Saar De Reu: Hi everyone and welcome to the first episode of SAR on tour. Welcome live from Cologne sous Aleve. It's about 1.5 kilometer over the border. So we're in France at the moment. Unlucky for you, after spending some hours at the finish, Connie Hayes is still not sick of me, so she's here with Connie: Yeah. Saar De Reu: us today. Hi. Connie: Hello? Saar De Reu: so yay. l let's get into it. We had two stages. let's start with the first one because I guess that makes sense. Or maybe actually let's start with some things that happened before the first stage. Because I think we saw a new movement like starting the the hashtag Free Paula movement. after in an in an interview she said she is a domestic in this tour, which is if you ask me, quite strange for someone who has won the the World this year against some pretty strong writers. and I feel like the last few days everything there is like something adding to the story. Of course like on day two si she had the white jersey. and then it was again like, Yeah, can you now go for it? No, the bigger ghoul all that thing. And now in Belgium media it also got picked up so then they went to ask around and Ask like how what and then there were like r r things going around about Longo Borgini of the Bartic having in their contract they need to be a leader at the tour, so that might be a reason why. And of course, I think it's quite clear she's leaving the team, so that might also play a part in in all of that. But yeah, I'm I'm curious for today and and the and the next few days when everything starts going more uphill and maybe The the parkour will just decide for you who who becomes the leader. Connie: Yeah, I think it's interesting. If the clause is in the contract is true, then it's certainly going be an interesting few days. Saar De Reu: so yeah, but first stage. yeah, it's been a bit hectic. So did I write down the breakaway names? no I didn't. so who wasn't there was Osian Mae from the podcast. on Monday she said, like if the team allows me, I'll attack as much as possible because I prefer writing in the front than in the paloton. And while she just Did exactly that and that wasn't enough. So she went for the polka dots and she got them in the end. So the last two days, the last day, yesterday, whoa, she she wore the polka dots, so that was a beautiful moment. Connie: you Saar De Reu: And I saw her after her podium and went to her and I was like, this is crazy, so awesome, you did so great, and then she was just like, Yeah, when I announce something I do it, so Quite quite a funny moment there. Idoya Eraso was also in there. she was starting Connie: you Saar De Reu: in the green jersey because actually, of course, it belonged to Weebus. But that one went to Lecour who has the Mauritian jersey. That one then went to Volering who has the European jersey, and that's how it came to to her. so first stage I actually did start finish. it was very easy with the metro going around and the the crowds were were actually crazy the first day. Like it was so packed and yeah general atmosphere was was very great. but yeah then then we got a breakaway. when that breakaway was gone we had both Lilic and Jackson trying to bridge as well. Lilic got back to the palathon I guess before she made it and now I'm not sure if Alison Jackson made it or not. Connie: I wanna say she did, but I could be wrong. Saar De Reu: Yeah, I would also think she did, but also I'm not sure she did. Connie: Yeah. Saar De Reu: and it was also that stage that Sprett tried to b bridged to the front. which was quite interesting. we had Noskova, also one from the early break, who rode alone for quite a long time. She got the Combatative Award. Well, in the end, the the teams got them back. We also saw quite some crashes. Vlodarce crashed, Roycer crashed, and there was like this one climb where like Voldering and FDG were pacing really hard and then there was a crash and then it was like the Paloton all split up in small groups. so everyone was like, Okay, this won't be a sprinter stage. Someone other than Lorena Amebus will win this one. But yeah, then she actually Connie: Thanks Saar De Reu: did. And it it also wasn't the sprint stage because she beat like Kim Lecour, Demi Voling, Nuemi Rivek and all those others. Like Peter Selongo Borghini, Niadova. And there were only nine other riders in the same time over the line. So it's like kind of a mindfuck because like when I saw this stage I predicted this scenario but without Connie: you Saar De Reu: Weebus actually being there. Because like before the stage we saw a lot of like as you worked saying like, yeah, Weebus Weebus is our plan A. And I was like, sure, I get it. She's the fastest, but it is quite heavy. I mean like the climber types will also wanna try to go for it because it is a yellow jersey. But yeah. We know Lorena is is super strong, but this blew me away really when I s I was at the line and I was like, What? She's still here? That's impossible. Yeah, I'm I'm I was Connie: you Saar De Reu: yeah, even sh e even Lorena actually is still able to surprise me, it seems. crazy performance. Connie: Yeah, I thought she was Anna van der Breggen on the TV. Saar De Reu: Mm-hmm. Connie: I was like, and the next minute I like, no, that's weird. I was like, my God, OK. Saar De Reu: Yeah, it was it it was yeah ve very strong. And yeah the as he works apparently just knew very much how she was capable. yeah I mean yesterday we bus won as well, but yeah, that that's more to expect in like this kind of scenario, but her just doing it in front of G C riders, this thing as well. Okay, you can say like when the sprinter sees the line, they can do just that little bit more but yeah, still Connie: You Saar De Reu: y you can't say more than than a very deserved yellow jersey. Also again, very beautiful to see how AG insurance just went full gas, like we had Charibosset doing a a leado and the rest of the team like going full out for Kim Lecour, who had a great who who had a great start. yeah, some interesting stuff. So Vladarczyk lost time because yeah, she crashed later on. So in the first group we had Weebus Lecour, Volering, Pieterser Rue, Clonoborgini, Nivia Doma, Ferran Prevaux, Kerbal and Roycer. On five seconds we had Fisher Black. On eight seconds we had Paula Blasi, Anna van der Breijen, Isabella Holmgen, Mauri Garcia, Juliette Bertet, Antonia Niedermeyer, and Marianne Vos. Then a bit further away, I'm Connie: Okay. Saar De Reu: just gonna go for like climbers and GC contenders, Trink Kakolon Allen, 16 seconds. Connie: you Saar De Reu: Yara Kastlen on 19 seconds, Urska Ziggard on 22 seconds, Femke Devries on 30 seconds, Vladartsik on 37, Chaboko 34, Alarut on 37 as well. Yeah, I guess those are the most important names. We also already had one DNF and OTL. The DNF was Laura Tomazzi who I think was involved in a crash early on the stage. And we had Alison Awan, I guess it was. Yeah, exactly, who was Almost two minutes out of the time limit. So a a bit of a double day for ma petite entreprise. Do you wanna say something else about the first stage? Connie: Not really, I mean that's sort of it really. It was basically just a complete surprise and a sprinter beat the climbers at what they thought was going to be a hill finish and it was a bit like, okay. Yeah, I think they possibly could have gone harder to get rid of her, but then they looked Saar De Reu: Yeah. Connie: like they were going pretty hard. So I'm not sure you can actually say that from the comfort of a chair, basically. Yeah, Saar De Reu: Mm-hmm. Connie: it was just interesting because I genuinely just saw the SC Works, and I was like, that must be like Anna van der Breggen of, you know, any of them, but not weebs in my head. And then the next minute just went and I was like, yeah, Saar De Reu: Yeah. Connie: OK. Saar De Reu: Yeah, exactly. Yeah. So that that's that was quite a good summary, I would say. Now before we go to stage two, we actually have a bit of a TTT intermazo. I hear you thinking there is no team time trial in this tour, that's for next year. But we do have Tim DeVries in our guest on our guest list of course. and he he has prepared some little Audio fragments about forgotten r female writers in the Tour de France history. Okay, so that was very nice to hear. And then we go over to stage two on paper. Everyone was beforehand. Okay, this will be the only sprint stage. And a lot of it's starting to rain here out of nowhere. Nice. luckily I'm I'm covered, so that's fine. But beforehand, like all sprinter teams, okay, this was our chance, but I do Connie: you Saar De Reu: remember, I don't know who it was. I think AG already or Shari Bosset said it beforehand. I think stage two should be a sprinter stage. But we first need to survive the the hills before. And that became clear very quickly when also the break didn't go out too early, so it was quite a fight. The the first points were taken by Binel. And then we had a break with Eline Jansen, Anuska Koster, Emma Kont. and others. I'm sorry, my memory isn't isn't that strong, but those three riders for sure. Those were also the last three riders who stayed ahead. yeah there were sprinters who didn't make it to the line through the sprint. I'm thinking for example about Charlotte Cole who finished let me check who finished as hundred and six on over seven minutes Connie: So Saar De Reu: Also remarkable to see Laura de Schepper in that group. Amalia Diedrikson also a sprinter who was in there, Koch was in there, Lotte Klaas was in there, Chiara Consoni. then further away were Mia Griffin, Sandrin Tas, Chaboko as well lost twelve minutes today. I think she was like aiming for a good classification, so Connie: So Saar De Reu: That will be hard. so yeah, it it was again like a flat stage, but you're in Switzerland and for everyone who has been here a flat is is not flat. so yeah it was actually we we did have like somewhat of a bunch, but then we had like groups Connie: Okay. Saar De Reu: on seven minutes, on twelve minutes, some riders on its own. It was also a horrible day at the office for Lotto and Tremarche because they lost three riders, Ibras, Meert and Vrvut. Connie: Yeah. Saar De Reu: and the two lost riders in the race who just made the time limit with about one minute. were also two Lotto riders, Dina Bulls and Hino Ghostla. They asked like, is it ill? Because some are is there illness in the team? Because Sandrin Tas was also quite Far back it as well it was only Linda Riedman who was in the front. She did get it up then. But for the moment they're not thinking about illness. I think two were affected by a crash. and also the heat and the level is challenging them. But only with max four riders at the start today, so there will be still a a hard few days to go for Lotto. but then over to the stage, we saw a lot of attacking. by little track, by by the way, by human powered health, lots of we had Celia Gri attack, we had Nina Berton for EF attack, we had Sarah Van Damme going in the attack. So a lot of teams apart from as the works attacking and yeah the the workload of course was on them, so I remember saying to Yukani like, my god, they they sh they should just let Connie: Okay. Saar De Reu: Anyone like jump with them? Don't make it so hard for yourself. Like you have at least two riders on the team who can ride a good sprint as well. So if they get away with a group then you can also take the victory. But it was like clear they wanted to win in yellow with Weebus. They had to work really hard for it though. we had van der Breu pace, everyone pays, Lotto Copecki in the end as well. Yeah, not very much in the end, way earlier than she sh should have. Connie: Mm. Saar De Reu: but she got like twelve seconds off on her own, so that was impressive. Also an impressive ride by Rionda Marcus, of course. you know that you you preferably don't give her like a minute. It happens, so you know it's gonna be very hard. But in the end everything got closed down and then I tried to like Connie: you Saar De Reu: make the suspense a bit more present, like but now she doesn't have anyone here, maybe it will be harder. But then she just finds her gap and she sprints and she has yeah again bike lines in front of of the others. Connie: Multiple bike lengths. Saar De Reu: Yeah. but it was an interesting stage with Rihanna Marcus in the front and it was good to see that like whenever the road goes uphill, other teams try to attack and try to make a real race. So that that is promising for today, I think. Behind Weebus we had Elisa Balsamo, Mariano Voss, Chariboset, Letitia Patremonster, Melson, Bachstadt, Rueg Mule and Ritman. so yeah, it was less of a classic sprint stage as they announced. and then in the other classifications no major changes. we yeah is there someone else we lost that day? there was I think Laura Molenar also stepped out of the race for Volker's vessels. Yep and we had a DNS of Brody Chapman who was ill and Christina Schweinberger who broke her w wrist the day before. yeah I guess that's the tour so far. Yeah, so I think that's that's it so far. tomorrow yeah, today actually. we have Connie: Okay. Okay. Saar De Reu: we have the third stage and it's starting immediately with a one category climb, which I'll be heading to in less than half an hour. So we're really on the limit here today. And yeah, it's it's quite a hard climb. I think Connie will will experience it herself in a couple of hours. so actually Connie: Yeah, I wrote down it on Sunday. No, what day of week is it? I wrote down it on Saturday and it was Saar De Reu: yeah, or Monday today. Connie: not... Let's just say I was having to break quite hard. It's very, very steep. I sort of saw a road sign that says 12 % and I was like, nah, nah, nah, that must just be a point. And I was like, I think this section may actually average at 12%. It was so steep going down. was like, my God. Yeah, so I think it will just break. It will break to pieces. Whether it comes back or at least at the front end, I don't know. Because I mean, it's a long way from the top of that climb to the finish. So people may Saar De Reu: Mm-hmm. Connie: be able to get back on or someone or a small group will have a long day as a small group out front. Saar De Reu: Yeah, I'm guessing it's gonna be a strong breakaway day. Connie: Hmm. Saar De Reu: because we have a couple of more hills, but I feel like also just a little prediction, how many pure sprinters do we have in the race after today? Connie: can't see the beam that many left, if Saar De Reu: Mm. Connie: I'm honest. Yeah, I mean, I say I haven't ridden up it yet, but riding down it, I was just sort of riding down thinking this is gonna break in a race. Saar De Reu: Mm. Connie: Because it's tight, twisty and very steep. Saar De Reu: Yeah. Connie: So yeah, I suspect there could be quite a few pure sprinters, especially those who don't want a TT, who might... be trying to end their tour today. That would be my, I could be wrong, Saar De Reu: Mm-hmm. Connie: you know, but I don't know what the time cuts gonna be and how nice or nasty it's gonna be as well. Saar De Reu: Mm-hmm. Connie: I just think you've got a very long way if you lose time on that first climb mentally more than anything. Saar De Reu: Yeah. It's that thing with like just starting a stage with like one category climb. It's just yeah, I'm wondering how it will go because there is also quite a lot of illness I feel like in the tour, so we saw some riders struggling. I'm I'm struggling with the days. Just just dates. tree of the tour and it's already getting hard. but we saw that on Saturday and Sunday. so hopefully they they will get through the stage. I don't think this one is categorized as flat so the time limit should be a bit higher I guess. but I'm not sure actually. Connie: Yeah, it'd be interesting to see how it could or doesn't come into play with some of them. Saar De Reu: Mm. Yeah, exactly. So a little prediction for today, who wins the stage? Connie: I want to say vollering. I could be wrong. Yeah. My gut feeling is it's got to be vollering, but I could be, yeah. I could be proven wrong, but that's just the way I think it's going to go. Saar De Reu: Okay, nice. Yeah, I I gotta stick to my prediction I made last week on the podcast. Secret how except either from an break that formed early on or with a a late solo attack. it's happening, hopefully. Well thanks for listening to Sarah on Tour. hope to see you in the second one, in a couple of days. Bye bye.