Lorena Wiebes wins the first stage of the Women's Tour de France in Paris

In Paris, a shadowless midday and suffocating heat, the predictions of the experts reserved the first stage victory for two riders: Lorena Wiebes, from the DSM, and Elisa Balsamo, from the Trek.

The Dutchwoman, a young student of the route, was optimistic at the start: “I don't put pressure on myself, I'm very calm”.

The Italian, world champion a year ago in Flanders —she surpassed Marianne Vos by millimeters—, she was enthusiastic under the Eiffel Tower: “Being here is already an achievement”.

Less than two hours later, the prophecy was fulfilled.

Before the fervor of the Parisian public, who saw the peloton pass 12 times through the iconic Champs-Élysées circuit, Lorena Wiebes (Mijdrecht, Netherlands; 23 years old) prevailed over Marianne Vos and, stealing the perfect fable, became the first winner of the women's Tour de France.

Victory and, of course, yellow jersey, bonus through, for this shy young Dutch woman, six hours on the bike in the last week, according to her profile on Strava, the social network most used by athletes —especially cyclists— to share their training.

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Calendar, route and favorites of the 2022 women's Tour de France

Obsessed with her job, on her Instagram account there is only room for pedals: she hasn't shared a photo without the bike for years.

It wasn't like that in his childhood.

Until the age of 15, the DSM runner only had eyes for soccer.

It was her father, a triathlete, who instilled in her a taste for cycling.

Right on time, she'll think.

Ninety minutes before crossing the finish line, in the intermediate sprint of the stage, the roles had been reversed.

Marianne Vos, first.

Wiebes, next to her, second.

An electrifying battle is expected for the green jersey, the one given to the most regular cyclist on the flat.

Wiebes, for the moment, takes advantage.

There are more and more rumors linking her to SD Worx, the most powerful team in the squad.

To do this, through an astronomical salary, the Dutchwoman should break her current contract, valid until 2024, something she already did to sign last year for the DSM, her current team.

She, concentrated, turns a deaf ear to the siren's songs.

“Today was a great opportunity to get the yellow jersey”, she said at the finish line, after acknowledging, exhausted, that the nerves had been increasing on the Parisian cobblestones.

The pavement, rough and riddled with potholes, especially in the descending part of the Champs Elysées, raised the tension in a day full of punctures and breakdowns.

Also falls, like the one that involved the Belgian Alana Castrique, from Cofidis, the first abandonment of the race after a strong flank against the asphalt.

She also tested the ground, almost in the last kilometer, the German Laura Süßemilch, from Plantur-Pura, although she had more luck and got back on the bike.

On a day of group filming, with rapid reactions from the peloton to any threat of escape, the favourites, in full dress in the front line of the peloton before leaving under the Eiffel Tower —Mavi García included—, went unnoticed.

Day saved, no frights, and goal accomplished.

Lorena Wiebes will debut the yellow jersey this Monday in the second stage (135 kilometers between Meaux and Provins).

SD Worx's Lotte Kopecky leads the points standings;

Femke Markus from Parkhotel Valkenburg will wear the polka dot jersey and, at 20, Maike Van der Duin is, for now, the best youngster in the competition.

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