🚴🇨🇭 | Kopecky of Vollering? Het is bijna niet te zien maar de Nederlandse komt toch net eerder over de streep dan haar Belgische ploeggenoot. 🇳🇱⚔️🇧🇪 #TDRF2024 📺 Stream koers op HBO Max
A glimpse into the future? Bizarre SD Worx dominance results in fierce sprint between Kopecky and Vollering
CyclingSaturday, 07 September 2024 at 17:04
Demi Vollering has won the second stage of the Tour de Romandie for women. The SD Worx-Protime rider was the best on the long, steep final climb after a bizarre sprint against her teammate Lotte Kopecky. The latter took over Elisa Balsamo's yellow jersey.
Amid two treacherous hill stages, the first of which was won by Elisa Balsamo, Saturday saw a classic mountain stage on the line. The chance to gain distance from other favorites for those who had a good day. The stage was 101 kilometers long and led through a 9.5-kilometer climb at 8.2% average to Vercorin. Who was up for this? Demi Vollering, perhaps?
Lead group only footnote in explosive race to final climb
With Elisa Balsamo in the yellow jersey, the ladies departed around noon. It took a long time before there was a breakaway; eventually, a group of four ladies successfully broke out. Sofia Bertizzolo (UAE Team ADQ), Giada Borghesi (Human Powered Health), Noelle Ingold, and Jasmin Liechti (both from the Swiss selection) broke away after 30 kilometers. They stayed within a shot of the peloton all the time, where people were already thinking about the final climb.
However, the fairy tale did not last long for the foursome; at thirty kilometers from the finish, they were caught. On the final climb, which soon loomed, Ashleigh Moolman tried to throw up some ladies with an attack. That succeeded, but the big names were not taken by surprise. After this, there was a strong lead for several kilometers, but nobody dared to accelerate.
Realini and SD Worx: strange situation up front
The first real victims fell five kilometers before the finish line. Paulina Rooijakkers had to let go while Vollering got more and more exhausted. Lotte Kopecky also seemed to keep up quickly, as did Juliette Labous and Gaia Realini. The Yellow jersey was unloaded by then. The race went wild when Niamh Fisher-Black accelerated in the lead. Only Kopecky, Vollering, Realini, and Mavi Garcia could keep up with her pace.
In time, the first three left, Garcia had to let go. There was despair; however, how did Kopecky and Vollering continue? Realini sat with the three SD Worx ladies, and a sur place emerged. Curious images, Garcia returned in an instant. However, the Italian accelerated one more time. Vollering countered, entering the final kilometer. We saw a battle between the two teammates as the world champion returned. Vollering pulled the sprint, and it became close: she was stronger than the Belgian. A hot battle in Switzerland. The two seemed to be opponents rather than teammates.... Realini finished third at an appropriate distance.
Results stage 2 Tour de Romandie Féminin 2024
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Il Lombardia 2024
Want to advertize on IDLProCycling.com? We’re already planning for the 2025 season
Preview Antwerp 2024 World Cup | Major UCI event sets off with all stars present
Harsh Wuyts thinks Van Gils' breach of contract suits his image, agents understand choice
Visma | Lease a Bike realizes that with Milan Vader a story comes to its end: "For a moment we feared for your life"
November vacation month: Van der Poel receives wonderful card, Philipsen and Bernal enjoy, Evenepoel goes for a run
Latest Cycling News
Want to advertize on IDLProCycling.com? We’re already planning for the 2025 season
Preview Antwerp 2024 World Cup | Major UCI event sets off with all stars present
Harsh Wuyts thinks Van Gils' breach of contract suits his image, agents understand choice
Visma | Lease a Bike realizes that with Milan Vader a story comes to its end: "For a moment we feared for your life"
November vacation month: Van der Poel receives wonderful card, Philipsen and Bernal enjoy, Evenepoel goes for a run
Popular Cycling News
November vacation month: Van der Poel receives wonderful card, Philipsen and Bernal enjoy, Evenepoel goes for a run
Meanwhile in the peloton | Unibet Tietema Rockets signs Italian climber Carboni
Bakelants notices remarkable trend in transfers: "Van Aert, Pogacar, Van der Poel: they all did that"
Vingegaard responds cryptically to rumors: "I read somewhere that I might have to ride the Giro"
Visma | Lease a Bike realizes that with Milan Vader a story comes to its end: "For a moment we feared for your life"
Latest Comments
- Van Aert is really handsome. He can influence me all day! Ditto for Philipsen. Why do you think many of us love cycling?: to see heroic attempts at climbing mountains at high altitudes or to watch speedsters sprint for the finish line or to watch a human being ride at break neck speed down a tricky descent? No, it's all about their lean physiques and muscular legs. (apologies for objectifying these dedicated and amazing athletes).BarwonHeadsUp25-10-2024
- It is unfortunate that the author can't feel the joy that Pogacar brings to the sport and his fans who are legion and I for one feel lucky to have watched such a memorable performance and historic season From the Strada until yesterday with multiple wins in stages in both tours and beyond dominance in the World's. He is proud to wear the Rainbow stripes, shows his leadership to protect his fellows and is as courteous and sportsman-like as the sport allows. He goes early to not have to respond to each attack as all the rest would make him do it. Any racer who could would do the same. Don't "grow tired" of greatness as it is always fleeting.ccrider13-10-2024
- What load of rubbish. Pog is likely a once in a generation cyclist, the like of which hasn't been seen since 'the Cannibal '. How many people were complaining that Merckx was making racing predictable? I remember this year's World RR as one of the most exciting I've watched. Mainly BECAUSE Pog was the favourite and launched what everyone thought (Pog included) was a suicidal attack with 80km to go. For the next 2 hours, I was on the edge of my seat thinking "this is too much, even for Pog". Maybe Zonnefeld prefers the snooze-fest that is a bunch sprint? Like most people I know, I can't watch two hours of the bunch riding very fast... I wait for the final 5km and watch just the sprint. In any event, most races are won from a sprint or lone break. What difference does it make who makes the lone break? Ultimately, the other contenders will have to figure out a way to beat Pog. Even if that means collaboration between teams. It's going to be an exciting few seasons, until the next Pog arrives on the scene. If this is boring, heaven knows what exciting looks like!Michael513-10-2024
- This is not a gravel race. UCI fail, from the surface they are on to team tactics. In what country was the first "gravel race" in what country is the most popular gravel race? Go with the race model that created the discipline.
Barnes127411-10-2024 - And don't forget he has now won 4 of the big 10 races (Grand tours, Monuments and WC/OG) in one year with a chance to make that 5. (5 has only been done once before)Joostmehrtens05-10-2024