Greig Leach

I have seen two riders do this kind of come back stage in all of the years that I have been watching cycling. One wasn't a clean effort, and the other was Chris Froome in the Veulta d'Espania (I think). Today Annemieke Van Vleutin (Movistar) rode absolutely everyone still in the Tour de France Femmes off of her wheel by the time she reached the top of the Col du Platzerwasel. I know she went out today knowing she would have to attack early if she expected to go for the stage win. She also knew everyone would expect her to do exactly what she did. Thing was, no one could do anything about it. As she crested the climb, she had a minute on her erstwhile companion, Demi Vollering. She had another five minutes on Elisa Longo Borghini (Trek-Segafredo) who had started the day in fourth. Then six minutes to the rest of those who were ahead of her on the general classification with the noted exception of the Marianne Vos (Jumbo-Visma) and Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (SD Worx) who were already eleven minutes down the mountain. The only question that remains is just what are her reserves having been ill at the start of the race.