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Dani Ostanek

'I never expected to come this close' – Riejanne Markus and Lidl-Trek 450 metres from glory as the Tour de France Femmes' great disruptors

Lidl-Trek's Dutch rider Riejanne Markus competes in a breakaway during the second (out of 9) stage of the fifth edition of the Women's Tour de France cycling race, 147.9 km from Aigle to Geneva, on August 2, 2026. (Photo by Nicolas TUCAT / AFP via Getty Images).

It was a case of so near, yet so far for Riejanne Markus and Lidl-Trek on stage 2 of the Tour de France Femmes; the Dutchwoman caught just 450 metres from the line in Geneva before Elisa Balsamo sprinted to second place behind the fastest sprinter in the world, Lorena Wiebes.

Markus, twice a Dutch time trial champion, launched her move 39km from the finish of the stage, her effort being the German squad's second attack of the stage after Amanda Spratt jumped clear in a five-rider move 8km earlier.

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