Lorena Wiebes sprints to stage four win at Tour de France Femmes
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Team SD Worx-Protime’s Dutch rider Lorena Wiebes celebrates on the podium after winning the 4th stage of the fourth edition of the Women's Tour de France.
PHOTO: AFP
POITIERS, France – Lorena Wiebes stormed to her second consecutive stage victory at the Tour de France Femmes on July 29, winning the fourth leg with a dominant sprint finish.
The Dutch rider from Team SD Worx launched her move around 250 metres from the line and proved untouchable, sealing another emphatic stage victory. Fellow Dutch rider Marianne Vos took second place, with Ireland’s Lara Gillespie finishing third.
The largely flat 130.7km stage from Saumur to Poitiers saw the peloton remain tightly packed until the closing stretch before a showdown amongst the sprinters.
Wiebes timed her effort perfectly, leaving her rivals unable to respond before it was too late.
She also triumphed in a chaotic sprint on July 29 and now sits second overall, trailing Vos, who retains the yellow jersey.
“Very nice, I’m happy it worked out again,” Wiebes said.
“That went well, but quite chaotic. I had to start the sprint early again because I was afraid of being boxed in.”
Vos, who tried to edge past Wiebes in the final metres, conceded it had been too much of an ask.
“Nice to get close – but Lorena was very fast,” she said.
“It’s nice (to still be in the yellow jersey), we knew it would be chaotic, not only in the final... the whole stage was pretty tough, so thanks to the team.” REUTERS