This is already his third big loop. After two successful editions (white jersey, best young people in 2023 and stage victory last year), Cédrine Kerbaol, 24, returns by targeting the podium of the general classification. Each evening, the EF Education-Oatly runner returns to Liberty on the stage of the day. This Tuesday, July 29, she finished in 15th place in the fourth stage, between Saumur (Maine-et-Loire) and Poitiers (Vienne), won once again by the Dutch sprinter Lorena Wiebes. Before the first ribs on Wednesday, Cédrine Kerbaol points to 13th place in the general classification.
“Today, it was a very, very fast step [le peloton a parcouru 130 kilomètres à 45 km/h de moyenne, ndlr], We had a wind almost from behind all along. This is the kind of race I am not necessarily used to, you really have to be able to stay away from falls and that is what we did with the team, that’s a positive point!
“At one point, there was a break in the peloton. In fact, we planned to stop to take a pee break with other athletes, but it was not necessarily at the right time, so we were trapped. Fortunately, I had my teammates in front of who expected me, so it was not a problem.
“For the moment, the legs seem to respond present so it’s cool. The most “boring” steps have passed. Tomorrow, it’s going to start becoming more interesting [le profil de la cinquième étape, entre Chasseneuil-du-Poitou et Guéret, est plus accidenté]. In the coming days, I will try not to waste time, and maybe even saving it.
“Once you’ve passed the finish line, the first thing you do is eat and hydrate yourself. Then, at the hotel, we have massages – that’s a bit of time to try to disconnect and relax -, then eat the evening meal. This is the moment when we can laugh and talk about something other than race, as we have already debrief on the bus. Then we’re going to bed as soon as possible. ”
