Yellow jersey Demi Vollering put a star subsequent to stage 4 on the Tour de France Femmes, which mixed the very best components of the Amstel Gold Race and Liège-Bastogne-Liège, each races she had received in earlier years. However when officers confirmed that the victory went to Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Deceuninck) after a photo-finish dash, Vollering stated she had “no regrets”.
“It is a good day for me and for the entire group. My teammates did a great job with retaining me secure at present and within the entrance. It was a pleasant day for us,” the SD Worx-Protime rider informed the press on the rain-soaked end line in Liège.
Vollering, presently main the general classification after profitable the day prior to this’s stage 3 time trial in Rotterdam, was a part of a three-rider breakaway that sprinted for the win in Liège.
She, together with Pieterse and Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM), broke away from what was left of the sphere with 13.4km to go on the Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons. Niewiadoma attacked on the ultimate run-in, however Vollering closed the hole simply as Pieterse launched her dash from the third wheel. Vollering responded and the pair reached the end line on the similar time, with officers later confirming Pieterse’s victory.
“I hoped first Puck would shut [the gap to Niewiadoma], however she did not instantly, so I did it myself as a result of I did not wish to give Kasia an excessive amount of house, as a result of when she’s gone, she’s gone. Then I closed it alone velocity, in order that I did not empty myself there and that I knew that Kasia would depart slightly bit for the previous couple of hundred metres, and that was type of a lead-out for us. I hoped she saved going, and by chance she did,” Vollering defined how the ultimate few hundred metres of the stage performed out.
“Puck began to dash first. I believed for just a few seconds that I’d make it, however on the road I had the sensation that it was not sufficient, and Puck received. It is good as a result of Puck is a gifted rider, and she or he actually deserves it.”
Vollering stated that she wasn’t stunned to see Pieterse win the dash due to her success within the sport in a number of disciplines, and since she felt that Pieterse performed a greater tactical recreation within the ultimate kilometre.
“I do know that Puck is an efficient rider, and I do know that she has a great dash. I received the sensation that in the previous couple of kilometres she was holding again slightly bit. She may do extra. I stated, ‘I believe you’ll be able to nonetheless do extra’, however she was saving slightly bit, and she or he attacked on the finish. It was between me and Kasia for the GC, so it was OK. It was a great day for us,” Vollering stated.
Vollering stated she was upset after ending third place at Liège-Bastogne-Liège in April however had the alternative feeling when ending second on stage 4 on the Tour on an identical course.
“First, it was good to have a brand new alternative right here in the course of the season, after the frustration within the spring, so I used to be motivated to go for the win,” she stated.
“Additionally, I simply wished to race right here at present with out regrets, and that’s what I did. I am unable to have regrets after the end line, so I do not take into consideration that. I used to be second and I have to keep in mind that I used to be going for the GC additionally at present, so I am actually joyful about that.”
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