Just three years and the women's Tour de France is allowed to move to orange light. To prepare for the Grand Départ, on August 12, organizers and runners went to Rotterdam, where the third edition of the event will start, to celebrate D-100. Well almost, since it wasn't exactly 100 days away, but the exact date fell on a war commemoration day in the Netherlands.
It was an opportunity to once again put Dutch women's cycling in the spotlight. And not only because two Dutch women won the first two editions (Annemiek van Vleuten then Demi Vollering). “We are truly in a country of cycling,” marvels Marion Rousse, the director of the event as she covers the first few hundred meters of the first stage on August 12. We can see that here, the inhabitants were almost born with a bicycle between their legs. Which perhaps explains the domination of the Dutch. »
From the Netherlands… “to the mountain of the Dutch”
Two of the country's best representatives were present at Rotterdam City Hall for the presentation. Lorena Wiebes, who was the first in history to don the yellow jersey for the event by winning the sprint on the Champs-Élysées during the first stage of the 2022 Women's Tour, set out her expectations for the 2024 version: “My ambition will also be to win in the sprint in Rotterdam to be the first to wear this jersey in the Netherlands. »
Vollering, the outgoing winner, was initially confronted with rumors that she would join the French team FDJ-Suez next year. Unsurprisingly, she avoided the obstacle. “I am only focused on my sporting goals,” she retorted without anyone having to believe her. I will only announce my future team when transfers open
(July 1st)
. But the fact that I'm being asked about this proves that our sport is attracting more and more interest. »
Demi Vollering has confirmed that she will aim for a second success in a row at the summit of Alpe-d'Huez on August 18. A place of which Christian Prudhomme was happy to point out that his ascent was nicknamed “the mountain of the Dutch”. “If I and other Dutch women are so strong on a bike, it's because of our education,” says Vollering. When I was little, I went to school by bike. And in the winter, we left and came back in the middle of the night. And if it rained or snowed, it was the same. It educated us on the harshness of cycling. »
The Dutch turn (here in 2019), a legendary place in Alpe-d'Huez.
Invited by the organization, Joop Zoetemelk, the most French of the Dutch runners, willingly made the trip. He is the last Dutchman to have won the Tour de France, 44 years ago (and the second in history after Jan Janssen's success in 1968). “I’m almost jealous of women,” he smiles. It reminds me of my youth. In 1973, he left The Hague and I took the yellow jersey that day, for less than a second on Poulidor. In my time, there was me but also Jan Raas or Hennie Kuiper. And our generation attracted young people. This is exactly what is happening at the moment with the Dutch runners. It's not going to stop any time soon. »