Key events
And away we go in Rotterdam!
120km to go: After that nervy wait, the flag is waved, and it’s destination La Haye – The Hague, Den Haag – and the pace is breakneck already.
Before the départ réel, they are flying along, and there’s punctures and wobbles galore. That’s likely to delay the race until after Kilometre Zero. Lots of people out in the streets of Rotterdam. Elena Pirrone has a flat and her hand up. The commissaires are aware.
Another favourite for the day is the Paris 2024 winner.
Red, white, blue AND GOLD! ✨🇺🇸
Cannondale delivering an absolute BANGER for Kristen Faulkner at the Tour de France Femmes. Can’t wait to see the bike in action. pic.twitter.com/neDuuCvamW
— EF-Oatly-Cannondale (@EF_Oatly_Cdale) August 10, 2024
Crash before the start line!
The teams are idling through the depart fictif, and 7km out, there’s been a crash. Nothing drastic, a few mechanicals, nobody hurt but a measure of the tensions out there. A pair of riders are being paced back to the peloton.
The favourite is last year’s winner, according to Jeremy Whittle’s preview.
Over eight stages, including a split stage of road race and time trial on Tuesday, the peloton will race south from the Low Countries to the Alps, via the Ardennes, Vosges and Jura. The highest point will be the 1,924-metre Col du Glandon, appearing on stage eight’s route to the Alpe, when the peloton will tackle just under 4,000 metres of climbing.
Team SD Worx-Protime goes for yellow jersey again with Demi Vollering
1 goal: winning the Tour de France again
“We put together a line-up that is balanced with riders who will come into their own on the different terrains. The eyes will be on us, but we are used to that by now.… pic.twitter.com/nqYBV3xD0Z
— Team SD Worx – Protime (@teamsdworx) August 6, 2024
Preamble
This could be Rotterdam or anywhere, except this year’s opening stage actually does begin in the Dutch port city, before ending in the Hague. It’s a flat day but don’t expect anyone to be taking it easy – who does in modern-day cycling? A sprint finish is likely but so is a breakaway. The sun is hot in Rotterdam, where they are going through the prelims.
1️⃣5️⃣3️⃣ riders will start tomorrow Le Tour de France Femmes avec @GoZwift ! Are you ready to follow the best cycling race of the season ?
1️⃣5️⃣3️⃣ coureuses vont prendre le départ demain du Tour de France Femmes avec @GoZwift ! Prêts à suivre la plus belle course de la saison ?… pic.twitter.com/7IltGsCTkr
— Le Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift (@LeTourFemmes) August 11, 2024
We go all the way down to Alpe D’Huez.
