Tour de France women (5th stage: Chasseneuil-du-Poitou-Guéret)
We imagine your relief with this 2nd place of your leader on arrival …
Of course. After an hour of racing, half (Vollering) told us that her legs answered well, that it was better and better even if she was a little tense. This has encouraged us to give Marie (the net) to roll at the head of the peloton and to be offensive in the final. Tuesday during the day (between Saumur and Poitiers), there was already a clear improvement. His cervical, back and gluteal pains already had nothing to do with those of the first morning. As a precaution, she spent medical examinations in the evening but she was in the morale: she held what we celebrate Amber’s birthday (Kraak, her teammate) at the hotel. Forty-eight hours later, we stay vigilant but yes, we breathe …
Have you been afraid that everything is collapsing on Monday evening in Angers?
Inevitably, I was sad, disappointed, bruised. Humanly, it was complicated to find the words. It was a normal risk taking in a sprint but in hindsight, one wonders if she was right to be in front to avoid falls in the peloton and breaks. An athlete makes a mistake and she leads to another, that’s it … I have shouted in disrespect. Even if we have other cards in the team, I was afraid for her, I was in pain for her, when we know what she had already experienced, last year, on the Tour (she had lost almost two minutes on fall during the 5th stage before failing four seconds from the Polish Niewiadoma, the winner).
Are you telling you that she wouldn’t leave?
Yes but again, this Wednesday morning, you know. She was still limping … but she has no stigma on her face, she wants to win. Half, the Tour de France is his life. She is scheduled to win the yellow jersey. She does not dream, she is on a mission. On the Tour, Demi is still on a mission. Finally, she is in the match and the FDJ-Suez team too: there are four daughters in the first twelve on this 5th stage where the leaders neutralized themselves. Now, since the departure of Vannes, we know that it will not be played in much.
How do you look at the first part of the Tour de France by Pauline Ferrand-Prévot?
It is at the level where I simply expected it. I expected no less than such a champion. Before arriving in the Alps, we approach two very interesting mountain stages. These are the legs that will speak, there may be deviations.
The Mauritian Kim short took over the yellow jersey. How far can it go?
She was among the ten favorites that I had given before departure. Let us not forget his start to the season, let’s not forget his victory in Liège-Bastogne-Liège. Let us not forget either that it comes from the mountain biking marathon: even if it has not yet proven anything in the high mountains, she likes long efforts. I believe it quite capable of winning this Tour de France.
