Defending champion Demi Vollering put on a dazzling display at the Tour de France Femmes, seizing the yellow jersey after a dominant performance in the stage three time trial! The Dutch cyclist completed the 6.3km course in Rotterdam in just 7 minutes 25 seconds, edging out her teammate Lorena Wiebes by three seconds in the general classification. π
π A Day of Dual Victories
Earlier in the day, Dutch rider Charlotte Kool powered her way to victory in the second straight stage, timing her sprint to perfection and overtaking Wiebes in the final moments. Kool’s back-to-back triumphs highlight her sprinting prowess, cementing her as one of the top contenders of the race. π₯π¬οΈ
Kool, who was the victor of the bunch sprint after a 67km flat race from Dordrecht to Rotterdam, remains fifth overall, just five seconds behind Vollering. Although she placed 33rd in the individual time trial, Kool remains upbeat and grateful for her earlier victories, especially while wearing the yellow jersey in front of home fans. π‘β¨
π₯ Vollering’s Surprise Victory
For Vollering, her time trial win came as a surprise. After clinching the Tour title last year with a breathtaking solo attack on a mountain stage, she now leads the general classification going into her strongest terrain β the mountains. ποΈπ΄ββοΈ
She won the time trial by five seconds ahead of Chloe Dygert, the American 2024 Olympic bronze medalist. British rider Anna Henderson also had a solid performance, finishing 10th, 11 seconds behind Vollering, and now sits 11th in the overall standings. π¬π§π΄ββοΈ
Vollering humbly admitted after her victory, “I had no idea I could do this. I really wasnβt even thinking of the podium… Itβs nice that I have the yellow jersey. Itβs up to the other teams to take it.” π
π₯ Kool’s Second Stage Win
In a thrilling sprint finish, Kool surged past Wiebes in the final 100 meters to win her second stage. Despite missing out on the yellow jersey, Kool has no regrets and cherishes her time in the iconic leader’s jersey. “Itβs a day I will remember forever,” she shared, reflecting on the special experience of racing in front of Dutch fans. π³π±π
π The Race Continues
With the race shifting from the Netherlands to Belgium and eventually France, the competition is heating up. Vollering’s lead positions her perfectly ahead of the mountain stages set for the weekend, where she is expected to excel. The fourth stage, a 122.7km hilly course from Valkenburg to LiΓ¨ge, promises to further shake up the standings as the riders push toward victory. β°οΈπ΄ββοΈ
β¨ General Classification After Stage 3
Lizzie Deignan (GB/Lidl-Trek) β +49secs
Demi Vollering (NED/SD Worx) β 4hrs 27mins 54secs
Lorena Wiebes (NED/SD Worx) β +3secs
Chloe Dygert (US/CanyonβSRAM) β +5secs
Loes Adegeest (NED/FDJβSuez) β Same time
Charlotte Kool (NED/DSM-Firmenich PostNL)
Anna Henderson (GB/Team Visma) β +11secs
Pfeiffer Georgi (GB/DSM-Firmenich PostNL) β +16secs
