The Belgian cyclist Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime) won the first stage of the women’s Tour de France this Sunday, arriving at Clermont-Ferrand, and is the first overall leader.
Kopecky, runner-up in the world and lover of the classics par excellence, prevailed after 123.8 kilometers starting and finishing in Clermont-Ferrand, after 3h03.59, thanks to a route of almost 10 kilometres.
The Belgian champion, who had already won 10 times this year, took 41 seconds less than a teammate, the Dutch Lorena Wiebes, second, with Charlotte Kool (DSM-Firmenich), also from the Netherlands, also closing the podium at 41.
In general, it is the same podium, but Kopecky leads with 45 for her partner and 47 for Kool, on a first day that has already caused significant time differences in the peloton of the eight-stage race, the main one on the women’s calendar along with the Tour of Italy.
A group of other candidates and favorites arrived between 41 and 1.06 minutes behind the winner, also the points and mountain leader. She only had youth left, for the French Cédrine Kerbaol (Certatizit-WNT).
On Monday, and now without the company of the men’s race, the second stage of the Tour connects Clermont-Ferrand with Mauriac over 151.7 kilometers with five categorized climbs, the last of which coincides with the finish line.
Source: TSF
