This is already his third big loop. After two successful editions (white jersey of the best youngster in 2023 and stage victory last year), Cédrine Kerbaol, 24, returns by targeting the podium in the general classification. Each evening, the EF Education-Oatly runner returns to Liberty on the stage of the day. This Friday, August 1, she finished in 2nd place in a seventh stage between Bourg-en-Bresse (Ain) and Chambéry (Savoie) behind Maëva Squiban, already victorious in Ambert on Thursday. After a monstrous descent which allowed him to grab his opponents for a few seconds, Cédrine Kerbaol climbs in 7th place in the general classification.
“Today it went relatively well. I was in my effort in the climb. There was an acceleration, I did not follow but I knew that in going up at my tempo I was going to come back to the front group so I did not worry too much. After the pass, I did not know how many girls were at the front so in the descent the goal was to go as quickly as possible and to try to save a little time in the general classification. It worked pretty well. Tomorrow it is tough: the battle for the general will really start.
“I am not at all surprised by the performance of Maëva Squiban. I have known her since we are 14 years old and she still does crazy things, she manages to surprise everyone. She is not cold in the eyes. She always tries, and when we try, we are likely to win. It’s really too cool that she has still won today.
“In the peloton, the rules have become a real subject [la maillot jaune Kimberley Le Court a expliqué avoir eu des difficultés lors de la cinquième étape à cause de ses menstruations, ndlr]it is important. We have to adapt accordingly. When you have a relatively regular cycle, we will have two phases. The phase from the moment we start to have our rules and the phase which begins for ovulation and which goes until the first day of the rules. Our metabolism works differently depending on these phases. The two weeks before the rules for example and especially the days previous the rules we have access to the glycogen stock which is a little more complicated so we try to eat more carbohydrates at that time. In the next phase, in general, stocks are more accessible. It’s a little easier to manage.
“The brands that make the outfits also adapt. They work with us in particular so that the widers are adapted to women. At the start of the year we try them and we tell them what we think so that they adapt behind if necessary. ”
