Riders are demonstrating caution during the Tour de France Femmes, according to Niewiadoma-Phinney, with the intimidating Col de la Madeleine approaching.
Tour de France Femmes: A Tactical Battle on Col du Granier and Col de la Madeleine
The 2024 Tour de France Femmes saw a strategic and conservative approach from General Classification (GC) riders during the climbs of Col du Granier and Col de la Madeleine. The climbs, while challenging, were not steep or decisive enough to warrant risky attacks, leading most teams to hold back.
On Col du Granier, Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney, a rider for Canyon-SRAM zondacrypto, found a good companion in Cédrine Kerbaol (EF Education-Oatly). The pair kept a steady pace, with Niewiadoma-Phinney explaining that the first 8km of the descent were steep, making it difficult to create a significant gap.
Meanwhile, Demi Vollering (FDJ-SUEZ) attempted to put pressure on other GC contenders during a 17km descent into Chambéry. However, the tactical nature of the race meant that riders balanced the risk and reward carefully, especially as bonus seconds and overall time gaps remained tight.
Cédrine Kerbaol capitalized on this conservatism, finishing second on the stage and gaining nine seconds (plus six bonus seconds) on the other GC contenders, including Niewiadoma-Phinney. This move propelled Kerbaol from ninth to seventh overall.
Defending champion Kim Le Court-Pienaar (AG Insurance-Soudal) currently holds the yellow jersey, but the top five of the general classification is separated by only 35 seconds. Niewiadoma-Phinney remains third, 30 seconds behind Le Court-Pienaar.
Looking ahead to the queen stage, Niewiadoma-Phinney expects the Col de la Madeleine to be about who can manage fatigue and negative thoughts. The stage, set to feature 2,000 metres of elevation gain, will be a decisive moment in the race. Niewiadoma-Phinney remains optimistic about her performance, stating that she did not go all-out during Col du Granier to save energy for the upcoming challenge.
The Tour de France Femmes is set to continue, with the peloton eagerly anticipating the challenges that lie ahead. The race, scheduled for Saturday, 2024, promises to be an exciting display of endurance, strategy, and skill.
In the Tour de France Femmes, the climbs of Col du Granier and Col de la Madeleine necessitated a strategic and risk-averse approach from General Classification (GC) riders. Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney spent part of her time on Col du Granier working in tandem with Cédrine Kerbaol, preserving energy for the more challenging stages ahead in sports.
The strategic nature of the race, where bonus seconds and time gaps were tight, prevented riders from taking too many risks, even during steep descents, thus the sports event remained tactical overall.
