Anniina Ahtosalo (Uno-X Mobility) skirted catastrophe and sprinted to second place within the opening stage on the Tour de France Femmes after a contact of wheels left Lorena Wiebes’ (SD Worx-Protime) bike with out a derailleur and a dangling chain unable to dash in The Hague.
The Finnish Champion sprinted to second behind stage winner Charlotte Kool (dsm-firmenich PostNL) and is now positioned second general and, at simply 20 years previous, can also be main the younger rider competitors.
Whereas she was happy along with her outcomes on the day, she spoke in regards to the hectic nature of the ultimate dash and how her entrance wheel by chance touched Wiebes’ again wheel with 500 metres to go, simply as Wiebes’ drifted to the suitable facet of the highway, ending the Dutch rider’s likelihood to dash for a possible stage win.
“I believe it was me who by some means touched her again wheel. I believe I rode into her derailleur, so one thing went flawed along with her gear and chain. For positive, she was one in all and possibly even the quickest within the bunch, so issues may have been completely different,” Ahtosalo mentioned on the end line.
SD Worx-Protime executed their lead-out to perfection, and Wiebes was ready to dash simply earlier than the contact of wheels with Ahtosalo triggered the mechanical.
Ahtosalo was capable of manoeuvre round Wiebes and proceed her dash, and whereas Kool had already gained a motorbike size on the run-in to the end line, she sprinted in for second place on the day.
“I used to be proper behind her, however it was alright,” she mentioned. “I may get handed. I used to be far sufficient within the entrance that it did not trigger any hazard. I believe it was me touching her derailleur. I used to be a bit stunned that I used to be to date up.”
She thanked her Uno-X teammates, significantly Maria Confalonieri, for her preliminary lead-out into the ultimate of the 123km race from Rotterdam to The Hague.
“At this time, we thought it was a superb likelihood for me and to get the younger rider’s jersey. Maria has good levels developing for her; she’s in actually fine condition, so we wish to journey for her within the more durable levels,” Ahtosalo mentioned.
“It went higher than I anticipated, so I am pleased with it. It received hectic however it’s the kind of remaining that I like. We nailed the lead-out. It was one of the best I may do with the win going away, however I am pleased with the lead-out.”
Get limitless entry to all of our protection of the 2024 Tour de France Femmes – together with breaking information and evaluation reported by our journalists on the bottom from each stage because it occurs and extra. Discover out extra.
