Tour de France Femmes 2022 - Riders criticise longest stage of race after 'boring' and 'dangerous' stage

29.07.2022 - 15:21 eurosport.com

Several Tour de France Femmes riders have criticised the length of the fifth stage, describing it as «boring» and «dangerous».

The stage from Bar-le-Duc to Saint-Die-des-Vovsges was 175.6km, the longest race day for the women's peloton both of the Tour and since the creation of the Women's World Tour in 2016.

Ad/> UCI regulations allow for a maximum race length of 160km for both one day races and individual, forcing race organisers ASO to apply for an exemption.

World Championships'Elisa was just faster on the line' — Vos happy despite sixth road race silver in Flanders26/09/2021 AT 08:17 The stage was eventually won by Lorena Wiebes of Team DSM with another dominant sprinting performance, but generally lacked the dynamic racing that has characterised the Tour de France Femmes so far.

mountaineering sprint UCI Tour De-France Lorena Wiebes France

Annemiek van Vleuten (Movistar) confirmed her status as Tour de France Femmes winner with a stunning Stage 8 win in yellow atop the Super Planche des Belles Filles. The 39-year-old made a decisive general classification move on Stage 7, putting time into all her rivals and led Demi Vollering (SD Worx) by 3’14” ahead of the final stage – a 123.3km ride from Lure to La Super Planche des Belles Filles. Ad/> The Dutchwoman said pre-stage that protecting yellow was her sole aim on Sunday, but with 6km to go she kicked clear and none of her rivals could adequately react, leaving Van Vleuten to seal the overall win with a stunning Stage 8 win.

Tour de France Femmes: How to watch Stage 8 on Sunday, TV and live stream details, timings and route map

Welcome to the mountains mkII! Annemiek van Vleuten (Movistar Team) produced a ride for the ages to ride into yellow on Stage 7 of the Tour de France Femmes. She holds a 3'14" advantage over Demi Vollering (SD Worx) in the general classification ahead of the final stage — another mountainous stunner. Ad/> The eighth stage sees a start from Lure, with a chance for the riders to stretch their legs in the first 45km.

Tour de France Femmes: How to watch Stage 8 on Saturday, TV and live stream details, timings and route map

Tour de France Femmes: Marlen Reusser and Lorena Wiebes drop out following crash on Stage 6

The fallout from Friday's huge crash at the Tour de France Femmes continues with Marlen Reusser joining Emma Norsgaard in abandoning the race. Over 50 riders were grounded in the collision which occurred with 42 kilometers remaining in Friday's sixth stage — the longest of this year's race — and 15 were treated for various injuries. Ad/> Chantal van den Broek-Blaak was bleeding profusely from a deep wound on her arm, but managed to continue after undergoing treatment.

Tour de France Femmes: Marianne Vos consolidates lead with stage six success

The Tour de France Femmes leader, Marianne Vos (Jumbo-Visma) won stage six of the race, from Saint-Die-Des-Vosges to Rosheim in the Alsace region, after outsprinting Marta Bastianelli of the UAE Team. It was the Dutchwoman’s second stage win after her success in Provins on stage two.

Marianne Vos doubles up in yellow on Stage 6 after Lorena Wiebes crash at Tour de France Femmes

Marianne Vos (Jumbo-Visma) sprinted to Stage 6 victory at the Tour de France Femmes to extend her lead in the yellow jersey to 30 seconds ahead of the mountains, and practically secure the green jersey. Vos followed up her victory on Stage 2 with another dominant sprint success, although she was helped by the absence of Lorena Wiebes (Team DSM) who was unable to latch back on after crashing on a descent at high speed.