Tour de France Femmes is 'going to kick off' when Annemiek van Vleuten is back at 100% from stomach bug

The Tour de France Femmes is “going to kick off” when Annemiek van Vleuten (Movistar) returns to full health from a stomach bug, according to Dani Christmas on The Breakaway. Van Vleuten revealed that she “couldn’t eat, couldn’t drink” going into Monday’s second stage to Provins but added that she «felt quite normal again» and was pleased to still be in the overall battle. Ad/> The pre-race favourite has dug in to keep the yellow jersey within her sights and trails early pacesetter Marianne Vos (Jumbo-Visma) by 1’14” in the general classification after Stage 3.

/> Tour de France Femmes‘I can’t wait!’ – Gravel drama awaits on Stage 440 MINUTES AGO “It started two hours after the first stage, I had a real stomach infection,” Van Vleuten told Eurosport. “I had all the symptoms apart from flu – couldn’t eat, couldn’t drink, super tired. The last thing I was thinking about was racing.

So yesterday when I woke up, I was also feeling so s***. I could not even think about finishing yesterday’s stage. So losing less than a minute was a big achievement.

“Today I was quite optimistic because I could have breakfast, I felt quite normal again. But your body is still recovering from a hard 24-hour sickness.” Van Vleuten fought back after being distanced on the Cat. 3 to Cote de Mutigny on Tuesday, but faded in a lively finale won by Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (FDJ Suez Futuroscope).

‘What a victory, man!’ – Watch Uttrup Ludwig’s amazing victory interview Tour de France Femmes GC standings “I don’t think she would have come out and said it if she wasn’t already on the mend,” said Christmas. “If this is Annemiek van Vleuten feeling terrible, oh my goodness. When she’s 100% better, it’s going to be exactly as we expected and it’s going to