‘Not the smoothest run’ – Tour de France Femmes TT obstacles for Brown on technique to fourth
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Grace Brown had been focussed on the stage 8 time trial nicely earlier than the Tour de France Femmes even bought underway however because the day approached it maybe held even larger significance because it represented the ultimate hope of a stage podium look for FDJ-Suez at this 12 months’s version of the race.
Although in the long run simply two seconds stood between Brown and people podium steps, with the Australian rider coming fourth as SD Worx swept the highest three spots on the ultimate stage. Marlen Reusser gained with a time of 29:15, whereas GC winner Demi Vollering was ten seconds again in second and Lotte Kopecky nudged Brown off the rostrum after ending 38 seconds off Reusser’s scorching time. Brown was 40 seconds again.
The FDJ-Suez rider had taken a racing break earlier than the Tour de France Femmes to organize for each the Glasgow World Championships and the French Tour, which she advised Cyclingnews earlier than the race she was getting into with perception however not expectation. The time trial was the stage she was focussed on and it was clear as she lay on the street after the stage that she’d given her all within the race in opposition to the clock.
“Contemplating the week that we’ve had I felt fairly good,” the Australian time trial champion advised Australian broadcaster SBS in an interview carried out within the minutes after she completed. “I might do the facility that I wished to for many of it however yeah it was onerous.”
“I had just a few issues, I misplaced my visor and I misplaced my chain at one level so it was not the smoothest run however I’m proud of the trip that I did. I did the perfect that I might.”
The rider, who set off 91st, was within the lead when she crossed the road, for a couple of minutes not less than. Nonetheless, Brown foreshadowed within the interview straight after she completed that her time within the scorching seat could also be over earlier than she might even make it over there.
“I believe Reusser could be very shut now and it appears to be like like she may do a sooner time than me however that’s to be anticipated,” Brown advised SBS with a fast shrug of the shoulders.
Reusser, who may very well be seen waving away the workforce automobiles of the riders she was catching alongside the best way, did quickly take that first spot however Brown held agency in second proper till the ultimate 4 riders, the place there have been some surprises.
It could not have been a shock to be displaced for second by the rider sporting yellow however it was maybe a bit of extra surprising that Kopecky carried by way of her flying kind from the sprints and the climbs proper by way of to the time trial on the ultimate stage. Because of this Brown was off the rostrum in what the rider advised the Australian broadcaster was “positively not the simplest time trial I’ve finished”.
“A time trial is at all times a extremely mentally difficult occasion however having the fatigue, and never simply bodily fatigue however psychological fatigue, of seven days of racing and attempting to have the main target you want for a time trial is admittedly troublesome.”
Although she’ll be searching for that focus once more quickly, with the 31 12 months outdated lining up as one of many key contenders on the elite ladies’s time trial on the Glasgow World Championships on Thursday August 10.
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