"Dreams come true quite quickly these days" - Nightmare becomes dream season for Charlotte Kool after double Tour de France Femmes success
Cycling
In 2023 Charlotte Kool was the only sprinter capable of rivalling Lorena Wiebes but the 2024 season only saw her take one win until August, and as recently as two weeks ago the Dutch sprinter had an health issue that could even take her out of the Tour de France Femmes. In a matter of two days her season has changed completely as she sealed her second consecutive win this morning at the Tour de France Femmes.
“We were in control the whole day. We heard that there were some crashes, but I hope everyone is okay. It was a rather hectic course, but I like that," the yellow jersey said in a post-race interview. Kool wore a special jersey today after winning in The Hague this Monday, and in Rotterdam she did it again. DSM was able to protect her perfectly into the final kilometers. This time around she did have to contest the finale with former teammate Wiebes but surprisingly she managed to hold the wheel of her rival in the final sprint and come through right in the very last meters of the stage.
“It was a rather chaotic sprint. We were a bit far, but we knew we had to stay calm. I tried to stay as calm as possible and just launched my sprint. That was enough to win"," she added. It is an absolute success for the Team DSM-Firmenich PostNL rider who may have built enough of a buffer to even keep the race lead after this afternoon's short time-trial where she is expected to lose time on her rivals.
But for Kool that doesn't matter too much anymore, after having a dream start to the race. “Dreams come true quite quickly these days. Yesterday already. And then to be able to wear this jersey today was very special. I think I am stronger than ever. I never expected this two weeks ago, but things can change quickly," she concluded.
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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Front24208-11-2026 - On a positive note, you maybe notice turning this topic into a discussion has the benefit of eliminating certain participants who do not see how they can turn it back to their sole interest ;-)Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
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What a sprint!! 🏆🏆 2nd win for @charlotte_kool 🇳🇱 @GoZwift #WatchTheFemmes #TDFF2024
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