For Marianne Vos , stage 1 of the Tour de France Femmes wasn’t the home fairytale in the Netherlands she’d hoped for, starting her sprint too far back on Charlotte Kool and being forced to settle for fifth when her legs “exploded”.
Visma-Lease A Bike opted not to try and lead out the two-time stage winner at the Tour, aiming simply to latch onto the wheel of pre-stage favourite Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime) to try and fight for the win. Wiebes had an untimely mechanical in the final 500 metres which ruled her out of the running but Vos wasn’t in the position she wanted when that happened.
As the favourite stopped her effort without a rear-derailleur or chain on her bike and Charlotte Kool (DSM-Firmenich PostNL) launched away for victory and the first yellow jersey, Vos was barely in screen on the broadcast, some five places back and a long way from fighting with her compatriot.
“We were a bit too far, she moved up but then the legs exploded and she was not strong enough - the maximum was a fifth place,” DS Jan Boven told Cyclingnews at the Visma team bus.
“Fifth is not really satisfying but it’s a bunch sprint so anything can happen,” said Vos, before agreeing that positioning was the problem. “I was a bit too far back in the final kilometre, so I couldn't sprint for the win. I still did everything I could, but Kool turned out to be the fastest today.”
Boven also suggested that while nearing her absolute peak form. some hangover of the commitments and effort that come with winning an Olympic silver medal just a week ago, in a gruelling Paris road race no less, may have played into Vos missing those final few per cent to challenge on stage 1.
“She is in good form, I mean last week was the Olympics and I think she showed [her strength] there but there was a lot of emotion after the Olympics,” said Boven.
“The travelling, after the race, all the ceremonies for sure she is not 100% fit – well she is fit, he corrected himself, “but a little bit still the Olympics are there. But it will be coming and the shape is OK.”
While having no lead-out as the pre-planned strategy on stage 1 didn’t work out, Boven said nothing should change on stage 2’s flat 67.9km test from Dordrecht to Rotterdam, except maybe the train they aim to follow.
“We did not do a lead-out, nothing on it. Marianne is really on intuition and following the right moves. That’s the tactic for her which works the best,” said Boven, confirming Vos will follow suit on Tuesday but that Kool could be an option given her strength on the opener.
“Today the focus was on Lorena’s wheel, I mean it’s the first time Charlotte did a sprint like that this year and it was really surprising and really strong - it was nice to see but tomorrow we make a new plan for that.”
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