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'It’s so steep!' – Camera motorbike topples over as Annemiek van Vleuten rides to Tour de France Femmes glory

A camera motorbike toppled over as it tried to track Annemiek van Vleuten’s progress up the brutal Super Planche des Belles Filles climb at the Tour de France Femmes on Sunday. As the Movistar rider closed on a final-stage victory in the yellow jersey, the motorbike's lens was diligently fixed upon her as it crawled alongside the Dutchwoman. Ad/> But such was the iconic ramp’s steepness, topping out at 24%, it started to grind to a halt before rolling backwards near the summit and awkwardly falling to eject its driver and camera operator.

‘No matter!’ – Breaking unwritten rules of cycling still wouldn’t have stopped Annemiek van Vleuten on Stage 8

Annemiek van Vleuten's dominance is such that even if her rivals attacked at the moment she had a mechanical on Stage 8 – and, in doing so, broke one of the unwritten rules of cycling — it would not matter, according to Adam Blythe speaking on The Breakaway. The Movistar rider suffered an untimely mechanical on Stage 8 of the Tour de France Femmes that saw her change bikes three times. She also suffered a puncture.

Tour de France Femmes 2022: Will other teams regret not taking advantage of Annemiek van Vleuten mechanical?

Annemiek van Vleuten (Movistar Team) produced a ride for the ages to put herself in pole position to win the Tour de France Femmes, but will other teams regret not putting time into her when she was struggling with a stomach bug and then had a mechanical. The 39-year-old broke away with Demi Vollering on the first climb – the Petit Ballon – on a day of 3000m of unprecedented climbing before distancing Vollering a kilometre from the top of the second climb of the day, the Col du Platzerwase. Ad/> She then extended her advantage over the day’s final climb, the Grand Ballon, and would finish some 3’26” ahead of SD Worx rider Vollering.

Tour de France Femmes: ‘They’d break’ – Why other riders shouldn't replicate Annemiek Van Vleuten’s training

Annemiek van Vleuten (Movistar Team) produced a masterclass in stage racing on Saturday to take a vice-like grip of the yellow jersey ahead of the final day of the Tour de France Femmes. The 39-year-old put the hammer down on the first climb of the day, the Petit Ballon, alongside Demi Vollering (Team SD Worx), and then soared away from her rival a kilometre from the top of the second climb of the day, the Col du Platzerwase. Ad/> The Movistar rider had a three-minute advantage as she crested the third climb of the day, the Grand Ballon, and finished the day 3’26” ahead of Vollering, who she now holds a 3’14” advantage over in the general classification ahead of Sunday’s final stage.

'Not bothered' - Why 'no one wanted to race' on day that provided 'fantastic entertainment' at Tour de France Femmes

Stage 4 of the Tour de France Femmes was won by Marlen Reusser (SD Worx) as Marianne Vos (Team Jumbo–Visma) retained her GC advantage. It had been billed as a blockbuster event with the presence of unpaved roads along the tough route to Bar-sur-Aube expected to blow the general classification wide open. Ad/> However, widespread conservatism from the GC teams in effect neutralised the stage, as argued by Katy Madgwick, and the lack of gumption was debated on The Breakaway by Orla Chennaoui, Adam Blythe, Dani Christmas and Dani Rowe.

Tour de France Femmes: How to watch Stage 4 on Wednesday, TV and live stream details, timings and route map

Stage 4 of the Tour de France Femmes is not one for the faint-hearted as sections of gravelly unpaved roads await the peloton. The pack may well stay together until the halfway stage when the Cote de Celles-sur-Ource could prove the best location for a break to form, with the white chalky roads set to provide a stunning backdrop to what should be an entertaining stage.

'Going to go on a rampage' - Annemiek van Vleuten's Tour de France Femmes chances assessed after slow start

One of the biggest surprises of an already eventful two days of the Tour de France Femmes 2022 is the notable absence of Annemiek van Vleuten’s name from the main headlines. Having triumphed at the Giro Donne just two weeks before the new Grand Tour hit Paris on Sunday, Movistar's Dutch superstar had been tipped to double up at the race. Ad/> However, two stages down and you have to scroll further than you might have expected on the general classification to find Van Vleuten’s name.

Tour de France Femmes: 'Incredible' Marianne Vos is 'up there with the men' at reading a race after Stage 2 win

Marianne Vos’ tactics to claim victory and the yellow jersey on Stage 2 of the Tour de France Femmes have drawn huge praise from Eurosport’s Breakaway team. The Jumbo-Visma rider timed her sprint to perfection as she fended off the challenges of the likes of Elisa Balsamo (Trek–Segafredo), Maike van der Duin (Le Col-Wahoo), Silvia Persico (Valcar-Travel & Service) and Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon//SRAM) to take the win. Ad/> Watching the action for Eurosport, Adam Blythe was impressed with the way Vos overcame her rivals and suggested she could even provide a match for male racers.

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'It’s so steep!' – Camera motorbike topples over as Annemiek van Vleuten rides to Tour de France Femmes glory

‘No matter!’ – Breaking unwritten rules of cycling still wouldn’t have stopped Annemiek van Vleuten on Stage 8

Tour de France Femmes 2022: Will other teams regret not taking advantage of Annemiek van Vleuten mechanical?

Tour de France Femmes: ‘They’d break’ – Why other riders shouldn't replicate Annemiek Van Vleuten’s training

'Not bothered' - Why 'no one wanted to race' on day that provided 'fantastic entertainment' at Tour de France Femmes

Tour de France Femmes: How to watch Stage 4 on Wednesday, TV and live stream details, timings and route map

'Going to go on a rampage' - Annemiek van Vleuten's Tour de France Femmes chances assessed after slow start

Tour de France Femmes: 'Incredible' Marianne Vos is 'up there with the men' at reading a race after Stage 2 win