Marion Rousse (Director of the Tour de France Women): “I am very proud after this incredible week. There were different winners and varied and even improbable scenarios. Demi Vollering’s win comes as no surprise. Lotte Kopecky was impressive. In the Tourmalet and at Pau in the time trial, she shone on terrain that is not her favorite. This could give him ideas for the future. The performances of the French also delight me. Juliette (Labous) was a good standard bearer and the revelation of Cédrine (Kerbaol) is really very promising”.
Lotte Kopecky (BEL/SD Worx), 2nd and green jersey: “I expected to fight for the podium on Sunday but not to finish second: it’s incredible. This second place, which was decided by a hundredth of a second, could have escaped me: knowing that I had a good lead over Annemiek van Vleuten in the fight for third place, I very nearly gave up. Luckily I didn’t and rode the last few hundred yards flat out. This podium and this green jersey is fantastic even if my objective this season is really the world championship. Besides, I’m not going to party too much tonight and tomorrow I’m flying to Glasgow. I really enjoyed my week in yellow and Demi’s victory. Yes, I surprised myself this week in the mountains”.
Katarzyna Niewiadoma (POL / Canyon), 3rd and polka dot jersey: “A new podium after last year’s, it’s just great. It was my goal. And the polka dot jersey is a bonus. I made good progress in the exercise of the time trial which allowed me to save the podium. Despite the domination of Demi (Vollering) and the SD Worx formation, we have seen the emergence of new faces. Our team (Canyon/Sram) in particular brought some freshness with our young riders. It’s not easy to leave the youth categories for the highest international level. That takes time. I would love to see more teams like ours investing in development. Every year, it’s faster and faster, more professional. The races are getting more and more intense.
Annemiek van Vleuten (NED/Movistar), outgoing winner and 4th: “I didn’t ride as usual. Too bad for the last two days. Saturday at the Tourmalet and Sunday in the time trial, I underperformed. I don’t really have an explanation for these two bad days. I just didn’t have my usual legs. Demi showed in the Tourmalet that she was the best on this Tour. She had great legs and really deserved her victory.
Juliette Labous (DSM), 5th and 1st French: “I’m happy and relieved. Satisfied with my time this Sunday but also with my performance in general. It was not easy to remobilize after the first stage (victim of a heatstroke, she had lost nearly a minute in the standings, editor’s note). I fought well and I end with a good feeling. Now, it will be two or three days of rest before I fly Thursday to (the Worlds of) Glasgow”.
Cédrine Kerbaol (FRA / Ceratizit), 12th and best young rider: “This white jersey was a real goal at the start of the Tour. But I didn’t expect to take it from the start and get on the podium every day. It was really great. I fought all week to defend him. It wasn’t easy, especially on Saturday in the Tourmalet. 12th for my first Tour is very good. Of course I dream of yellow in a few years. I don’t set myself limits: I still have to explore my potential”.
