Pauliena Rooijakkers comes extremely close to winning Tour de France Femmes: "I simply could not do better"

Pauliena Rooijakkers has made the statements of sports director Michel Cornelisse come true. The Dutchman predicted a podium result for his compatriot before the opening stages and the 31-year-old climber from Fenix-Deceuninck fulfilled Cornelisse's expectations to the point. She eventually came only ten seconds short of the final victory.

"I still have to realize it," she said afterwards at the NOS. "I am super happy with the podium. But we knew that at some point I would be riding for yellow... I gave it my all, I simply could not do better."

Rooijakkers called the attack for top spots already early on into the stage, but she still had to deal with Demi Vollering - task that was eventually impossible for her. However it is Katarzyna Niewiadoma who takes home the yelow jersey for overall winner. "After ten kilometers in the race I already let the team know that I felt good. On the final climb I tried to gamble by staying in the wheel of Demi Vollering. But I simply could not do better. You just know that at some point you will be riding for yellow with two."

And so the Fenix-Deceuninck rider did not want to play it all or nothing, but save all her energy to try to win the Tour. With two and a half kilometers to go, Rooijakkers attacked Vollering, who had enough in her tank to respond and eventually win the stage. "In the car, the sports director kept telling me not to take over from Demi. Otherwise I would ride myself to hell. Then you might suddenly be parked and end up with nothing at all. Still, I am very proud of this podium place."