Niewiadoma pissed off by disorganisation in Tour de France Femmes chase
[ad_1]
Lotte Kopecky’s unmatched power on the ultimate ascent secured her the stage 1 victory on the Tour de France Femmes, but it surely left members of the choose chase group questioning whether or not they may have completed extra to forestall one other SD Worx victory.
“I really feel pissed off with myself with how I rode within the remaining,” mentioned Kasia Niewiadoma as she cooled down on the coach after the hilly opener. The stage completed with a class 3 ascent over the Côte de Durtol that peaked with 9km to go, adopted by a quick descent and run-in to Clermont-Ferrand.
“I felt robust and in good condition, and at present confirmed that I did not use it. I hope that may change as a result of it’s annoying coming to races feeling good and doing nothing about it.
“I feel I actually tousled when Lotte went. I simply misplaced a few seconds. I used to be making an attempt to get out of Ashleigh Moolman [Pasio] ‘s wheel as a result of she was sort of blocking me. It is a pity for us it ended up like this as a result of I feel we may have had a greater outcome.”
Kopecky attacked partway up the ultimate climb and instantly opened a small hole, which widened excessive and on the run-in, crossing the end line 41 seconds forward of a small group dash received by her teammate Lorena Wiebes.
Among the many preliminary chase group had been a number of riders from FDJ-SUEZ; Marta Cavalli, Evita Muzic and Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig, Canyon-SRAM; Niewiadoma, Ricarda Bauernfeind, Elise Chabbey, and Movistar with defending champion Annemiek van Vleuten and Liane Lippert. There have been additionally particular person riders Demi Vollering (SD Worx), absolved of chasing her teammate up the highway, Elisa Longo Borghini (Lidl-Trek), and Mavi Garcia (Liv Racing TeqFind).
There was little group among the many chase group behind Koepcky, with Cavalli suggesting that Vollering ‘interrupted’ their chase efforts by driving to the entrance and slowing down. A second group on the highway that included Marlen Reusser and Wiebes (SD Worx) and Marianne Vos (Jumbo-Visma) reconnected with 2km to go, however by then, Kopecky had gained a wholesome 40 seconds on her solution to the stage win.
“It was undoubtedly not [organized]. All of the teams from the again got here again collectively, in order that confirmed that we weren’t actually driving,” Niewiadoma mentioned, suggesting that groups might need opted to not chase as a result of Kopecky shouldn’t be an SD Worx GC contender.
“Generally it looks like nobody desires to work collectively as a result of everybody has a distinct tactic or technique in thoughts. She will not be combating at Tourmalet, so the dedication [to chase] is at all times smaller.”
Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (AG Insurance coverage-Soudal-QuickStep) additionally expressed frustration with the dearth of group among the many chasing group. Though she had no different teammates within the group, she felt the non-SD Worx riders may have labored collectively to shut the hole to Kopecky.
“Kasia and I obtained fairly shut, however then, because the descent began, it was so irritating. It wasn’t my job to chase as a result of there have been different riders from different groups. I did not wish to simply sit up, so I attempted to maintain issues going,” Moolman-Pasio mentioned.
“I do not perceive the mentality to assault and counter-attack as a result of if we labored collectively, we may carry her again. Both method, it was not a giant shock for it to begin this fashion, however I am feeling good and looking out ahead to the subsequent few days.”
Lidl-Trek had one rider within the chase group, Elisa Longo Borghini. Nevertheless, the workforce’s director Ina Teutenberg mentioned she wouldn’t have anticipated nor requested Longo Borghini to chase on this situation.
“I understand how robust Kopecky is, and by no means say by no means, however I don’t suppose she is a risk to the GC. You by no means know, there are six traditional phases, and perhaps she will get 10 minutes by the top of them, after which they do not catch her. However I solely had one rider in there, and I would not have them chase,” Teutenberg mentioned.
“Kopecky was very robust at present. It’s important to have the legs to do what she did, and nobody may react. There have been sufficient mountain riders there who noticed her go on the climb, and nobody had the legs to observe.
“Chapeau to Kopecky, one of the best rider received.”
[ad_2]