2023-07-28 12:33:18
By taking the road between Albi and Blagnac, this Friday, July 28, the French riders will have to redouble their efforts. After a disappointing first part of the Tour de France women, the tricolor cyclists still have a chance to touch the summits, provided they give themselves the means.
France’s best chance for the general classification, Juliette Labous (Team DSM-Firmenich), fourth in the Grande Boucle last year, returned with the ambition of getting on the podium. Behind the untouchable Dutch Demi Vollering and Annemiek Van Vleuten, the Franc-Comtoise had a card to play, after her second place overall in the Giro (Tour of Italy) in early July.
However, by his own admission, his start to the Tour was not at the expected level. With a “big disappointment and time wasted in the end”during the first stage on Sunday July 23, the cyclist became aware of her failed start. “I exploded on the climb, probably a heat stroke”, she lamented. The following was more convincing, with repeated attacks to try to grab seconds in the general classification.
One level below
Behind, Évita Muzic (FDJ-Suez) had to give up on Thursday July 27, despite a good start to this Tour. The day before, Audrey Cordon-Ragot (Human Powered Health) spared no effort, long virtual yellow jersey during the 4th stage. Enough to hope for a place on the podium? “It seems unplayable, even the top 10 will be complicated”, judges a member of the French Cycling Federation (FFC). “Today, like the men, our French women are clearly part of the second curtain, behind a group of favorites including the Dutch, the German Liane Lippert or the Danish Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig. » For the manager, the last Tour of Italy could “to hope for beautiful things”in particular for Juliette Labous, “but his performance at the Giro is a trompe-l’oeil in the face of the real level of the Grande Boucle 2023”.
“The Dutch are very strong, we see them all winter with the cyclo-cross, in which they largely dominate. What’s more, the Vollering-Van Vleuten duel crushes everything, it’s hard for our French women to emerge, “ abounds the multi-medal veteran Jeannie Longo.
To explain this difference in level, the cyclist with 13 world titles recalls that training methods between countries vary. “I know that some of our neighbors opt more for high altitude courses, as I was able to do in my time”, she explains. “Maybe our methods are not as effective. » The global trend is indeed tending towards a multiplication and lengthening of courses at altitude, even if it means taking part in fewer races during the season. The French runners have rather made the opposite choice so far, favoring race days. “Our best climbers are often a level below the best climbers in the world, as a result”, explains an FFC executive, which is penalizing in a competition like the Tour de France.
Head full of dreams
Irremediable for the French champions? Not according to those around them. “Juliette Labous progresses continuously and very regularly, rejoices his trainer Camiel Dénis, within the DSM team. This is its main strength, it only evolves in the right direction, constantly. I don’t know if it could have gone faster but what is certain is that it passes an important stage every year. »
“We have to let them grow”, abounds Jeannie Longo. “People like Audrey Cordon-Ragot have shown that, more or less, they are capable ofthem to impose themselves on stages (the cyclist dominated the 4th stage for a long time, even applying for the yellow jersey, between Cahors and Rodez, Wednesday July 26, before losing towards the end, Ed). »
The Tour continues, but the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games are already on everyone’s mind. An objective that speaks to Juliette Labous: « I hope to go to the Games and shine in the time trial”, she testifies at the microphone of RFI. For the French exercise champion in 2020, “the Olympics, that’s what I absolutely wanted to win before the rebirth of the Tour de France. The Olympics are universal ». Her compatriot Évita Muzic, French champion on the road in 2021 readily recognizes this, “The Olympic Games speak to everyone. It’s only every four years, and taking part in the party in France would be cool”.
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The German Ricarda Bauernfeind victorious in Albi
Ricarda Bauernfeind won the 5th stage of the Tour de France women solo, disputed on Thursday July 27 between Onet-le-Château (Aveyron) and Albi (Tarn). She was 22 seconds ahead of her two pursuers, Switzerland’s Marlen Reusser and Germany’s Liane Lippert.
Belgian Lotte Kopecky keeps her yellow jersey49 seconds ahead of second overall, South African Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio.
The 6th stage will again take place on a flat course, rather favorable to sprinters, Friday July 28, between Albi and Blagnac (Haute-Garonne). The riders will then compete against the high mountains, with an arrival at the top of the Col du Tourmalet (Hautes-Pyrénées) on Saturday July 29, before the final 22.6 kilometer time trial, Sunday July 30, in Pau.
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