SD Worx has performed their playing cards properly within the opening six phases on the Tour de France Femmes, however the battle for the general title is about to kick off between overwhelming favourites and rivals Demi Vollering and Annemiek van Vleuten because the race heads into the long-lasting ascent of the Tourmalet on Saturday.
Lotte Kopecky, who has led the race since her late-race assault that netted her the win on stage 1 in Clermont-Ferrand, will now flip her consideration to supporting Vollering within the battle for the yellow jersey.
“[Me] taking the yellow jersey into the Tourmalet was, for positive, not the plan. However we had one aim, and that’s to attempt to win the Tour de France with Demi,” Kopecky stated within the post-race press convention after stage 6 in Blagnac.
Kopecky has had a outstanding Tour de France Femmes profitable the opening stage and ending second into Mauriac, third into Montignac-Lascaux, fourth into Albi and third into Blagnac.
“I am completely happy to have two stage wins and spend the entire Tour de France, up to now, in yellow. For the workforce, it has been a pleasant Tour de France already,” Kopecky stated.
“Hopefully, tomorrow, we might help Demi as a lot as potential, and hopefully, she has the legs to complete it off on the Tourmalet. I hope she good points a number of time and that the silly 20 seconds [penalty for drafting] from yesterday is not going to resolve this Tour de France.”
Vollering heads into the Col du Tourmalet stage after a tumultuous few days on the Tour de France Femmes that noticed her end second on stage 4 into Rodez, the place she thought she had gained. However a niche on the uphill climb mixed along with her second-place time bonus meant she additionally gained a invaluable eight-second on Van Vleuten.
Nevertheless, she misplaced that benefit when the race jury docked her 20 seconds for drafting off the workforce automobile after a flat tire on stage 5 into Albi. SD Worx director Danny Stam was later faraway from the race for harmful driving and his inappropriate feedback to the commissaires panel.
Kopecky stated that she was shocked to study that Stam had been faraway from the race and that his absence within the workforce automobile may have an effect on the workforce’s efficiency.
“I heard it this morning, and I used to be a bit shocked. Yesterday we already received the 20 seconds. For us, it looks like everyone seems to be us, and if they’ll attempt to punish us, they’re doing it,” Kopecky stated, noting that it is not price worrying a few ultimate resolution.
“It is unhappy to not have Danny within the automobile anymore as a result of he is a extremely invaluable member of the workforce. Neither I nor the opposite riders can change something about it. This morning we have been truly attempting to make as many jokes as potential and attempt to giggle at it, however we won’t change something about it, so we strive to not waste power over it.”
Anna van der Breggen: We all know Annemiek, it is not going to be simple
The workforce’s second director Anna van der Breggen, stated earlier within the week that Kopecky’s place within the yellow jersey has helped take a number of the stress off Vollering forward of the Tourmalet.
“Now we have been clear concerning the aim of who’s taking yellow ultimately. It is good that we even have the yellow jersey now with Lotte, nevertheless it’s not our important aim for her to maintain the yellow jersey,” Van der Breggen stated.
“Lotte additionally is aware of the aim for the workforce; we now have one aim. Lotte likes that she remains to be in yellow; all of us prefer it, however so long as we will hold it like that, it is good [ahead of the Tourmalet]. You possibly can see that Lotte is having fun with driving in it.”
Van der Breggen competed for years towards Van Vleuten and is aware of higher than anybody what it takes to beat the reigning world champion within the mountains.
Vollering had a outstanding spring profitable the three Ardennes Classics and has crushed Van Vleuten on a number of the main climbs this season, notably the Lagos de Covadonga at La Vuelta Femenina. She seems to have closed a number of the efficiency hole that set them aside ultimately yr’ ‘s Tour de France Femmes, the place Vollering completed second and three:48 behind Van Vleuten within the general classification.
Though Van Vleuten had a sub-par spring marketing campaign, she got here again to win La Vuelta Femenina in Could and Giro d’Italia Donne in July.
“With Annemiek, you by no means know. Typically she is approach higher when she is at essential races than she is throughout the season. There may be a number of stress on this race,” Van der Breggen stated.
“I’d not focus an excessive amount of on asking how good Annemiek is; we simply attempt to do our personal plan and see who’s there and who will not be there.”
Van der Breggen stated Vollering should keep centered if she needs to beat Van Vleuten within the mountains.
“Demi is aware of how Annemiek rides and that you just all the time should be centered. Annemiek is robust, and he or she has extra expertise, however that is racing. Being good your self and having belief are an important on this. After a season that Demi has had and what she has proven within the races, she will have it,” Van der Breggen stated.
“An important factor for Demi is to remain centered, and it will not be simple. You realize Annemiek, it is not going to be simple as a result of she additionally has a giant aim on this Tour de France.”
