From our special correspondent on the Tour de France – In the Côte de Durtol, 9.3 km from the finish, Belgian champion Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx) placed a decisive attack to claim the stage victory in Clermont-Ferrand on Sunday. She thus wins the first yellow jersey of the Tour du France Women 2023.
Published on: 07/23/2023 – 15:33Modified on: 07/23/2023 – 15:58
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SD Worx had promised to do everything on this Tour de France to dislodge Annemiek van Vleuten from her throne. The number 1 formation in women’s cycling kept its promise from the 1st stage, won alone in Clermont-Ferrand by the Belgian champion, Lotte Kopecky, while her teammate Lorena Wiebes won the bunch sprint.
The rider from the SD Worx team attacked shortly before the summit of the only difficulty of the day, the Durtol coast, nine kilometers from the line, and won almost a minute ahead of her Dutch teammate in the Clermont fervor.
By settling in the only difficulty of the day, the race followed the script written in advance by Marion Rousse and the organizers of ASO. Before this climb, a few riders did try to escape but the teams preferred to lock up the stage, never giving the runaways more than 30 seconds.
Read alsoTour de France Women: Vollering, Labous, Longo Borghini, Cavalli… Who to beat Van Vleuten?
In the duel announced for the final victory, Annemiek van Vleuten and Demi Vollering drew, while among the rest of the outsiders, only the French Juliette Labous and the Italian of the FDJ Marta Cavalli can deplore the loss of about thirty seconds.
The French fans will be able to console themselves for this disillusion: Cédrine Kerbaol will endorse the white jersey of best young person.
