take pleasure in it.”

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