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Annemiek Van Vleuten puts the finishing touch and is already champion of the women's Tour de France

2022-07-31T21:16:42.024Z


The Movistar runner wins with authority in the Super Planche des Belles Filles and establishes herself as number one in world cycling


In an impeccable encore, Annemiek van Vleuten, a legendary cyclist with an incomparable record, certified this Sunday her first Tour de France in a big way, knocking out all her rivals in La Super Planche des Belles Filles and demonstrating, one more day, insatiable, for what is the best runner on the planet.

Crowning the vertical wall of the Vosges, with slopes greater than 24%, Van Vleuten, radiant, yellow embedded in his skin, has let himself go: “There was no better way to finish.

I am very proud to be the first woman to win this new version of the Women's Tour."

More than four hours before, still with the hangover from another memorable feat, the peloton, led by the Dutch from Movistar, went to the last signature check with clear signs of fatigue.

almost a thousand

kilometers in the legs, not a day of rest since the opening party in Paris, it was evident that the runners wanted to enjoy the closing, but also to finish.

The South African Ashleig Moolman-Pasio could not do it, weighed down by an infection in the last few hours.

The SD Worx climber, twelfth overall and a great supporter of Demi Vollering on the climbs, has been one of the main disappointments among the favourites.

Now you understand why.

“It's amazing how quickly everything can change, from feeling very strong to totally empty,” she says, sad that she's not in a position to finish the race.

In the last firecracker, the Super Planche des Belles Filles, the finishing touch to a historic edition of the women's Tour, full of emotion, follow-up and electrifying days, Annemiek van Vleuten debuted a bicycle, yellow to the last carbon fiber.

More information

Annemiek Van Vleuten, in an interview with EL PAÍS "It's hard to say goodbye"

Still smiling, Mavi Garcia, eyebrows raised, sighed before getting on the bike for the last time: “I don't know what to expect.

Yesterday was a very difficult day, my head wanted to, but my body wouldn't let me”.

And she added: “I don't think I've recovered, but I have nothing to lose.

What I have, I will give."

So it was.

Almost 100 kilometers

from the finish line, that of the UAE, the flag of Spain crossed on the pristine white of the jersey, delivered the first shock of the day and, together with a handful of runners, made up the break of the day.

Behind, with the difference always petrified around the minute, Annemiek van Vleuten, impeccable leader, watched the timid starts of Demi Vollering, more faith than legs, now without teammates.

“It was hard to realize that I couldn't keep up with Annemiek's pace,” said the SD Worx player, eyes glazed over at the goal.

On the last day, not even the scares with Van Vleuten's bicycle, which he had to change up to three times to recover his, dark, habitual during the last days -and discard the yellow one, sent by the sports brand-, raised the pulsations of the leader of Movistar, imperturbable.

In the lead, García, too generous in the effort, demanded a relay that never came.

Aren't you interested in the getaway?!, She seemed to say to her companions.

Above, at the top of the Ballon d'Alsace, 38 kilometers from the finish line, where the monument to Joan of Arc, heroine of another time, shines, dark marble, García entered the lead with more than a minute ahead of the group of favorites .

At the foot of the Super Planche, ten from the finish line, the advantage had already evaporated.

The Spanish, meters in the lead, turned her neck, tired, afraid to see who was coming after her.

Who else.

Annemiek van Vleuten, left over, launched the last attack, a hammer blow from someone who is known to be superior.

In her attempt to see the world burn, the Dutch woman from Movistar did not look back.

There she rolled Vollering, sitting as always, seeing a yellow shadow that was getting smaller and smaller.

Ten seconds.

20. 30.

In the last kilometre, powdery gravel, crazy public and a 24% gradient – ​​where Pogacar beat Vingegaard in the men's edition – Van Vleuten, twisted on the handlebars, has flown into eternity.

Second consecutive victory and golden brooch to the first women's Tour de France of the modern era.

"I'm not a dreamer, I just look for goals and try to achieve them."

At the farewell, hundreds of spectators at the finish line, a farewell atmosphere, Van Vleuten's reach is indeed dreamlike.

The Tour de France opens doors that other races do not open, but it also confirms what the others do.

High up in the Vosges, the place cited to conclude the rebirth of women's cycling, Annemiek Van Vleuten, bright yellow, relaxed smile, has come full circle and established herself, if she wasn't already, as the best cyclist on the planet.

"It was the only jersey that we were missing," she tells this newspaper, happy, Eusebio Unzúe, leader of the Movistar ranks.

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Source: elparis

All sports articles on 2022-07-31

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