The Dutch Demi Vollering won the second edition of the Tour de France Women, this Sunday July 30, after the individual time trial in the streets of Pau won by the Swiss Marlen Reusser.
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From our special correspondent in Pau,
In the middle of summer, Demi Vollering emerged from the fog to mark the history of women’s cycling. In gloomy weather, far from the summer heat, the Dutchwoman built her final victory in the terrible Tourmalet on Saturday July 29, with a single attack about five kilometers from the goal, pushed by a pack of supporters barely visible in the haze of the Pyrenees.
There remained a time trial in the streets of Pau, which she finished in second place to finally register her name on the winners of a Grand Tour. Here she is now on the first step of the podium of the Tour de France Women, she who had been the runner-up to her compatriot Annemiek van Vleuten, a year ago.
A list of winners at lightning speed this season
” Demi Vollering impressed me in the Tourmalet. I liked his face-to-face with Annemiek van Vleuten. I like to see the healthy pride of the competitors. There was joy in their eyes “, says Christian Prudhomme, director of the Tour de France men. And in that of Demi Vollering in particular. Twelve months ago, the latter had shed tears of joy, proud to be on the podium.
In the meantime, his track record has grown at lightning speed during a gargantuan spring and peak summer. Between March and April, Vollering won the Strade Bianchi, Through Flanders and continued with the three Ardennes: Amstel Gold race, Flèche wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège. In May, she finished second in the Tour of Spain behind… Annemiek van Vleuten.
Demi Vollering had a quiet week despite a hitch in the middle of stage 5. After a puncture, in a panic, she followed her sports director’s car closely to get back into the peloton. A fault that did not go unnoticed in the eyes of the commissioners, who had decided to sanction the runner with a 20-second penalty. ” Eh ? Oh wow… Okay… Must have been when I got a flat tire? I only followed the car a bit, then immediately passed it Vollering said in shock. A quickly forgotten episode.
” I have always liked to give the best of myself »
At 26, the one who loves being in the open air and walking in the mountains is making a little girl’s dream come true. ” As a child, when people asked me what I wanted to do, I always answered cyclist “, she said in a video portrait of The Team before the first edition.
” I have always liked to give the best of myselfshe said. I’ve always been the perfectionist type. I never felt like a leader. I don’t really like to be put forward, I don’t like to be seen as someone special. You have to deserve to have leadership through work. We have to show the new generation that we have the level to run a race like the Tour de France. You have to have patience, sometimes you want to win everything right away “. And to add with the humility that characterizes her: I hope to win the Tour de France one day. Maybe not this year. But for sure, I want to win the Tour de France one day. »
” I find it difficult to realize what is happening to me, it will take me a few days to rest and regain my senses “, now comments Demi Vollering. This July 30, this fifteenth success of the season will remain etched in his memory.
The reaction of the tricolors
Juliette Labous, 5th overall and first in France
“I think I had a good lap, even if I missed the first stage (heat stroke which cost him 43 seconds, editor’s note). I managed to bounce back, I gave it my all anyway. The level was higher than last year (4th overall). I would be happy for the Tour de France to last two weeks to see the limit of our bodies. I think there would be even more differences, so hopefully in the future it will be a bit longer. »
Cédrine Kerbaol, white jersey of best young person in the general classification
“It’s a beautiful week that is coming to an end. This white jersey gave me motivation and I hope I inspired the young girls. There were a lot of people to support me this week, it was just crazy. I did not expect that. Now I have the world championships in mind (in Glasgow, Scotland from August 5 to 13) and I would like to perform in the under-23 race. »