Évita Muzic’s dream of successful atop Alpe d’Huez turned more and more troublesome to realize when race officers enforced a barrage after she took a nature break simply forward of the penultimate climb at Col du Glandon on the ultimate stage 8 on the Tour de France Femmes.
Regardless of the setback, the FDJ-SUEZ rider completed third atop Alpe d’Huez and simply off the rostrum within the common classification, leaving the 25 yr outdated as the highest French rider within the general classification.
“I’m disenchanted to not end on the rostrum, however the three ladies in entrance of me have been simply higher than me,” stated Muzic of her place within the last GC standings.
Muzic completed the eight-stage race in fourth behind the general winner Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM), runner-up Demi Vollering (SD Worx-Protime) and third-placed Pauliena Rooijakkers (Fenix-Deceuninck).
The FDJ-SUEZ rider revealed to the media that after the barrage – which stops staff automobiles from shifting to the again of the group to keep away from them getting used to assist dropped riders rejoin – she was compelled to chase for almost 20km to get again to the peloton earlier than the primary HC ascent at 98.5km into the 149.9km race.
As soon as again within the area, she could not reply to the assaults of Vollering and Rooijakkers on its steep slopes, however she had sufficient power to kind a part of the chase group.
Additionally within the preliminary chase have been Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Deceuninck), Gaia Realini and Lucinda Model (Lidl-Trek), Cédrine Kerbaol (Ceratizit-WNT) and Sarah Gigante (AG Insurance coverage-Soudal).
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“I used to be not at my greatest on the Glandon. I finished to pee, and the commissaries blocked me from coming again to the peloton. I used to be disenchanted for this,” Muzic stated.
“Fortunately, I had Grace [Brown] with me. It was 20km full fuel to return again within the bunch, and it price me power on the Glandon. I missed Demi and Pauliena within the entrance. However I felt higher for Alpe d’Huez.”
Évita Muzic (FDJ-SUEZ) in pursuit throughout stage 8 of the Tour de France Femmes (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
The chase group was decreased to only three as Muzic, Niewiadoma, and Realini set a quick tempo up the 21 hairpin turns, attempting to cut back the hole to the 2 leaders, which had dropped to 35 seconds mid-climb, however in any other case hovered at one minute.
“In a single second, I used to be eager about the stage victory as a result of we have been coming again a bit of bit, and I wished to maneuver up on the GC. My staff did nice work all week, and though it’s not a podium, fourth on GC is one of the best I may do,” Muzic stated.
FDJ-SUEZ had one of many strongest squads in the course of the eight phases, at all times current on the entrance within the flatter days in the course of the Grand Départ within the Netherlands and within the last two mountain phases this weekend.
“I misplaced an excessive amount of time within the first a part of the week. Possibly, for me, it might be higher if we had extra mountain phases on the Tour de France. I skilled lots on the brink on the lengthy climbs. It was the primary time in my life that I believe it paid off,” Muzic stated.
“However perhaps I used to be lacking a little bit of punch for the stage in Liège that was wanted for the GC ultimately, however we’d like to consider this for subsequent yr.”
Muzic stated that though she did not win on Alpe d’Huez, she is happy together with her efficiency and the ultimate outcome on the Tour de France Femmes.
“The environment was wonderful on Alpe d’Huez. I dreamed of the victory and was near coming again. Ultimately, I did my all.”
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