Liane Lippert on the Tour de France Femmes 2024
TOUR: How satisfied are you with two third stage places in the Tour de France Femmes?
Liane Lippert: I come away from the Tour with mixed feelings. On the one hand, I'm happy with two third places, but on the other hand I would have liked to have won a stage here. I remember from last year how difficult that is, but without a spring of racing I have to be very satisfied with my performance.
TOUR: In the sprint of the fifth stage you started a little too early and missed out on a possible stage win?
Liane Lippert: Yes, of course it's still an extreme pity in hindsight. I knew that I could win on the day and then I was just a fraction too early. You're always smarter afterwards; I'll take it as it is now.
TOUR: How was it? the famous climb to Alpe d'Huez for the first time in a race to start up?
Liane Lippert: That was of course an absolutely cool experience, but also the hardest day of this year's Tour for me! After being in the leading group for a large part of the day, I also caught my colleague Mareille Meijering on the climb to Alpe d'Huez at the end. But the women's peloton definitely showed that they are ready for these kinds of climbs.
Performance evaluation and the Tour de France Femmes in the future
TOUR: You've had a turbulent time. First the Injury in winterthen no races in the spring, finally the Stage win at the Giro and now this strong tour, which you finished as the best German in 18th place. How would you rate your own performances over the past few weeks?
Liane Lippert: Fortunately, I sometimes forget how difficult this phase was for me during the injury. Also that I was still using crutches a few months ago. Getting back on the bike at the Vuelta was really difficult, but things got better and better after that. Of course I'm happy that I'm doing so well again so quickly and I've improved again on long climbs, especially in the last few weeks.
TOUR: You have taken part in all three previous editions of the Tour de France Femmes. What changes have you observed and where do you see the Tour in the coming years?
Liane Lippert: In the past three years, the level and density of performance has continued to rise. That has made the Tour even tougher. But this development can also be applied to international women's cycling as a whole. Maybe we'll see more stages in the next few years, but I don't think there will be more than ten or eleven for the time being.
TOUR: What does the rest of your season look like? Is the World Championships in Zurich at the end of September Now a big goal?
Liane Lippert: Yes. I'll be starting in a few days with the World Tour race in Plouay and then there are the European Championships and World Championships, where I will definitely be competing with ambitions.
