Tour de France Femmes: ‘Huge disappointment’ – Annemiek van Vleuten not at ‘normal level’ as Demi Vollering wins

Annemiek van Vleuten (Movistar) admits losing the Tour de France Femmes was a “huge disappointment” and said she had not shown her “normal level” in the final two stages.

The 40-year-old’s misery was compounded when Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx) surged from fourth to second on GC with a blistering ITT to push Van Vleuten off the podium.

Asked what emotions she was feeling at the finish, Van Vleuten said: “Of course disappointment. I wasn’t good the last two days.”

She continued: “I was in the battle and I gave it my all. I didn’t make any mistake that I can think ‘that was not smart’. I don’t know what happened. I was obviously not the self I can be. That’s a bit sad [at my] last Tour de France.

“How I was riding on the Tourmalet, I think people that watch more women’s cycling will know that isn’t my normal level.”

Movistar still had reason to celebrate at the Tour after Liane Lippert and Emma Norsgaard claimed stage wins.

Van Vleuten added: “A huge disappointment for my own performance. But not for the team. It’s super nice I can share in the win of Liane and Emma, a beautiful two wins.”

Over on The Breakaway, Dani Rowe said that defeat will be raw for the legendary Dutchwoman.

“She’ll be absolutely gutted, she’s going to be devastated. But she has to be proud of herself,” said Rowe.

Van Vleuten arrived at the Tour just two weeks after wrapping up a fourth Giro d’Italia Donne title, with Dani Christmas wondering if her bumper schedule had hindered her.

“It’s really unfortunate. We would love to see everyone on 100%, but unfortunately that is one of the battles of stage racing [staying 100%], but also she’s just come off the back of the Giro Donne which was a really hard race,” said Christmas.

“The body is under so much pressure that your immune system just gets really low. It’s really easy to get sick.”

Van Vleuten will now head to Glasgow in a bid to defend her road race crown, although she may play domestique to Vollering and sprinter Lorena Wiebes.