Lorena Wiebes wins in Paris and wins the first yellow jersey

Published on : 24/07/2022 – 15:36Modified : 24/07/2022 – 16:03

It was a day of firsts in Paris. It was obviously the first stage of the first women’s Tour de France of the professional era. And the circuit of the Champs-Élysées, traveled eleven times [onze tours, douze passages de ligne] by the 144 runners, dedicated a first yellow jersey: Lorena Wiebes, who was the fastest during the massive sprint.

The Dutch from the DSM was the big favorite for this first stage, given her current form. She beat her competitors, the veteran of the Jumbo-Visma, Marianne Vos, and Lotte Kopecky, the sprinter of the SD-Work.

Just before that, the Norman Gladys Verhulst offered a first thrill to the French public with an epic on the Champs-Élysées. Breaking away at 15 kilometers, she counted up to 50 seconds at the 10 kilometer sign. But the pack of pursuers was too strong and she had to surrender 2.3 kilometers from the goal. She will finally be elected combative of the day and therefore the first Frenchwoman to climb on a ceremonial podium on this Tour de France Women.

The four jerseys awarded

In terms of the other distinctive jerseys, Femke Markus will start the second stage with the first polka dot jersey on her shoulders, since she took the lead during the distribution of the first points. Lotte Kopecky will wear the first green tunic of best sprinter even if the jersey actually belongs to the winner of the stage. Finally, Maike van der Duin, sixth in the stage, will have the honor of the first white jersey.

Victoire Berteau is currently the first Frenchwoman in the ranking. The Cofidis runner points to the 20^e place.

For the record, the short stage also saw a first abandonment: that of Alana Castrique, the Belgian from the Cofidis team, victim of a heavy fall on the penultimate lap.

The second stage, Monday between Meaux and Provins, will have 136.4 kilometers and is on paper also promised to the sprinters.