Lorena Wiebes demonstrates her climbing prowess, securing a second-place finish in the uphill stage 2 of the Tour de France Femmes, stating that her victories are bonus achievements.
Lorena Wiebes, the Dutch cyclist and current favourite for the upcoming sprint stages of the Tour de France Femmes, finished second in stage 2, three seconds behind Mavi García. Despite the close finish, Wiebes remains optimistic about her chances in the flatter stages coming up on Monday and Tuesday.
In an interview after the race, Wiebes expressed her belief that the peloton could have closed the gap to García. "I didn't see the responsibility to close the gap to García with myself or my team," she said. However, Wiebes also acknowledged the competition, stating, "I want to win a stage, but I know it won't be easy."
Wiebes was not 100% confident to sprint for the win due to the tough final, but she started her sprint earlier than usual on the finishing straight. She outsprinted everyone in the peloton on the uphill finish in Quimper, demonstrating her impressive speed and power.
Wiebes came into the race expecting everything she wins to be extra, but she was more than content with her performance in stage 2. Winning the sprint behind a solo rider can be frustrating for a rider with over 100 victories, but Wiebes took it in stride. "It's always frustrating to lose, but I'm happy with my performance," she said.
Looking ahead to the flatter stages, Wiebes identified Marianne Vos as another favourite for sprint victories. "Marianne is always a strong contender in sprints," she said. "She's a great rider, and I expect her to be a tough competitor."
Wiebes had free rein to test herself on the hilly stage with its challenging finish because her teammate Lotte Kopecky was not at her best. Kopecky, who is also a strong sprinter, was not able to contest the finish, leaving Wiebes to take on García alone.
As the race continues, Wiebes will undoubtedly be a rider to watch in the sprint stages. For comprehensive coverage of the Tour de France Femmes, be sure to subscribe to Cyclingnews.
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