🏆 The final kilometre of this very eventful 5th stage saw 🇭🇺 Blanka Vas take victory after a sprint in a small group. 🏆 Le dernier KM de cette 5ème étape au final très agité et la victoire de 🇭🇺 Blanka Vas après un sprint en petit comité. #TDFF2024 | #WatchTheFemmes |…
"My radio was not working" - Blanka Kata Vas explains controversial SD Worx tactics after Demi Vollering's crash on stage 5 of 2024 Tour de France Femmes
CyclingThursday, 15 August 2024 at 17:25
Blanka Kata Vas took the first stage win of her Tour de France Femmes career on Thursday afternoon in a thrilling finale to stage 5. Due to a late crash for her Team SD Worx - Protime leader Demi Vollering however, it wasn't the perfect day for the team.
"It's crazy, I still can't believe it. I don't know what to say! I really didn't expect this today because I felt so bad during the race," the Hungarian national champion reflects of her triumph in her post stage interview. "Anna Van der Breggen said to me 'believe in yourself' and then it helped me a lot."
As mentioned though, Vollering's crash and the subsequent losing of her Maillot Jaune was a big talking point post stage, as was the lack of support given to the Dutchwoman as she chased pretty much singlehandedly and ultimately unsuccessfully to get back into the bunch.
"My radio was not working so I didn't know what happened in the back but Demi crashed and lost Yellow so it's a shame," Vas says, explaining why both she and Lorena Wiebes offered no help to the defending Tour de France Femmes champion. "Now, I have mixed feelings. I was just in Mischa Bredewold's wheel so I was in 2nd position. I did not hear anything so I don't know what happened."
Despite this however, Vas' joy with the win can hardly be hidden. "In the final, I didn't want to make the same mistake as the Olympics [she finished 4th]. I was suffering so much but I knew if I was in a small group, maybe I can win," she concludes her post stage reflection. "Also the Olympics gave me a lot of confidence because I was racing in the front. So now, if I have a good day, I know I can be in the front."
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