Lotta Henttala’s Tour de France ended before the final weekend.
Mika Halonen,
STT Sports
The sixth stage of the road cycling women’s Tour of France offered a real dose of drama. Finnish cyclist Lotta Henttala was rejected from the entire tour.
Henttala’s Belgian team Soudal-Quick Step announced the matter.
– Lotta Henttala has been disqualified as a result of the events of today’s stage. Also our team boss Servais Knaven is disked, stable writes.
Among other things The Cycling News website says, that Henttala was disqualified because he held on to the team’s service car during the stage. The touch was too long in the opinion of the jury. The car was driven by the sports director of the team, Knaven.
It is strange that Henttala was disbanded without warning. One of the all-around favourites, Holland Demi Vollering received a 20-second time penalty on Thursday when he sought a windshield from his team car.
To the SD Vorx manager of the Vollering stable For Danny Stam however, was shown the door. According to the race organizers, Stam drove the service car in a dangerous way, passing other cars and cyclists.
Henttala was one of the favorites in the all-around sprint stages. The sixth stage, a 122.1 kilometer stretch from Albi to Blagnac, was intended for sprinters in advance.
Earlier, Henttala was 12th on the third, 147.2 kilometer flat stage, only two seconds behind the leader.
In addition, Henttala was an important co-driver in the team for, among others, a South African For Ashleigh Moolman-Pasiowhich was second overall after five stages.
Henttala returned to the Games this year after taking a break in 2020.
Cycling News reports that Henttala started to fall behind the main group on a 1.9 kilometer climb, with 71 kilometers left in the stage. After this, it was reported on French television that the competition authorities had rejected Henttala. Later, the organizers of the women’s Tour de France confirmed the information.
The sixth stage was finally won by the Dane from the Movistar team Emma Cecilie Norsgaardwhich was the strongest at the end.
The Belgian from the Dutch SD Worx team continues to lead the overall race Lotte Kopeckywho lost to the winner of the weaving leg by a second.
The Women’s Tour ends on Sunday. Still ahead are Saturday’s mountain stage (89.9 km) and Sunday’s time trial (22.6 km).
Stage 6, Albi – Blagnac, 122.1 km:
1) Emma Noorsgaard, Denmark, Movistar, 2.59.16
2) Charlotte Kool Holland, Team dsm-firmenich, +1 second
3) Lotte Kopecky, Belgium, SD Worx, same time
Overall situation after stage 6/8:
1) Lotte Kopecky, Belgium, SD Worx, 21:54:30
2) Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio, South Africa, Soudal Quick-Step, +0.53
3) Annemiek van Vleuten, Holland, Movistar, +0.55