The Tour de France Femmes saw a significant shake-up on the third stage with Demi Vollering storming to victory in the 6.3km time trial through the streets of Rotterdam, securing not only the stage win but also the yellow jersey.
The day began with a flat 67.9km stage from Dordrecht to Rotterdam, where Charlotte Kool triumphed in a sprint finish, successfully defending her overall lead. However, the afternoon’s time trial presented a new challenge. The short but demanding course took riders across key Rotterdam landmarks such as the Schiedamsedijk, Coolsingel, Erasmusbrug, and Willemsbrug. With few technical sections and long straights, the course demanded raw power, making it a test of strength and endurance.
Loes Adegeest set the first significant time of 7 minutes and 31 seconds, holding the lead for much of the stage. However, as the big names started their runs, the leaderboard began to change rapidly. Ellen van Dijk and Kristen Faulkner both came close, but it was Chloé Dygert, riding in the rainbow stripes of the UCI ITT World Champion, who took the lead with a time just 0.17 seconds faster than Adegeest.
Dygert’s reign at the top was short-lived. Demi Vollering, who had not been seen as a favourite for this stage, stunned everyone by crossing the finish line with a time of 7 minutes and 25 seconds, five seconds quicker than Dygert. This powerful performance not only won her the stage but also catapulted her into the overall lead, taking the yellow jersey from Kool.
Photo Credit: ASO-Thomas MaheuxRider and team reactions
Demi Vollering was visibly emotional after her unexpected victory, admitting that she had not anticipated such a result. “I didn’t see this coming, so I don’t know, I really had no idea that I could do this today, so I’m surprised, actually,” she said, reflecting on the day’s events. Vollering had started the stage with modest expectations, focusing more on surviving the early stages rather than aiming for victory. “The first days were just days that I needed to survive, and I wanted to enjoy it.”
Chloé Dygert, who had briefly held the lead, was disappointed not to win but remained philosophical about her performance. “It’s definitely a bummer not to stand on the top step, but I’m just thankful to be here,” she said. Dygert acknowledged Vollering’s strength, adding, “They [SD Worx] just had a better day. She’s just very strong, so big props to Demi.”
Charlotte Kool, who began the day in yellow, fought hard to retain her lead but ultimately finished 25 seconds behind Vollering, dropping to third overall. Despite the loss, Kool remained positive, stating, “I knew that it was going to be a hard effort and quite early I could feel my legs, but I really gave it my all. I can’t blame myself for anything.”
Team directors also weighed in on the day’s results. SD Worx-Protime Director Anna van der Breggen expressed confidence in Vollering’s abilities, saying, “I did the recon with Demi today… I said straight away that it would be good for her.” Meanwhile, Team dsm-firmenich PostNL coach Kelvin Dekker remained optimistic, praising his team’s strong start to the race despite losing the yellow jersey.
As the Tour de France Femmes continues, the focus now shifts to the more challenging stages ahead, where the general classification is likely to see further changes.
Photo Credit: ASO-Thomas Maheux2024 Tour de France Femmes Stage 3 result
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Main photo credit: ASO-Charly Lopez
