From these casing-slicing pebbles, from this dust stinging the eyes and freezing the faces under pale masks, an angel’s head has arisen, as light as a champagne bubble. Evita Muzic did not raise her arms upon arrival in Bar-sur-Aube (Aube), but she danced on the unpaved sandy paths crossing the vineyards. The Swiss Marlen Reusser, had spun, all in power, a little before her to cross the line the first, this Wednesday afternoon, during this fourth stage of the Tour de France women, but the way the young hope of tricolor cycling settled its two breakaway partners (Belarusian Alena Amialiusik and American Veronica Ewers) in the sprint, suggests a bright future.
“Okay, it’s not a victory, but it’s a podium and after that of Cecilie (Uttrup Ludwig) yesterday, we erased our black day, she slips all smiles on her descent from the bike. We are in a good dynamic. »
His team, the FDJ-Suez-Futuroscope, got back on track for this event which is so close to his heart. The falls, the abandonment of the Italian Marta Cavalli, one of the leaders with the Danish Uttrup Ludwig, is now far behind. “Cecilie’s success took all the pressure off us,” continues Evita Muzic. Our Tour is successful now. That’s why I went there by feeling. »
The 2021 French champion, so impatient to see the road rise, stiffen and finally offer her her favorite playground, took advantage of the slightest steep slopes at her disposal. “I love these paths,” she says. It reminds me of cyclo-cross. It wasn’t an easy day though. You always need a bit of luck, but I feel like it worked out for us. I derailed, Cecilie and Grace (Brown) punctured, but there were no consequences. »
A luxury teammate, as she defines herself, Evita Muzic did not come to this Tour to play her personal card. She has also lost precious seconds since the start and is in 12th place in the general classification, 2′47″ from the Dutchwoman Marianne Vos, still in yellow. At 23, the Jurassian, who already has a stage in the Tour of Italy (2020) in her pocket, is there to learn and work for Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (9th at 1′48″), with whom she carried out reconnaissance mountainous stages. Especially since she started her season in mid-April only after a knee operation in January following a bad fall. “I still have some apprehensions, that’s why I’m not always well placed in the peloton,” she says.
This is also why she is particularly looking forward to the next weekend. In the Vosges, she will evolve practically at home, under the eyes of her parents, both former runners. “It’s close to my heart,” she said. I can’t wait to be in the passes. I will be there to accompany Cecilie. But if by then there are opportunities, I will not be shy. »
