Lotte Kopecky wins first stage of Tour de France Femmes after gruelling climb
Stage one report: Lotte Kopecky of Team SD Worx won the first stage of the 2023 Tour de France Femmes, taking a solo victory and the overall race lead by 41 seconds from her teammate Lorena Wiebes.
Thank you for joining me on this first stage of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift 2023. It’s been a pleasure to follow today’s action with you all and looking forward to more over the coming days. The stage report is coming in shortly…
Who’ll be wearing what jersey tomorrow: Kopecky is top in three classifications: the GC ranking, points and the mountains. Of course, she can only wear one jersey, so she will be in the maillot jaune, while the second placed in points and mountain categories will wear the green sprinters jersey and polka-dot jersey, respectively. Cédrine Kerbaol of Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling will be in the white jersey as top placed youth rider.
Yellow: Lotte Kopecky (SD-Worx) 3hr 03min 59sec
Green: Ashleigh Moolman Pasio (AG Insurance–Soudal–Quick-Step) 36pts
Polka-dot: Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon–SRAM) 2pts
White: Cédrine Kerbaol (Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling)
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Stage one top 10
Lotte Kopecky (SD-Worx) 3hr 04min 09sec
Lorena Wiebes (SD-Worx) +41sec
Charlotte Kool (DSM-Firmenich)
Marianne Vos (Jumbo-Visma)
Ashleigh Moolman Pasio (AG Insurance–Soudal–Quick-Step) +43sec
Demi Vollering (SD-Worx)
Tamara Dronova (Israel Premier Tech Roland)
Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (FDJ-Suez)
Mavi García (Liv Racing TeqFind)
Elisa Longo Borghini (Lidl-Trek)
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Kopecky speaks after her win…
“It was something that was on my mind for a long time,” she says with a big grin. “The last three weeks, it was something I was joking about with my best friend.”
Asked about attacking on the Côte de Durtol, she says: “I thought somebody would follow but nobody did.” Kopecky adds that going into today, SD-Worx had two strategies: one involved Wiebes going over the climb first and the other was if Kopecky managed it.
In regards to her team’s propensity to grab a one-two this season, she says: “I’m very happy. It’s amazing. In the team we laugh about it and we don’t understand it ourselves.”
Tomorrow you’ll wear the yellow jersey: “I think it will be something very special and I’m looking forward to it.”
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It's an SD-Worx one-two on stage one ...
1. Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx)
2. Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx), +41'’
3. Charlotte Kool (DSM-Fimernich)
4. Marianne Vos (Jumbo-Visma)
5. Ashleigh Moolman Pasio (AG Insurance-Soudal Quick-Step)
Kopecky takes the stage one win!!
Kopecky has taken her first ever Tour de France Femmes stage win. Behind, Niewiadoma tried attacking but it ended in a bunch sprint for the second and third places. Those were taken by Wiebes and Kool respectively.
1km to go: The two chase groups have come back together. Big name sprinters, such as Wiebes and Kool are in there but Kopecky is flying.
3km to go: Kopecky’s lead has grown to around 45sec. There is a chasing group of 10 riders, including van Vleuten, Liane Lippert, Vollering, Ashleigh Moolman Pasio, Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig, Mavi Garcia and Kasia Niewiadoma. Is Kopecky heading for a win?
6km to go: Belgian rider Kopecky has taken the first QOM points of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift 2023. She attacked from a group of nine riders when there was about 400m to the ascent. Here are the results for the Côte de Durtol.
1. Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx), 3 pts
2. Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon//Sram), 2 pts
3. Ashleigh Moolman Pasio (AG Insurance-Soudal Quick-Step), 1 pt
Lotte Kopecky attacks for the Queen of the Mountains jersey
9km to go: Kopecky attacks from the front group of 20-30 riders. She’s really accelerating away. Here is the excitement we were after today.
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11km to go: As they hit the climb, Marlen Reusser (SD Worx) is at the front setting the pace. Lotte Kopecky, Vollering, Wiebes, Kool and van Vleuten are all up there.
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12km to go: It’s getting faster and the peloton is fragmenting. Deignan is drilling it on the front with a grimace and Longo Borghini is tucked behind her.
14km to go: The teams are winding up for the Côte de Durtol. There’s an urgency that’s going to cause some splits here. This is what the whole day has been leading towards. The climb is 1.7km and has an average gradient of 7.2%.
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Results of the intermediate sprint
1. Lizzie Deignan (Lidl-Trek), 25 pts
2. Ashleigh Moolman Pasio (AG Insurance-Soudal Qucik-Step), 20 pts
3. Karlijn Swinkels (Jumbo Visma), 17 pts
4. Maria Confalonieri (Uno-X), 15 pts
5. Marianne Vos (Jumbo Visma), 13 pts
6. Léa Curinier (DSM-Firmenich), 11 pts
7. Yara Kastelijn (Fenix-Deceuninck), 10 pts
8. Anna Henderson (Jumbo Visma), 9 pts
9. Pfeiffer Georgi (DSM-Firmenich), 8 pts
10. Elisa Longo Borghini (Lidl-Trek), 7 pts
11. Elise Uijen (DSM-Firmenich), 6 pts
12. Mischa Bredewold (SD Worx), 5 pts
13. Amanda Spratt (Lidl-Trek), 4 pts
14. Charlotte Kool (DSM-Firmenich), 3 pts
15. Julia Borgström (AG Insurance-Soudal Quick-Step), 2 pts
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21km to go: That intermediate sprint has caused some damage reports Slappendel. She says a few big names, including Elisa Balsamo have been dropped from the peloton.
23km to go: It’s just about 10km to the third-cat Côte de Durtol and the peloton are increasing the pace. There’s a few riders dropping off the back, while the teams at the front will be looking to dispatch as many sprinters as they can on the uphill.
Lizzie Deignan wins the intermediate sprint
27km to go: Deignan has taken the win in the intermediate sprint. She’s bagged the first points of this Tour. Strangely, it didn’t seem like any of the sprinters were interested then.
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Crash ripples through the peloton
28km to go: There’s been a crash that’s taken down a number of riders but it doesn’t look to have resulted in anything serious.
28km to go: Lach has been caught. The teams are getting into formation for the intermediate sprint. There was a small coming together between India Granger and Amber Pate earlier but they have re-joined the peloton since. In this video, it looks like maybe their handlebars got locked together.
💥 Small crash at the back of the race between @indiagrangier and Amber Pate. Both have re-joined the back of the peloton.
— Le Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift (@LeTourFemmes) July 23, 2023
💥 Petite chute à l'arrière entre @indiagrangier et Amber Pate. Les deux ont rejoint l'arrière du peloton.#TDFF2023 #WatchTheFemmes @GoZwift pic.twitter.com/SUg1WXhLa6
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34km to go: After that drop in pace, it’s about to increase again as the peloton approach the intermediate sprint. It’s in about 7km to the start and then uphill from there.
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38km to go: Lach’s lead was growing to almost a minute but has dropped towards 20sec as she goes up a false flat. In the second hour of racing, the pace has slowed slightly, bringing the peloton’s average speed 38.6kmph. Are there some saving energy for upcoming intermediate sprint?
45km to go: Polish rider Marta Lach of Ceratizit-WNT has attacked. She has around a 20sec gap.
46km to go: There is a lot of noise around who might take the win today. Lorena Wiebes, with eight wins already in 2023, seems to be a top pick (according to TV commentary and Twitter), but her teammate Demi Vollering is also tipped for potential success (she has 13 victories this year). Outside of SD-Worx, other names being thrown around are Charlotte Kool of DSM–Firmenich and Vos. A lot though depends on whether the sprinters make it up the third category climb with just over 9km to the finish.
53km to go: There are a few small hills coming up, which might encourage a breakaway attempt but for the moment, the peloton is being pretty cagey. My soigneur has just delivered a delicious bowl of noodles and broth to my desk. I will try and juggle eating that and posting updates. Wish me luck.
62km to go: Halfway in and the bunch is tightly packed together. There have been early attacks from Life-Plus Wahoo and Arkea riders but they have all been reeled in. Lidl-Trek, Liv Racing Teqfind, EF Education – Tibco-SV, Team DSM and Insurance-Soudal Quick-Step are setting the pace.
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70km to go: This tweet sums up where the peloton are now pretty well. They are heading towards Bas-et-Lazet and have been cycling through a huge forest which looks spectacular from the overhead shots.
🏁74 KM
— Le Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift (@LeTourFemmes) July 23, 2023
We have no one in the lead following Typhaine Laurance's solo attempt, as different teams take their turn at the front
Personne à l'avant depuis l'attaque de Typhaine Laurance, alors que différentes équipes se relaient das le peloton#TDFF2023 #WatchTheFemmes @GoZwift pic.twitter.com/HFhRyGnan6
75km to go: The peloton seem to be sticking together for the moment. There has been an update on Benito from her team: she is conscious and on her way to the hospital.
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78km to go: Laurance is about to be swallowed up by the peloton after having her 30sec lead cut.
Lizzie Deignan (Lidl-Trek) spoke to Eurosport ahead of today’s stage and has shared her hope to be an “impactful” teammate for Elisa Longo Borghini. Due to being pregnant during the first edition of the Tour de France Femmes, this is Deignan’s debut. She says that although she is not physically in the “top tier”, she is mentally at an advantage. The British rider also says that she did not enjoy the recon of today’s stage and predicts a “fast and hectic” day.
"ᴄᴀʀɴᴀɢᴇ!" 😲
— Eurosport (@eurosport) July 23, 2023
Lizzie Deignan, racing her first Tour de France Femmes, is expecting a hectic finish to Stage 1 on the final climb 📈#TdFFemmes | #WatchTheFemmes | @lizziedeignan pic.twitter.com/xvwwy0sIPo
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88km to go: Fouquenet gave it a try but couldn’t quite get across to Laurance so is sitting up and waiting for the peloton to reach her. Out front, Laurance has a gap of 32sec.
Mireia Benito abandons
89km to go: Spanish ITT champion Benito has had to abandon following a crash. It seems like the AG Insurance-Soudal Quick-Step rider clipped the edge of the road and went down heavily in a ditch.
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94km to go: Amandine Fouquenet (Arkéa) is trying to join Laurance but the peloton are looming behind. There is around a 20sec gap for Laurance.
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95km to go: Typhaine Laurance (Lifeplus Wahoo) attacked but her move was followed by the peloton. She tries again and has got a small gap. Behind, Mireia Benito of AG Insurance-Soudal Quick-Step has crashed and doesn’t look in a good way.
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99km to go: With just under 110km to go, Le Deunff is reeled in and the peloton are all back together. Who is eyeing up a chance for the next attack?
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100km to go: Tacey has been caught by the peloton but Le Deunff is still out there solo.
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102km to go: British rider April Tacey (LifePlus Wahoo) has broken away to try and bridge over to Le Deunff. The Arkea rider has a gap of 30sec to the peloton.
104km to go: Marie Morgane Le Deunff for Arkéa Pro Cycling Team has attacked solo. There doesn’t seem to be any reaction from the peloton though. There is still a long way to go so a solo attack won’t bother them too much at the moment.
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107km to go: As always, there are some beautiful looking bikes in the peloton, but Elisa Balsomo of Lidl-Trek is particularly proud of her steed. Take a look at that…
Ladies and gentlemen: my UNICORN bike 🦄 for Le Tour de France 🟡
— Elisa Balsamo (@Elisa_balsamo) July 23, 2023
Here's my new Project One ICON for #TDFF2023... the Chroma Ultra-Iridescent and isn't it beautiful?! pic.twitter.com/W2sCz5ULee
109km to go: While the start looks calm, the racing is speedier thank it looks reports Slappendel. She’s estimating around 40-50kmph and not much chatting between the riders. As the commentators on Eurosport point out, the road is not conducive to an attack yet as the peloton can see about 4km ahead.
112km to go: Just as I was about to write that the bunch are all sticking together, there was a small attack. A few riders are testing their legs at the front of the bunch. Could we see a breakaway forming?
115km to go: While we wait for some more action – and an attack – it would be nice to share that there are a few birthdays today. So far I’ve seen that Esmée Peperkamp(Team DSM) and Norwegian champion Susanne AnderseN (Uno-X) are both celebrating their birthday.
120km to go: Almost half of the peloton is made up of debutants. Of the 154 riders, 72 of them are taking part in their first Tour. Dutch riders make for the biggest contingent, with 27 riders, ahead of the French (21) and Italians (19).
They're racing in stage one!
123km to go: Race director and former pro-cyclist, Marion Rousse, has waved the flag and the racing is officially underway. What is going to happen? Email or tweet me your thoughts.
Some thoughts from Iris: Former pro-rider, and absolute delight, Iris Slappendel is back on the motorbike for Eurosport and has been talking of her excitement for this year’s edition of the Tour de France Femme. She predicts that today will be a “nervous, chaotic stage with a tricky final.”
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Key event
Over eight day’s worth of racing, the peloton will face one mountain stage, two hilly stages, four flat stages and an individual time trial to finish. You can see the full route in the image below.
🤩The official route of the #TDFF2023 avec @GoZwift!
— Le Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift (@LeTourFemmes) October 27, 2022
🤩 Voici le parcours officiel du #TDFF2023 avec Zwift !#WatchTheFemmes pic.twitter.com/A7PJNR1UUI
Stage one of the second edition of the Tour de France Femmes is underway
The riders are off and have a neutralised 7.7km to warm them up. Last year’s winner, Annemiek van Vleuten of Movistar is up front, as expected, along with the other big names, such as Marianne Vos (Jumbo-Visma) and Elisa Longo Borghini (Lidl-Trek).
Here is how today’s stage profile looks:
⏱ Stage 1 / Étape 1 ⏱
— Le Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift (@LeTourFemmes) July 23, 2023
🚩 @ClermontFd - 🏁 @ClermontFd
📏124 km
⏰ 12:30 CEST > 15:28 CEST
⛰ 1x3️⃣c
💚 km 97,1 #TDFF2023 #WatchTheFemmes | @GoZwift pic.twitter.com/WOKAogzx2d
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Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift 2023
Welcome to the second ever Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift. This year’s edition will feature 154 riders representing 22 different teams as they pedal their way along 956 kilometres of road over eight days. Today’s 123.8km stage will see the peloton roll out of Clermont-Ferrand in a day that might be suited to the sprinters.
Ahead of the start of the Tour de France Femmes 2023, my colleague, Jeremy Whittle has written some words on what we can expect:
The 2023 edition is bigger, more adventurous and, with the inclusion of the Pyrenees and a time trial, a far sterner test. After an opening stage that loops out and back from Clermont-Ferrand, the peloton heads south into the hills of Cantal, Correze, Dordogne and Tarn with finishes in Mauriac, Montignac-Lascaux, Rodez and Albi.
After a flatter stage to Blagnac, in the suburbs of Toulouse, next Saturday’s Pyrenean stage takes in the climb of the Col d’Aspin before the 17km haul to the 2,110 metre summit of the Tourmalet.
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