Van Vleuten not on podium in final Tour de France: "Don't belong there in this manner either"

Annemiek van Vleuten lost her podium spot in the final time trial of the Tour de France Femmes. The Movistar frontwoman had been defending a seven-second lead over Lotte Kopecky, but Kopecky delivered an outstanding time trial, overtaking not only Van Vleuten but also Katarzyna Niewiadoma in the standings. For Van Vleuten, this marks the end of her last Tour de France on a somewhat disappointing note.

Speaking on camera to NOS, Van Vleuten explained where things went wrong during the final weekend. "I don't know what I've been dealing with for the last two days, but I can say for certain that I haven't been my usual self. It's disheartening to experience this in my final Tour de France. On Saturday's Col du Tourmalet stage, I felt sick, and although it didn't persist, I still don't feel as good as I normally do."

It's a tough blow for Van Vleuten, who had long believed she was in the running for the overall victory in her last major tour. "I gave it my all to secure a podium spot, but soon I realized it would be a challenging task. I performed really well until day six, but during the final weekend, my form wasn't at its best, and when that happens, you don't deserve a place on the podium. I'm truly sorry to have missed out on the podium, especially because the team supported me throughout the entire week."

Van Vleuten: "Tour holds a beautiful place in my heart"

Annemiek van Vleuten achieved victories in the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta a España earlier this year. In the previous year, she also won both of these grand tours, along with the Tour de France. Therefore, it is a rare occasion for Annemiek van Vleuten not to secure a grand tour victory. "Normally, I can rely on the support of the girls who stayed with me yesterday. Today, I fought with all my strength, hoping to maintain a podium position, but it didn't work out. Fortunately, I emerged victorious in the Tour last year. This race holds a beautiful place in my heart."