“,”elementId”:”b79ed3e1-96b9-4bc7-bd85-9c23fdbcfff1″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
There are eight categorised climbs on a very up-and-down route, 122km in length, with one intermediate sprint coming at Pepinster after 67.5km of racing. Three cat-fours, three cat-threes and two cat-twos are included in the day’s climbs and there will be plenty of riders hoping to get in a breakaway.
“,”elementId”:”4b68eaed-fb22-4bdf-8695-a90dc39ff7cb”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
More on that to follow shortly, but for now, here is Jeremy Whittle’s report of Tuesday’s stages two and three, a road race and time trial combo in which the reigning champion, Demi Vollering, took a step towards back-to-back Tour de France Femmes titles:
“,”elementId”:”41086be8-e3f4-412c-a46f-16c5b2a992fe”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement”,”prefix”:”Related: “,”text”:”Vollering takes Tour de France Femmes yellow jersey with time-trial win”,”elementId”:”17c7399c-0557-449c-90c7-55f5d8eab6e5″,”role”:”thumbnail”,”url”:”https://www.theguardian.com/sport/article/2024/aug/13/tour-de-france-femmes-cycling-demi-vollering”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Stage start time: 11.25am BST
“,”elementId”:”64f76eaf-e7f4-4942-ad4c-72710c4a10e7″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1723629612000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”06.00 EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1723631435000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”: “06.30 EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1723629612000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”06.00 EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”06.00″,”title”:”Preface”,”Contributor”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Wednesday, August 14, 2024 07:20 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First Published Wednesday, August 14, 2024 06:00 EDT”}],”filterKeyEvents”:false,”id”:”key-events-carousel-mobile”,”absoluteServerTimes”:false}”>
Main Events
104km remaining: The race crosses the Bemelberg again and then there’s a long section with no climbs, before the next categorised climb – over 50km – before crossing the border into Belgium.
105km remaining: Persico picked up two more points in Geurhemmelberg, with Justin Gekiere (AG Insurance Soudal-QuickStep) in second.
107km remaining: Persico was in good climbing form today, picking up three points at the summit of the Cauberg to add to the two he gained on the Bemelerberg.
1. Silvia Persico (UAE Team ADQ), 3 points
2. Yara Kastelin (Phoenix Deceuninck), 2 points
3. Sofia Bertizzolo (UAE Team ADQ), 1 point
110km remaining: The group is approaching the Cauberg and already some riders are starting to break away from the pack. The average speed so far is 35kph, which is very fast considering they have already finished the climb.
116km remaining: Silvia Persico (UAE Team ADQ) earned two points on the first climb of the day, the Bemelerberg, while Quinty Tong (Riv Al Ula Jayco) came in second, earning another point.
“Here in France “Women’s achievements at the Tour de France are receiving full coverage (where I live),” Jeremy Boyce wrote in an email. “With full TV coverage of every stage, helicopter and bike-mounted cameras, and star commentators (Laurent Jalabert and Tommy Voeckler are, as always, excellent), women are starting to get the support and recognition they deserve.”
Discovery and Eurosport There will be no live photos until 12.30pm UK time, which is a shame as today’s stage should be an exciting start.
Riders After three race cancellations this morning, 144 people headed out for the neutral start.
🚩 Now, on to our next destination! Villedrige!
🚩 This is a party! Directions Villedrige ! #TDFF2024 | #WatchTheFems | Follow pic.twitter.com/n5b63i2YQX
— Le Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift (@LeTourFemmes) August 14, 2024
“}}”/>
Christina Schweinberger (Phoenix Deceuninck)Elise Chavey (Canyon-SRAM) and Clara Emond (EF-Autry-Cannondale) withdrew from the race before Stage 4.
Official website timetable The stage is listed as starting at 11:25 BST / 12:25 BST.
The TV schedule states that live coverage will begin at 12:30 UK time, so we’ll have to rely on the official website for updates until then.
Are you looking forward to it? To this?
Why not send me an email?
Click here for the lineup Eight climbs today. It’s going to be a tough day in the saddle.
Bemelerberg (Category 4)
Cauberg (Category 3)
Geulhemmelberg (Category 4)
Bemerleberg (Category 4)
Mont Thu (Category 3)
Côte de la Redouté (Category 2)
Cote de Forges (Category 3)
Côte de la Roche-Haut-Faucon (Category 2)
“I hope I can continue this.“It was a great race,” Lorena Wiebes told Eurosport yesterday after her SD Worx-Protime teammate Demi Forering won the individual time trial. Speaking of which, today’s race is a mix of the Amstel Gold Race and Liège-Bastogne-Liege terrain, so it’s going to be a tricky one to control.
preamble
Today’s stage starts in the Netherlands, passes through famous one-day classics region on the way and finishes in Belgium. Around the provinces of Limburg and Valkenburg there are some rare big hills within the Dutch border, before the race heads south into northern Belgium.
The 122km long, hilly route features eight category climbs, including an intermediate sprint at Pepinster after 67.5km of racing. With three category 4 climbs, three category 3 and two category 2 climbs on the day, there will be plenty of riders hoping to break away.
We’ll have more details on that in a moment, but for now, here’s Jeremy Whittle’s report on Tuesday’s second and third stages, a combination road race and time trial that saw reigning champion Demi Vollering move a step closer to claiming a back-to-back Tour de France Femme title.
Stage Start Time: 11:25am BST
