TEAM DSM DOUBLES UP
In a repeat of their Tour de France achievement in Rimini with Romain Bardet, Team dsm - firmenich PostNL takes the first stage and first Maillot Jaune also in the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift with Charlotte Kool. It’s the 6th season win for the DSM ladies team.
FIRST WIN AT THE TOUR
Charlotte Kool wins her first stage at the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, the 19th in his professional career, but just the second in a French race after the GP d’Isbergues in 2021.
SPEEDY SPRINT
Charlotte Kool hit a maximum speed of 69.9km/h in claiming the stage win today according to NTT Data. She averaged a blistering average of 60.4km/h in the final km
3…2…1…KOOL’S COUNTDOWN
Charlotte Kool’s top-3 results came in progression towards her first win: 3rd in Clermont-Ferrand last year, 2nd in Blagnac, before the win in Den Haag today.
THE FASTEST
With an average of 44.016kph, this was the fastest stage of the last 3 editions, beating the 42.947kph of the first 2022 stage won by Lorena Wiebes in Paris. In the last century, 44.934kph were recorded in the 3rd stage of 1989, but in a stage that was less than a half of today’s one: 60kms vs. 123.
A GREAT CROWD!
247,000 spectators attended the first stage of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift 2024. 47,500 people gathered in Rotterdam to watch the start. 122,000 people were counted along the roads from Rotterdam to The Hague. Finally, 77,500 people waited in Den Haag for the riders to arrive, while enjoying the entertainment in the village.
10TH WIN FOR THE NETHERLANDS
10th stage win at the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift for the Netherlands, the 39th in total. The Netherlands are the most successful country ahead of France at 32.
CRUCIAL POINT
The key Strava segment on today's route was Ronde Zuiderpark. Amanda Spratt set a new best time of 3'46" on the 2.19km lap of the park only two days ago but crashed at 40.7km/h with 18km to the segment. She rode hard and hit a maximum speed of 59.1km/h in the chase back to the bunch. She wasn't able to keep the QOM, with Pauliena Rooijakkers (FED) completing the segment in a blistering 2'24".
NETHERLANDS SURPASS ITALY
In the last 3 editions the Netherlands have imported 11 Yellow Jerseys out of 17 with 5 different riders, with the others 6 going to Belgian Lotte Kopecky in last year's first stages. With their 31st Maillot Jaune, the Netherlands overtook Italy for the second all-time spot behind France (36).
FINLAND, AFTER 37 YEARS!
Anniina Ahtosalo came 2nd for Finland, equalling, after 37 years, the best result for her country, that counted two second places with Tea Vikstedt-Nyman in Villard de Lans and Dijon, 1987.
SECOND PODIUM
Second podium at the Tour for Elisa Balsamo (3rd) after a 2nd place in Saint-Dié-des-Vosges two years ago. Last year Italy had scored just one podium, a 3rd with Silvia Persico in Mauriac. Their last win dates back 1988, with Maria Canins at the Puy-de-Dome.
YOUNGEST PODIUM THIS CENTURY
With an average of 24 years and 89 days, this is the youngest podium in the three editions run from 2022 onwards. The record belonged to the 6th stage last year, when Emma Norsgaard, Charlotte Kool and Lotte Kopecky combined for 25 years and 121 days.
SHARING THE WORK
The teams doing the work ahead of today's sprint finish were:
- Liv - AlUla - Jayco (37%)
- Team SD Worx - Protime (29%)
- Team Visma | Lease a Bike (15%).