Tour de France Femmes 2023: Wiebes and Kopecky Take Center Stage at the Start
Overview: From Victory Sprints & Heartbreak
The Tour de France Femmes 2023 is in full swing, captivating cycling enthusiasts from July 23 to July 30. The Tour de France Femmes 2023 has reached Stage 3 at this point and is covering a 956-kilometer route throughout France. This second edition of the women’s Tour de France sees defending champion Annemiek Van Vleuten (Team Movistar), who is aiming for a Vuelta-Giro-Tour treble in her final season of racing. She faces tough competition from Demi Vollering (SD Worx), the other race favorite and rival.
Stage 1 – Lotte Kopecky’s Electrifying Start
In an electrifying start to the Tour de France Femmes 2023, Lotte Kopecky from SD Worx stunned the peloton and claimed the victory in Stage 1. Known as a formidable sprinter, Kopecky defied expectations with a perfectly-timed attack during a mid-climb stretch with just under 10 kilometers to go. Her bold move caught her competitors off-guard, and she powered her way to her 30th career win, leaving an indelible mark on the race right from the beginning.
The Belgian road race and time trial national champion’s SD Worx team did an outstanding job of holding the chasing peloton at bay, supporting Kopecky as she surged ahead. With this emphatic triumph, Kopecky is set to don the prestigious yellow jersey as the leader of the General Classification going into the next stage.
Not only did Kopecky secure the stage win, but her impressive performance also earned her the green sprinters jersey, which will be officially worn by the second-place finisher Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio of AG Insurance-Soudal-QuickStep, since Kopecky will be proudly sporting the yellow jersey. Additionally, Kopecky clinched the polka dot Queen of the Mountains jersey, which will be worn by Kasia Niewiadoma, the points holder and last year’s third-place finisher.
Stage 2 – Liane Lippert (Movistar) Stuns Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx)
In a heart-pounding sprint finish, Liane Lippert of Team Movistar outpaced the yellow jersey holder, Lotte Kopecky from SD Worx, to claim an exhilarating victory in Stage 2 of the Tour de France Femmes 2023. With an impressive burst of speed, Lippert surged ahead of Kopecky, leaving her rivals in awe as she crossed the finish line.
Lippert, the German national champion, showcased her wet-weather prowess as she conquered the challenging rainy conditions on the road. Even after enduring two early crashes—one in the neutral zone and another on a climb—she displayed remarkable determination to fight her way back to the front of the pack.
A gutsy three-woman breakaway led by Yara Kastelijn, Eva van Agt, and Anouska Koster. was cut short by a sudden downpour and Kastelijn’s misjudged turn, which led to a crash. Eva van Agt had to abandon the race due to a dangerous high-speed crash on a wet descent.
Stage 3 – Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx ) Takes the Win
Stage 3 witnessed an intense battle for the victory. Lorena Wiebes of Team SD Worx had her sights set on the stage win, and her team executed their strategy to perfection. Fans were left guessing for most of the stage, but SD Worx made their move in the last kilometer.
Teammate Lotte Kopecky launched a powerful attack, and Wiebes followed her like a rocket, surpassing Julie Van de Velde who had an impressive solo breakaway earlier in the stage. Wiebes stormed to her first win of the tour, sprinting at a stunning speed of 61 km/hr over the finish line.
Heartbreak for Van de Velde: Julie Van de Velde, representing Fenix-Deceuninck, showed exceptional determination during the stage. She attacked on the Cote des Andrieux, gaining a lead of over two minutes. Her efforts secured her two QOM points, tying her with two other riders for second place in the polka dot jersey competition. The peloton’s attempt to chase her down, Van de Velde held on and entered the final kilometer with an amazing advantage. However, the SD Worx team launched a powerful sprint to overtake her just 400 meters before the finish line. Julie Van de Velde’s fearless race earned her the polka dot jersey, while Kasia Niewiadoma and Katherin Hammes showcased their grit and determination. Her courageous race mirrored Lizzie Deignan’s winning strategy in the 2021 Paris-Roubaix Femmes.
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Kasia Niewiadoma of Canyon//SRAM emerged as a notable contender, forcing the top riders, including the race favorites Van Vleutan and Demi Vollering, to respond to her attacks. Although she didn’t claim the stage win, her strong performance sent a clear message to the rest of the peloton that she is a force to be reckoned with.
Marta Lach, the Polish national road race champion representing Ceratizit-WNT, demonstrated her tenacity and courage with an awe-inspiring solo attack about 46 kilometers from the finish. For a brief period, she held a remarkable 30-second lead, showcasing her determination and grit. Although the peloton eventually reeled her in, Lach left an unforgettable impression, proving she’s a rider to watch.
Biggest Heartbreak Yet in Tour de France Femmes 2023
However, the biggest heartbreak of the day was experienced by the fans. Coverage of the women’s race fell short compared to the comprehensive coverage provided for the men’s Tour de France. This disparity in broadcasting highlighted the need for further progress in providing equal attention and recognition to women’s cycling. The women’s race has been limited to only the final two and a half hours of each stage. This disparity in coverage highlights the need for further improvements in the coverage of women’s racing.
As the Tour de France Femmes 2023 progresses, riders like Liane Lippert and Kasia Niewiadoma are setting the stage for an exciting battle for the yellow jersey with their Tour de France standings. With fierce competition, unexpected attacks, and unpredictable weather, every stage promises exhilarating moments and thrilling sprints to the finish line.
Stay tuned at Point Spreads for more on the Tour de France schedule and more updates as the action unfolds in the Tour de France Femmes 2023!
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