Bike intact, strongest lead-out, no excuses – Lorena Wiebes beaten again by Charlotte Kool in Tour de France Femmes sprint

A day after a mechanical derailed Lorena Wiebes’ chance to sprint on the Tour de France Femmes opening stage, she had another opportunity to go head-to-head against the world’s fastest sprinters in Rotterdam on Tuesday. But even with SD Worx-Protime’s impeccable lead-out and a fully intact bike, Wiebes was forced to settle for second place to yellow jersey Charlotte Kool (DSM-Firmenich PostNL).

“It was close, and the important thing was that I was able to sprint. I think maybe I started my sprint a bit too early. Things like this also happen in sprinting,” Wiebes said beyond the finish line, reminding that, when it comes to sprinting, sometimes you win and sometimes you don’t.