Lorena Wiebes sprints to second consecutive stage victory in Tour de France Femmes
# Lorena Wiebes Claims Second Consecutive Stage Victory in Tour de France Femmes
Lorena Wiebes showcased her sprinting prowess once again, clinching her second consecutive victory in the Tour de France Femmes. The win underscores her exceptional form and teamwork throughout the race.
Wiebes credited her triumph to the strong support of her teammates, particularly highlighting Anna van der Breggen’s performance: “This victory is once again the result of the strong work of my teammates. Anna was super strong today. She did the work on the uphill section with three kilometres to go. Then Movistar took over, followed by Lotte Kopecky.”
As the race unfolded, Wiebes found herself managing the dynamics of the final sprint amidst fierce competition. “In the end, I tried to communicate to the girls that I would find my own way. Sometimes I like to trust my instincts and find a gap. It was really hectic. There were few teams with a real lead-out. Uno-X kept the pace high. The most important thing was not to get boxed in and not to go too early,” she reflected on the race’s intensity.
Wiebes also noted the strategic decisions that came into play during the sprint: “Chloe Dygert started the sprint and I was to her right. If I went too early and she moved to the right, the space would be gone. Fortunately, that didn’t happen, and I was able to sprint to the stage win.”
Assessing her performance this season, she acknowledged last year’s achievements but expressed a special fondness for this year’s victories: “Am I having my best season ever? 2022 was also really special, with my first ever yellow jersey on the Champs-Élysées and my highest number of victories ever. But still, the quality of this year’s victories carries more weight.”
Wiebes mentioned her strategic approach leading up to the Tour: “I prepared for the Tour de France Femmes with the idea of being in my best shape at the start to work for Lotte Kopecky. Because we had to change tactics and put our classification ambitions aside, opportunities arose for me.” Her relaxed mindset compared to last year’s pressure proved beneficial.
“This year, everything is falling into place. Those two stage wins in a row are the icing on the cake of a dream season,” Wiebes concluded, reinforcing her status as a formidable contender in the cycling world. As the race continues, fans eagerly anticipate what more is in store from this exceptional athlete.
