Wiebes claims back-to-back Tour stage wins
Lorena Wiebes achieved her second consecutive stage victory at the Tour de France Femmes, showcasing her sprinting dominance in the fourth leg. The Dutch cyclist from Team SD Worx executed a powerful sprint finish, launching her decisive move about 250 meters from the finish line in Poitiers. Her timing proved impeccable, allowing her to break free from the tightly packed peloton and secure victory ahead of fellow Dutch rider Marianne Vos, who finished second, and Ireland’s Lara Gillespie, who took third.
The stage, which spanned 130.7 kilometers from Saumur to Poitiers, remained competitive until the final kilometers, where the sprinters' teams regained control after a brief breakaway attempt by Franziska Koch and Tota Magalhães. Wiebes's flawless lead-out from teammate Anna van der Breggen set her up perfectly for the sprint, demonstrating her exceptional racing strategy and speed.
This victory marks Wiebes's second win in a row, following her triumph in a chaotic sprint the previous day. She now sits second overall in the general classification, trailing Vos by just 12 seconds, who continues to wear the yellow jersey. Wiebes's strong performance has solidified her position as one of the premier sprinters of the season, adding to her accolades from previous races, including Milan-San Remo and the Giro d’Italia.
Demi Vollering, who had suffered a crash in stage three, managed to complete the stage alongside the peloton, avoiding any time loss due to the crash occurring within the final five kilometers. Despite experiencing discomfort during the final sprint, she is now focused on recovery as the race transitions into more demanding terrain.
Wiebes's latest win has propelled her to the top of the points classification with 197 points, surpassing Vos. As the overall standings tighten, the upcoming stages promise to favor climbers and classic specialists, particularly as the route ascends into the challenging terrain of the Alps, setting the stage for an exciting continuation of the competition.
