Juliette Labous Makes Impressive Fourth-Place Finish on Queen Stage of Tour de Romandie Féminin
Team dsm-firmenich rider Juliette Labous showcased her strength and determination on the queen stage of the Tour de Romandie Féminin, securing a commendable fourth place finish. Labous, supported by teammates Eglantine Rayer and Esmée Peperkamp, fought her way up the final climb to achieve this impressive result.
The stage began in Romont, with a long stretch of nearly 60 kilometers consisting mostly of flat terrain. Despite numerous attacks within the peloton, the high speeds effectively prevented any breakaway groups from forming. As the race approached the opening climb, Team dsm-firmenich took the initiative to intensify the pace, causing the peloton to split and drop some riders. Labous, accompanied by Rayer and Peperkamp, remained in contention as they approached the ascent towards the finish line.
As a trio managed to escape and build a one-minute advantage, the race intensified in the final eight kilometers. The pace matched the challenging gradients of the road, leading to a gradual reduction in the size of the group. Labous, displaying a burst of energy, launched an attack with four kilometers remaining, pulling away with three other riders. However, Demi Vollering and Katarzyna Niewiadoma countered on a steep section, leaving Labous with only two SD Worx riders, who already had a teammate in the lead. Despite this setback, Labous persisted and crossed the finish line in an admirable fourth place, consequently moving into the same position on the general classification for her team.
Reflecting on her performance, Labous remarked, “It was a nice stage today. The team did a really good job of setting a high pace on the first long climb, which made the whole group suffer and reduced its size. On the final climb, I attacked with around four and a half kilometers to go. Then Vollering countered, and I couldn’t follow. I ended up with two SD Worx riders who already had a teammate in front, so it wasn’t ideal. But I managed to secure fourth place in the end. I think I could have had a bit more confidence to go earlier, but it’s still a good result, and tomorrow we will try everything to get on the podium!”
Labous’ performance is a testament to her determination and the strategic efforts of Team dsm-firmenich. As the Tour de Romandie Féminin continues, fans can look forward to more exciting displays of strength and strategy from Labous and her teammates.
