Yellow jersey Demi Vollering put a star subsequent to stage 4 on the Tour de France Femmes, which mixed one of the best elements of the Amstel Gold Race and Liège-Bastogne-Liège, each races she had gained in earlier years. However when officers confirmed that the victory went to Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Deceuninck) after a photo-finish dash, Vollering stated she had “no regrets”.
“It is a good day for me and for the entire workforce. My teammates did an excellent job with conserving me secure at this time and within the entrance. It was a pleasant day for us,” the SD Worx-Protime rider instructed the press on the rain-soaked end line in Liège.
Vollering, presently main the general classification after successful the day past’s stage 3 time trial in Rotterdam, was a part of a three-rider breakaway that sprinted for the win in Liège.
She, together with Pieterse and Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM), broke away from what was left of the sector with 13.4km to go on the Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons. Niewiadoma attacked on the ultimate run-in, however Vollering closed the hole simply as Pieterse launched her dash from the third wheel. Vollering responded and the pair reached the end line on the identical time, with officers later confirming Pieterse’s victory.
“I hoped first Puck would shut [the gap to Niewiadoma], however she did not instantly, so I did it myself as a result of I did not wish to give Kasia an excessive amount of house, as a result of when she’s gone, she’s gone. Then I closed it by myself velocity, in order that I did not empty myself there and that I knew that Kasia would depart somewhat bit for the previous few hundred metres, and that was sort of a lead-out for us. I hoped she stored going, and fortuitously she did,” Vollering defined how the ultimate few hundred metres of the stage performed out.
“Puck began to dash first. I believed for a number of seconds that I might make it, however on the road I had the sensation that it was not sufficient, and Puck gained. It is good as a result of Puck is a gifted rider, and he or she actually deserves it.”
Vollering stated that she wasn’t stunned to see Pieterse win the dash due to her success within the sport in a number of disciplines, and since she felt that Pieterse performed a greater tactical sport within the closing kilometre.
“I do know that Puck is an effective rider, and I do know that she has an excellent dash. I bought the sensation that in the previous few kilometres she was holding again somewhat bit. She might do extra. I stated, ‘I feel you possibly can nonetheless do extra’, however she was saving somewhat bit, and he or she attacked on the finish. It was between me and Kasia for the GC, so it was OK. It was an excellent day for us,” Vollering stated.
Vollering stated she was dissatisfied after ending third place at Liège-Bastogne-Liège in April however had the alternative feeling when ending second on stage 4 on the Tour on an analogous course.
“First, it was good to have a brand new alternative right here in the midst of the season, after the frustration within the spring, so I used to be motivated to go for the win,” she stated.
“Additionally, I simply needed to race right here at this time with out regrets, and that’s what I did. I am unable to have regrets after the end line, so I do not take into consideration that. I used to be second and I must keep in mind that I used to be going for the GC additionally at this time, so I am actually blissful about that.”
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