Dutch sprinter Lorena Wiebes has dominated the opening weekend of the Women’s Tour de France. The two-time European champion also claimed victory on the second stage, a 147.9-kilometre route from Aigle to Geneva, in temperatures well above 30 degrees. Wiebes had already claimed the stage win in Lausanne on Saturday. This brings the world’s best sprinter’s tally to seven Tour stage wins in her career.
Wiebes won by several bike lengths ahead of Italy’s Elisa Balsamo and her compatriot Marianne Vos, after Riejanne Markus (Netherlands) had been caught a good 400 metres from the finish. Wiebes thus retains the yellow jersey as the overall leader. In second place is Kim Le Court Pienaar from Mauritius, 14 seconds behind, followed by Tour favourite Demi Vollering from the Netherlands (0:16).
Niedermaier in 17th place in the overall standings
The German riders played no part in the outcome. Linda Riedmann still managed to finish in tenth place. Antonia Niedermaier, who finished second in the Giro, is the highest-placed German in the general classification, in 17th place, 28 seconds behind the leader. “Today was one of the easier stages. That’s why you have to enjoy it. It’s going to get tougher and tougher. We’re now looking forward to the mountains,” Niedermaier told ARD.
On Monday, the third stage covers 156.5 kilometres from Geneva to Poligny in France. The fifth edition of the tour concludes next Sunday in Nice. The highlight this year is Friday’s mountain finish on the legendary Mont Ventoux.
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