Race report Tour de France Femmes: Demi Vollering Dominates Stage 3 Time Trial
Stage 4 of the 2024 Tour de France Femmes, spanning 122.7 kilometers from Valkenburg to Liège on a course that echoed the challenging classics like Amstel Gold Race and Liège-Bastogne-Liège. In an exciting finale, Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Deceuninck) emerged victorious, beating the GC leader, Demi Vollering (SD Worx-Protime), in a sprint finish, with Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Canyon//SRAM) taking third.
How the race unfolded
The stage was characterized by hills and sharp climbs, testing the peloton from the very start. Riders faced the Bemelerberg, Cauberg, and Geulhemmerberg climbs within the first 20 kilometers, setting a grueling tone for the day. Silvia Persico (UAE Team ADQ) dominated these early climbs, taking top points and putting herself in a strong position for the mountain classification.
As the race moved from the Netherlands into Belgium, the tension escalated. Sara Martin (Movistar) made an audacious solo attack, building a lead of over a minute at one point, but was eventually reeled in by the peloton as they approached the Mont-Theux climb where the peloton split into different groups due to the high paced climbing.
The Côte de la Redoute, a classic Liège-Bastogne-Liège climb, saw the main contenders begin to assert themselves. Pieterse led a reduced peloton over the top, with Niewiadoma and Vollering close behind. These three riders formed a strong trio as they pushed towards the finish.
The Decisive Moves
The final climbs, particularly the Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons, were where the race truly came alive. Justine Ghekiere (AG Insurance-Soudal) made a valiant effort to break away on the penultimate climb, gaining a small gap, but the relentless pace set by Vollering saw her caught before the summit.
With less than 10 kilometers remaining, the front group had been whittled down to Pieterse, Vollering, and Niewiadoma. These three worked together to maintain their lead over a chasing group, but as the finish line in Liège approached, the cooperation turned to rivalry.
Pieterse, known more for her cyclocross prowess, proved her road racing credentials with a perfectly timed sprint. The Polish Kasia Niewiadoma started the sprint with 900m to, k nowing she could never outsprint her two fellow rider. She tried, but Vollering and Pieterse were vigilant enough and stayed on the wheel of the Canyon//Sram rider until the final 200m where Pieterse started her sprint. She surged ahead in the final meters, narrowly edging out Vollering, who had to settle for second. “I just tried to keep a steady pace on the final climb, and when I saw the finish line, I knew I had to give it everything,” Pieterse said after the race. Channeling the success of her Fenix-Deceuninck teammate Yara Kastelijn, who clinched victory in last year’s fourth stage, Puck Pieterse powered her way to an impressive win in Liège by outsprinting Demi Vollering and Kasia Niewiadoma. Despite Vollering closing in with a faster finish, Pieterse held on with a top sprint speed of 60.3 km/h. This stellar performance not only secured her the stage win but also saw the Dutch cyclo-cross star don both the White and Polkadot jerseys, marking a brilliant day for the young rider.
Implications for the General Classification
Demi Vollering, despite finishing second, retained her yellow jersey and increased her overall lead to 22 seconds ahead of Pieterse. Niewiadoma, with her consistent performance, moved into third overall, now 34 seconds behind Vollering.
The stage was not only a battle for the day’s honors but also a significant moment in the overall race, with the top riders showcasing their form ahead of the more mountainous stages to come. Vollering remains in a strong position but will need to continue her dominance to fend off challenges from Pieterse and Niewiadoma, who have proven they can match her on the climbs.
Looking Ahead
As the Tour de France Femmes progresses, the riders will face increasingly challenging stages, with the high mountains looming on the horizon. Vollering’s lead is solid, but as Stage 4 demonstrated, the competition is fierce, and the race for the yellow jersey is far from over.
With Pieterse’s victory and the continued strong performances from the likes of Niewiadoma, the next stages promise to deliver even more excitement and potentially shake up the General Classification further.