Wiebes was fired up for Tour opener: ‘That, and people who think I can’t handle finishes like this’

Lorena Wiebes had been listed among the favourites to win stage 1, but the 2.6-kilometre finishing climb in Lausanne ultimately produced a battle between the general-classification contenders. Plus one other rider. While every other fast finisher was left with no chance, Wiebes simply remained with the leaders before sprinting to the victory and the yellow jersey.

‘Lorena Wiebes defies the odds’ was the headline above our race report, and journalist Thijs Zonneveld quickly provided the perfect explanation in a post on X. ‘When you see who Wiebes beat — only climbers and general-classification riders — you realise just how impressive this is,’ he wrote immediately after the finish.

Only ten riders finished in the same time on the opening day of the Tour, with Wiebes leading them home. Behind her came Kim Le Court, Demi Vollering, Puck Pieterse, Noemi Ruëgg, Elisa Longo Borghini, Kasia Niewiadoma, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, Marlen Reusser and Cédrine Kerbaol. Punchy riders, climbers and several names who could easily finish inside the top ten when the race reaches Nice — and Wiebes...

‘I can’t believe it,’ Wiebes said enthusiastically in the race organiser’s post-stage interview. ‘The team rode incredibly hard today. Then Anna came to the front with one kilometre remaining and Demi Vollering attacked. I was only thinking: I have to follow, I have to follow. It was a long sprint, but I’m incredibly happy with it.’

The winner’s comments made it clear that it was a close call. ‘I expected attacks. I still felt good after Célia Gery’s first attack, and from there it was another kilometre. I had to keep going, and I wouldn’t allow myself to be dropped. I started my sprint a little early, but I had to go for it.’

Speaking to NOS afterwards, Wiebes explained that SD Worx-Protime had committed fully to her chances. ‘I had the complete support of the team, and that gave me extra energy. The staff believed in me completely, even though I had some doubts myself. I had to dig incredibly deep, especially because it was so hot. But I kept myself cool and the girls worked extremely hard, so that gave me extra motivation.’

The victory and yellow jersey provided enormous satisfaction, particularly after Wiebes had also won the opening stage of the Giro d’Italia and taken the pink jersey before subsequently being disqualified. ‘That disqualification only added more fuel to the fire. That, and the people who think I can’t handle finishes like this.’