Ferrand-Prévot surprises not just Visma | Lease a Bike, but especially her rivals: "She didn’t even breathe"

As mentioned, Saturday was perhaps the day when most was expected of Gigante, who wanted to make her mark on behalf of AG Insurance-Soudal and also attacked. She dropped all her rivals except one. “It was a question mark for everyone how good Pauline would be. We haven't seen her much on the road, but since her comeback, she has always said that she dreams of winning the Tour. That was her big goal,” said Jolien D'Hoore, Gigante's sports director.

The former Belgian rider had noticed Ferrand-Prévot throughout the week, but rarely at the front. “She was there all week, secretly in the background. She was very good, and she has now proven that. It couldn't be fairer than this,” said D'Hoore, referring to the 1.45 minutes that Gigante alone had to contend with. For Demi Vollering, the difference was already more than three minutes. “We immediately saw how easily Pauline was riding, she wasn't breathing. So then we knew: oh dear, this is going to be tough.”

Read more below the photo.

At SD Worx-Protime, it was time to pick up the pieces after Anna van der Breggen was dropped early on, but team leader Danny Stam also took a moment to react to Ferrand-Prévot's incredible solo ride. “The fact that she left everyone behind by two or three minutes, except for Gigante, is awe-inspiring, of course. But we also know that Pauline is a very special rider, who has shown her superiority many times in the past.”

The Dutchman pointed to the weight of the new yellow jersey wearer, as Ferrand-Prévot lost kilos to be at her best in her home race. “When you see how fit she is. I didn’t expect the difference to be so big, but I had her among the favorites.”

Read more below the photo.

Fenix-Deceuninck also didn't see Ferrand-Prévot's coup coming, although sports director Michel Cornelisse had already tempered the hype surrounding Gigante in his mind. “I thought the optimism surrounding Gigante was very high; it almost seemed as if she had already won the Tour,” he said about the Australian, who, incidentally, performed excellently. However, Ferrand-Prévot was another 1.45 minutes faster.

“In the end, Ferrand-Prévot stood out so much, I didn't expect that,” Cornelisse admitted honestly. While his own front woman, Paulina Rooijakkers, overplayed her hand, Ferrand-Prévot persevered. “She's just so much better, even though she hadn't shown anything all week. She's super focused, and it's no coincidence that she's a former world road champion and Olympic MTB champion. She's no pushover, but I didn't expect her to be so dominant.

Bram van der Ploeg (Twitter: @BvdPloegg | email: [email protected])