Charlotte Kool sprinted to her second consecutive victory on the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift on Tuesday morning, outpowering Lorena Wiebes in Rotterdam on stage two.
After profiting from Wiebes’ mechanical issues to take the opening stage on Monday, Tuesday’s win proved that Kool of dsm-firmenich PostNL had the velocity to beat her SD Worx-Protime rival in unusual circumstances too.
Kool stayed within the yellow jersey for Tuesday afternoon’s stage three time trial consequently. Marianne Vos (Visma-Lease a Bike) completed third, taking extra factors within the inexperienced jersey competitors.
Wiebes opened up her dash early right into a headwind, with round 200m to go, with Kool given the time and the slipstream to around her Dutch rival within the closing metres. Kool ultimately received by half a wheel.
“It was fairly a chaotic dash,” Kool stated. “We had been a bit far again, however we knew to remain calm, and I attempted to remain as calm as attainable. I launched my dash, and it was sufficient.
“We had been fairly in management the entire day, however we heard some crashes so I hope everyone seems to be okay. It was hectic, however I preferred it.
“Goals come true fairly quick today,” she continued. “Profitable on this jersey is de facto particular.
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“I assume I’m [stronger than ever]. I didn’t count on this two weeks in the past, however issues change quick.”
Tuesday morning’s stage two was the primary a part of a split-stage day in Rotterdam, with a 6.3km time trial this afternoon. Kool has a 14-second benefit over second-placed Anniina Ahtosalo (Uno-X Mobility) heading into the brief race towards the clock.
The way it occurred
Audrey De Keersmaeker on stage two of the Tour de France Femmes
(Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
It was an earlier begin than typical for the peloton on a most uncommon day, as two levels are to be raced on Tuesday, first a 68km flat stage from Dordrecht again to Rotterdam. The one bumps within the stage profile had been attributable to bridges throughout the Nieuwe Maas within the Dutch metropolis.
Inside a kilometre of the official begin, a small crash was attributable to plastic limitations narrowing the street, holding just a few riders up. The incident brought on a minor break up within the peloton, with the race totally on already. With 60km to go, there was a second group at 17 seconds, and a 3rd group one other ten seconds behind.
With 55km to go, the break up within the peloton was undone. The peloton was nonetheless very nervous, nevertheless, with Nina Berton (Ceratizit-WNT) crashing.
The race saved collectively for the subsequent 10km or so, earlier than Laura Tomasi (Laboral Kutxa-Fundación Euskadi) tried to maneuver up the street, however her assault was short-lived. With simply over 40km to go Audrey De Keersmaeker powered off the entrance. Her hole received as much as 22 seconds.
A slight coming collectively noticed Dilyxine Miermont (St Michel-Mavic-Auber93) and Grace Brown (FDJ-Suez) come off. There was one other crash simply earlier than the 25km to go banner, with three riders – Nikola Nosková (Cofidis), Mieke Docx (Lotto Dstn) and Yanina Kuskova (Tashkent Metropolis) off their bikes.
With 20km to go, De Keersmaeker nonetheless had 25 seconds benefit over the peloton, with the winding streets on the best way into Rotterdam proving laborious to make a coherent chase on.
One other 10km later, and the Belgian rider nonetheless remained out in entrance, however her benefit was taken beneath 10 seconds, and her trip entrance was at an finish. By the point she was caught, she had spent 30km on the head of the race, absolutely securing her place as most combative for the primary a part of Tuesday.
A big break up occurred with 8km to go, with a good portion ignored the again of the peloton, which was now placing the tempo on, alongside vast roads into central Rotterdam.
Simply earlier than the 3km to go banner a crash took out two Liv AlUla Jayco riders Amber Pate and Ruby Roseman-Gannon, however this was throughout the 5km to go, that means they’d not lose time on GC. Nevertheless, it brought on one other break up within the peloton.
SD Worx-Protime positioned themselves on the entrance of the peloton because the race went into the ultimate kilometre, working for Lorena Wiebes.
The Dutch sprinter jumped from the wheel of teammate Barbara Guarischi with round 200m to go, adopted by Marianne Vos (Visma-Lease a Bike) and Charlotte Kool (dsm-firmenich PostNL), who received on Monday.
Having opened up her dash early, Kool had the chance to select a spot and are available spherical Wiebes to take victory in Rotterdam.
Outcomes
Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift stage two: Dordrecht > Rotterdam (67.9km)
1. Charlotte Kool (Ned) dsm-firmenich PostNL, in 1:32:49
2. Lorena Wiebes (Ned) SD Worx-Protime
3. Marianne Vos (Ned) Visma-Lease a Bike
4. Lotta Henttala (Fin) EF-Oatly-Cannondale
5. Elisa Balsamo (Ita) Lidl-Trek
6. Rachele Barbieri (Ita) dsm-firmenich PostNL
7. Mylène de Zoete (Ned) Ceratizit-WNT
8. Maggie Coles-Lyster (Can) Roland
9. Martina Alzini (Ita) Cofidis
10. Puck Pieterse (Ned) Fenix-Deceuninck, all at similar time
Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift normal classification after stage two
1. Charlotte Kool (Ned) dsm-firmenich PostNL, in 4:20:09
2. Anniina Ahtosalo (Fin) Uno-X Mobility, +14s
3. Lorena Wiebes (Ned) SD Worx-Protime, at similar time
4. Marianne Vos (Ned) Visma-Lease a Bike, +16s
5. Elisa Balsamo (Ita) Lidl-Trek, at similar time
6. Lotta Henttala (Fin) EF-Oatly-Cannondale, +20s
7. Mylène de Zoete (Ned) Ceratizit-WNT
8. Emilia Fahlin (Swe) Arkéa-B&B Inns
9. Kathrin Schweinberger (Aut) Ceratizit-WNT
10. Kim Le Courtroom (Mau) AG Insurance coverage-Soudal, all at similar time
