There was each expectation that stage 3 of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, as a dash stage, would have few ramifications for the general standings, however a crash within the final five kilometres has the potential to change plenty, given favorite Demi Vollering was present process medical checks after coming down onerous.
“, once you crash on the pace, it is by no means straightforward,” FDJ-SUEZ common supervisor Stephen Delcourt instructed the big scrum of assembled media on the workforce bus. “She’s utterly shocked. She has a ache on the knees, a ache on the glutes and ache on the again.
“We have to wait, as a result of we by no means know if it is simply the shock as a result of she crashed or she wants time. She shall be examined with the workforce physician.”
Vollering crashed with 3.6km to go and had no opportunity to avoid the carnage on a proper flip because the riders exited a bridge and the highway narrowed on the method to Angers. Quite a few riders touched wheels after which crashed at a number of factors throughout the highway.
After the incident, Vollering was picked up from the tarmac by her teammates and ridden throughout the end line between Amber Kraak and Juliette Labous. As she got here to the workforce bus, after first being consoled, she was then shortly onto the stationary coach and speaking with the rider alongside – workforce sprinter Ally Wollaston, who had come third on the stage. Each Vollering and Wollaston inspected her helmet.
“She actually insisted on the curler that she is absolutely optimistic,” stated Delcourt. “She desires to proceed, however we simply want time to go to the resort, study, go to the hospital and after one evening, we are able to come again to you to let you know, nevertheless it’s biking.”
Nevertheless, an replace from FDJ SUEZ despatched to media later within the night stated: “Examinations carried out by the workforce physician revealed that Demi Vollering suffered a number of contusions. Within the night, Demi underwent an preliminary evaluation for a suspected concussion. The workforce’s medical workers, Demi Vollering and FDJ-SUEZ administration collectively determined to not go to the hospital that night, given the non-urgent nature of her medical situation.
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“Additional exams, together with a second concussion protocol, shall be carried out tomorrow morning to rule out any suspicion. These outcomes will allow Demi and the workforce to substantiate whether or not or not she shall be in the beginning line tomorrow for stage 4 of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift.”
Earlier on the workforce bus Delcourt talked of respect throughout the peloton, saying that the conventional perspective of many groups and plenty of riders was actually respectful, however stated, “We lose the respect into the final 12 months in males’s and ladies’s biking, all people desires to play with a life like this.” He referred to groups making an attempt to get to the entrance and chopping the road, persevering with on to say that, “At this time is the fault of the rider, it isn’t the fault of the ASO.”
The workforce has invested closely in being able to again the 2023 winner from July 26 to August 3 at its residence Grand Tour however Delcourt was clear as he spoke to the assembled media, first in French after which in English, that whereas they weren’t able to admit defeat but, the primary precedence was the well being of Vollering.
“We work lots for the Tour de France, and Demi works lots herself for that. And we simply need to respect the lady earlier than the rider, and now she simply wants time, and we need to proceed to be optimistic,” stated Delcourt.
One saving grace for FDJ-SUEZ’s general possibilities is that the autumn occurred inside 5km of the end; subsequently, Vollering is not going to lose time general and stays at 21 seconds behind race chief Marianne Vos (Visma-Lease a Bike), whereas teammates Évita Muzic and Juliette Labous are additionally inside one minute of yellow.
When requested what Vollering’s crash meant for the workforce’s GC ambitions, Delcourt stated, “I do not know for the second, it is actually too early. We want actually a great evening for her and determine tomorrow. Stage after stage, we determine.”
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