On the podium:
One last message before we say goodbye to the Tour de France Femmes: Alan has emailed in to say that now the Tour has concluded, he is off for a bike ride. Seems like a good idea. I hope you have better weather than I do here in rainy London (I’m currently sat sheltering inside Herne Hill Velodrome with a bunch of racers).
Alan writes: “I usually ride before catching your live commentary. Sundays are a bit slower, but gotta ride now! Thanks for the great coverage. Good result, although I was hoping Niewiadoma would pull off a faster time, cool though!”
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Vollering speaks … “I still cant believe it,” she says. “ Of course I worked hard, but it’s not just working hard… it’s believing in it. It’s so much together, and in the end you have a dream. You work really hard for it but you need to keep yourself a bit calm and find a good balance in your life also. You have to find a relaxed way to do it. This year I feel really comfortable and good in what I’m doing.”
Van Vleuten has spoken also … asked how she feels after today’s time trial, she answers with one word: “disappointment”. She goes on to explain that she already thought she wouldn’t do well in today’s stage as she didn’t feel great last night, but she had hoped for better anyway. “I was not good the last two days,” she says.
Top five on the General Classification after stage eight
1. Demi Vollering (SD Worx) 25hr 17min 35sec
2. Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx) +3min 03sec
3. Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon//Sram) +3min 03sec
4. Annemiek van Vleuten (Movistar) +3min 59sec
5. Juliette Labous (DSM-Firmenich) +4min 48sec
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Demi Vollering wins the Tour de France Femmes 2023
Vollering secured her win yesterday really, but this is the official confirmation that she’s held on to the maillot jaune and is crowned Tour de France Femmes 2023 winner. Kopecky has overhauled both Niewiadoma and van Vleuten to finish second. Niewiadoma finishes in third. Unbelievably, she has the same time gap as Kopecky at 3min 03sec, but loses out on tenths or hundredths of seconds on the time trial. Van Vleuten has dropped off the podium and finishes her final Tour in fourth place.
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Marlen Reusser wins stage seven
None of the big names that followed could beat the European time trial champion. She’s taken the win on stage seven by setting a time of 29min 15sec over the 22.6km time trial course.
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Van Vleuten has finished 12th. She grimaces, gets out of the saddle for one more push but it’s not enough. She’s crossed the line 1min 14sec behind Reusser’s time.
Kopecky is second fastest so far … She’s just crossed the line 37sec behind Reusser. That was a great effort. Think she’ll be pleased with that and it should give her a spot on the podium.
Labous crosses in fourth place … She’s 1min 17sec behind Reusser and looks to climb the final GC rankings. Kopecky has passed Moolman Passio, while van Vleuten is looking sure to slip off the podium.
🔥P4 on the line for @JulietteLabous! There's a 5th place in GC on the cards here !
— Le Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift (@LeTourFemmes) July 30, 2023
🔥4ème place pour @JulietteLabous ! Il y a une 5ème place au classement général à la clé ! #TDFF2023 #WatchTheFemmes @Gozwift pic.twitter.com/5yModeyHyf
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Vollering is putting in a stellar effort … She passes through the intermediate time check down by 12sec, putting her into second place for the moment.
Niewiadoma is flying … she might well hold on to second place on the podium. After yesterday’s valiant effort, it would seem cruel for her to slip off at this stage.
Not looking so good for van Vleuten: She’s 1min 01sec behind Reusser’s time.
Looking good for Kopecky: She is third fastest at the intermediate time check. Kopecky is 30sec behind Reusser.
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Riejanne Markus: The Jumbo-Visma rider has slotted into third place with a time of 30min 05sec. She’s 50sec behind Reusser.
Reusser is the one to beat ... Will anyone go faster than the European time trial champ?
🇪🇺Marlen Reusser had ambitions to win, she certainly did everything in her power to claim a second #TDFF stage win!
— Le Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift (@LeTourFemmes) July 30, 2023
🇪🇺Marlen Reusser pour ambition de gagner, elle a fait le maximum pour remporter une deuxième victoire d'étape au #TDFF. #TDFF2023 #WatchTheFemmes @Gozwift pic.twitter.com/8wRN6cvNG2
Van Vleuten: With 16km left of her time trial, van Vleuten is 16sec behind Reusser according to the live timings.
Demi Vollering: The yellow jersey, or should I say yellow skinsuit wearer, is off. Kasia Niewiadoma started 2min earlier and van Vleuten set of at 3.57pm.
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Current standings: Here is how the ITT times compare so far.
Here is how the race stands so far :
— Le Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift (@LeTourFemmes) July 30, 2023
Le classement provisoire :
1️⃣🇨🇭Marlen Reusser (29’15’’, 46,3 km/h)
2️⃣🇦🇺@GLBrown321, +40"
3️⃣🇨🇦Olivia Baril, +1'17"
4️⃣🇮🇹@VittoriaGuazzi1, +1'21"
5️⃣🇳🇱@lucinda_brand, +1'30"#TDFF2023 #WatchTheFemmes @Gozwift pic.twitter.com/N1suO5FbnV
Kasia Niewiadoma: Clad in a polka-dot skinsuit and red aero helmet, the Canyon-SRAM rider has ridden down the ramp and begun her bid to hang on to a podium place.
Lotte Kopecky: The Belgian rider, who was seen earlier warming up on a green road bike, has just swatted a bee off her helmet and is on her way …
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“Yesterday’s race up the Tourmalet was iconic,” writes Toby. He’s emailed in to share his Tour highlight. “The fog, the altitude, the end of the Annemiek van Vleuten era,” he writes. “I was so happy to see Kasia Niewiadoma, one of my favourite riders across both pelotons, attack and be able to hold it to the end, finishing second.” He’s also shared this set of images by photographer Justin Britton. “The first one, particularly, encapsulates so much about the theatre of bike racing,” writes Toby.
MADNESS @demivollering pic.twitter.com/xehTyNpGbE
— Justin Britton (@Justin_Britton) July 29, 2023
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We’re coming up to the business end now … there are only six riders left to start and they include Juliette Labous, Moolman Pasio, Kopecky, van Vleuten, Niewiadoma and Vollering.
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Liane Lippert: Stage two winner, Lippert has just descended the ramp and is out on the road. Cordon-Ragot clocked a time of 30min 48sec and can be seen pouring water over her head as she sits on the floor. Unfortunately for Cordon-Ragot, her aero helmet doesn’t have any vents.
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Reusser pushes Brown out of the lead: We just had a new leader, but it wasn’t for long. Reusser has trumped Brown by 40sec and finishes her ITT in 29min 15sec. I wonder how much time she lost due to the motorbike and team car debacle earlier …
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Brown has gone into the lead: We have a new leader. Brown has beaten her teammate Guazzini to first place. She was 40sec faster, with a time of 29min 55sec.
Marlen Reusser: As the SD Worx rider was catching another rider on the course, she was slowed down by a motorbike and a team car in her way in to a corner. That’s not great.
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Grace Brown: The Aussie is flying and 29sec faster than Cordon-Ragot at the intermediate time check.
Yara Kastelijn has been awarded the super combativity award
Stage four winner, Kastelijn, has won the super combativity award for this year’s Tour de France Femmes. In case you need a reminder: Kastelijn won the longest stage of this year’s Tour, from Cahors to Rodez, after spending just under 160 kilometres on the front of the race, much of it in a 14-rider move that went clear on the day’s first climb, the Col de Crayssac. Here’s Jeremy Whittle’s report on that dramatic day …
Lizzie Holden and Lucinda Brand: The British national time trial champion has finished in sixth place, while Brand has jumped into second place and is 9sec behind the leader.
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A fan of the time trial: Andrew from Cambridge has emailed in to share his appreciation of today’s stage. “I think it’s a neat touch to end the tour with a time trial, it gives every contender a chance in the telly limelight on the day everyone will be watching,” he writes. He adds: “And a chance for many to be in the lead for a couple of minutes, which I imagine is good for the individuals, the teams and the tour itself. Something for a near-future men’s TdF to consider?” Well, Andrew, happily for you, next year’s Tour de France will end in an individual time trial from Monaco to Nice.
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Audrey Cordon Ragot and Grace Brown: The multiple French time trial champion is off, closely followed by Australian national TT champ, Grace Brown. The latter also won a silver medal in last year’s world champs in this discipline.
Henderson is second in the standings: A really strong ride for Henderson but she couldn’t quite manage to beat Guazzini’s time. She’s finished just over 15secs slower, with a time of 30min 51sec, but that does mean she is in second place overall
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Anna Henderson: The Jumbo-Visma rider has set a new best time at the intermediate time check of 13min 37sec. That’s 3sec faster than Guazzini. Will she be in the hot seat next?
🇫🇷 #TDFF2023
— Team Jumbo-Visma Women (@JumboVismaWomen) July 30, 2023
Provisional fastest time for Anna at the first intermediate point! 👊
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Arianna Fidanza: The Ceratizit-WNT has just been shown on the coverage with a bloodied knee and looking a bit worse for wear after having crashed. She’s standing up and being checked over.
Mischa Bredewold: The SD Worx rider is out on the road. Her helmet is giving me Star Wars vibes.
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Emma Norsgaard: Stage six winner, Norsgaard is the Danish national TT champion. She’s just set off for her go on this 22.6km route. Will she bump Guazzini out of the hot seat? She’s currently sat there smiling and checking her phone.
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An email: “I’m looking forward to today’s time trial,” writes Peter. “But I think I have to agree with Demi Vollering from her interview yesterday. This race has been so good. It deserves a glass of champagne and a bike ride into Paris.”
Vittoria Guazzini: As mentioned earlier, the FDJ-Suez rider is the U23 time trial world champion. She’s set a time of 30min 36sec at a speed of 44.3km/h.
The bump in the road: Today’s 22.6km time trial features a climb at roughly halfway. The Côte de Bosdarros is 1.38km and has an average gradient of 6.7%. While some of the riders won’t welcome the bump in the road, it’s likely to suit Kopecky.
Coming roughly halfway through today's route, the 1.38km Côte de Bosdarros averages 6.7%. @ashleighcycling is the current holder of the @Strava QOM but after 7 hard days of racing, can anyone better her time? 👑⏱️ #TDFF2023 #TDFFdata pic.twitter.com/cAW6fiUNUJ
— letourdata (@letourdata) July 30, 2023
Josie Talbot: The Cofidis rider set off second, after van ‘t Geloof, but is the first to finish the ITT. She has set a time of 31min 42sec.
As always, please send in your thoughts, predictions and questions via email or Twitter. I would love the company …
The live TV coverage began at 2pm and there’s a lot of shots of riders warming up, walking around in aero helmets and prediction chat from the commentators. I’m yet to see it cut to the actual live footage, but when it does these updates will hopefully become more frequent.
Mavi Garcia: The Liv Racing Teqfind rider will not start today’s stage due to illness. The Spanish rider is 15th in the overall rankings.
[#TDFF2023]
— Liv Racing TeqFind (@LivRTeqFind) July 30, 2023
A bummer for @mavi_at: she will not start today due to illness.
Get well soon! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/25Y5jgC8Ql
There is one time check, located at 10.6km to go. Also, in case you’re interested, there are 10 national individual time trial champions taking part in today’s stage. Antri Christoforou (Team Human Powered Health), a national ITT champion for Cyprus, has already set off, as has U23 world champion Vittoria Guazzini (FDJ-Suez). The next ITT champ to go down the ramp will be Emma Norsgaard at 2.29pm. The other national ITT champions to look out for are Elizabeth Holden (2.39pm), Georgia Williams (2.41pm), Christine Majerus (3.42pm), Agnieszka Skalniak-Sojka (3.47pm), Grace Brown (4.08pm), Cédrine Kerbaol (France, 4.37pm), Riejanne Markus (4.39pm) and Lotte Kopecky (4.55pm). European ITT champion Marlen Reusser is up at 3.12pm.
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Stage eight is go!
Two riders have begun their bid at the individual time trial. Marjolein van ‘t Geloof (Human Powered Health), as the lanterne rouge, set of first at 1.38pm. Josie Talbot (Cofidis) goes second.
🚩First start of the day, it's @MGeloof!
— Le Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift (@LeTourFemmes) July 30, 2023
🚩Premier départ de la journée, c'est @MGeloof ! #TDFF2023 #WatchTheFemmes @Gozwift pic.twitter.com/Phz0yhMkd3
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There are 123 riders left in this year’s Tour but the main focus of today’s time trial will be on just a handful that could upset the podium standings. After Demi Vollering’s victory on the Col du Tourmalet yesterday pushed her into the GC lead, it’s difficult to see anyone challenging her for the yellow jersey. She has a 1min 50 sec lead over second placed Kasia Niewiadoma. So, the real battle will be for the final two podium spots: the gap that separates Niewiadoma in second and Ashleigh Moolman Passio in fifth is just 49 sec.
Will Annemiek van Vleuten dig deep for a stage win given her TT chops? Or, will Lotte Kopecky claim a second podium spot for SD Worx? They do have form on the one-two victories after all.
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Who’s wearing what jersey?
Yellow: Demi Vollering (SD Worx) 24hr 48min 10sec
Green: Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx) 228pts
Polka-dot: Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM) 27pts
White: Cédrine Kerbaol (Ceratizit–WNT Pro Cycling) 24hr 58min 16sec
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Tour de France Femmes: Demi Vollering climbs to stage win and yellow jersey
Stage seven report: Demi Vollering took a spectacular and career-defining win at the summit of the Col du Tourmalet in the Pyrenees, to take over the lead in the Tour de France Femmes, with only Sunday’s 22km time trial remaining.
The SD Worx rider emphatically shattered the stalemate with her Dutch compatriot, Annemiek van Vleuten, attacking with a little over 5km of the stage remaining. At the finish line, Vollering had pulled out more than two and a half minutes on Van Vleuten. Jeremy Whittle reports from Tourmalet Bagnères-de-Bigorre …
The top five on General Classification
Demi Vollering (SD Worx) 24hr 48min 10sec
Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM) +1min 50sec
Annemiek van Vleuten (Movistar) +2min 28sec
Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx) +2min 35sec
Ashleigh Moolman Pasio (AG Insurance–Soudal–Quick-Step) +2min 39sec
Stage eight: Pau to Pau (22.6km ITT)
Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift race director, Marion Rousse on stage eight: “Between Pau and Gan, this stage will initially follow the route of the final part of the 2019 Tour de France time trial, but running in the opposite direction. After topping the climb (1.8km at 5.5%), the winding course will demand multiple accelerations. The slightly uphill approach to the finish will offer a magnificent panorama, and perhaps some final suspense before the presentation of the Yellow Jersey.”
The first rider will roll down the ramp for today’s individual time trial at 1.38pm (BST).
⏱️ The only Time Trial on the #TDFF2023 sees the riders start and finish in Pau for a 22 km course. Enough to change the GC?
— Le Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift (@LeTourFemmes) July 30, 2023
⏱️ Le seul contre-la-montre du #TDFF2023 démarre et finit à Pau pour une boucle de 22 km. Assez pour changer le classement final ?#WatchTheFemmes pic.twitter.com/1e9ZX79zD5
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