A stage for the sprinters

The third stage of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift brought the riders from Collonges-la-Rouge to Montignac-Lascaux. It was a day with many attacks, the last stranding at a few hundred meters from the line after which Lorena Wiebes sprinted to the win. Lotta Henttala was 12th on the day.

“It was my first bunch sprint since Nokere Koerse,” Lotta said alluding to the illness ending her Spring Classics campaign very early. “It had been a long time. I was happy to be part of the race but it was some time since I was at the pointy end of one. Finding my way didn’t really work that well but I hope to get another chance on Friday.”

For Justine Ghekiere it was important to bounce back from the first two stages where she struggled a bit with the rain. The crash at the super wet Belgian time trial championships was still going through her mind, she indicated. Justine, just like the rest of the AG Insurance-Soudal Quick-Step team, finished in the bunch today but the plan was a different one.

“I wanted to be part of the breakaway,” Justine said. “I did try a few times in the beginning of the stage but when the decisive move went with Julie De Wilde I was blocked by a few teams. That was frustrating but tomorrow is another day.”

The fourth stage on Wednesday takes the peloton from Cahors to Rodez. With 177,1 kilometers it’s the longest stage of the race. The final is a punchy one. Ashleigh Moolman Pasio will be in green again and keeps her third position in the general classification.