With eight stages and over 1000 km covered at an average speed of nearly 39 km/h, the new version of the Tour de France Femmes was undeniably a sporting and popular success. Relive the race stage by stage behind the scenes of the Dutch SD Worx team, which finished with a second place in the general classification and a Queen of the Mountains jersey with Demi Vollering, and a stage victory with Marlen Reusser.
The day before the race, the SD Worx team riders meet in the Paris region for a final group training session. An opportunity for former world champion Chantal van den Broek-Blaak to pick up her new equipment.A final relaxed training ride on the roads of Seine-et-Marne.The mechanics can make the final adjustments, as here on a new shoe model, with a device to transfer the cleat position.As for the men in the men’s Tour de France, the riders are equipped with a transponder to accurately establish classifications and calculate time gaps.The SD Worx girls are equipped with Zipp wheels (here 353 NSW), with a choice of tubed or tubeless tires, as here in 30 mm width for the Parisian cobblestones.Just before the start of the first stage, the riders are presented to the public in front of the Eiffel Tower.The first stage on the Champs-Elysées circuit demands the full attention of the competitors, as here Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio.At the start of the second stage, Lotte Kopecky wears the green jersey, after her third place the day before, and after taking points in the intermediate sprint.The second stage between Meaux and Provins is marked by strong winds, and thus by the creation of echelons, which force the teams to be vigilant.The public turned out in large numbers throughout the route.At the start of the third stage, between Reims and Epernay, the SD Worx team riders benefit from precise indications of the position of each difficulty.A motivational message on the SD Worx rider’s frame.Demi Vollering hangs on with the best in the last difficulty of the stage.In the sprint, Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig wins ahead of Marianne Vos and Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio. In the background, Demi Vollering can be seen in eighth place.The SD Worx team riders ride grouped at the start of the fourth stage between Troyes and Bar-sur-Aube.On the vineyard roads, Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio remains attentive.The SD Worx team prepares an offensive.Marlen Reusser breaks away and will not be seen again.The Swiss rider extends her lead all the way to the finish, winning one of the finest victories of her career.The SD Worx team tested the new Specialized S-Works Torch shoes on the vineyard roads.The Tarmac SL7 of the day’s winner.The SD Worx team uses a Sram Red eTap AXS groupset, a Zipp cockpit, Zipp 303 Firecrest wheels, and Specialized Turbo Cotton tires.Marlen Reusser uses 50-37 chainrings and a 10-33 cassette.For the vineyard roads, the Swiss rider chose 28 mm tire width.
The Tour de France Femmes may be an opportunity for young girls to want to take up cycling.Luxembourg champion Christine Majerus gets information from her sports director, Anna van der Breggen.After the fifth stage, Demi Vollering does some rollers for active recovery.On the sixth stage, Christine Majerus is in a breakaway with Audrey Cordon-Ragot, the French champion.Lotte Kopecky crashes.
On the seventh stage, between Sélestat and Markstein Fellering, Demi Vollering breaks away with the big favorite: Annemiek van Vleuten.In the Vosges mountains, Annemiek van Vleuten takes the lead, and Demi Vollering holds on to her second position.At the finish, the Dutch rider takes second place, which also means second place in the general classification.On the podium, Demi Vollering dons the Queen of the Mountains jersey.At the start of the eighth stage, between Lure and Super Planche des Belles Filles, Demi Vollering benefits from a Specialized Prevail 3 helmet decorated in the colors of her jersey. The brand always prepares yellow, green, white, and polka dot helmets in advance for riders likely to wear a distinctive jersey, or for a team leading the team classification.During the stage, Demi Vollering quickly realizes that Annemiek van Vleuten is unshakeable.At the foot of the climb to Planche des Belles Filles, the public once again turns out in force.On the dirt road that concludes the climb of Super Planche des Belles Filles, Demi Vollering once again takes second place, 30 seconds behind Annemiek van Vleuten.The final podium of the Tour de France Femmes 2022. Annemiek van Vleuten wins ahead of her Dutch compatriot Demi Vollering, and Polish rider Katarzyna Niewiadoma.The distinctive jerseys of this Tour de France Femmes 2022: Marianne Vos in green, Annemiek van Vleuten in yellow, Shirin van Anroqij in white, and Demi Vollering in polka dots. Four Dutch riders!Demi Vollering’s bike, with its SD Worx livery.The Dutch climber uses 48-35 chainrings and a 10-33 cassette.Zipp Service Course cockpit and Supacaz bar tape.With 12 cogs on her Sram Red eTap AXS groupset, the Dutch rider has a wide range of gears.At 25, Demi Vollering will be one of the favorites for future editions of the Tour de France Femmes.
