Dutch cyclist Puck Pieterse narrowly edged out fellow countrywoman and defending champion Demi Vollering in a sprint to win the rain-soaked fourth stage of the women’s Tour de France on Wednesday.
The overall leader, Vollering, opened up a 30-second lead over the peloton with Pieterse and Poland’s Katarzyna Niewiadoma. Niewiadoma launched the attack, followed by Vollering. Pieterse stayed behind before accelerating as she approached the finish line.
Vollering found the energy to keep pace with Pieterse, who ultimately had the last word in the photo-witness.
Pieterse, 22, completed the hilly 122.7-kilometre stage, which started in Valkenburg, Netherlands, and ended in Liège, Belgium, in 3 hours, 12 minutes and 28 seconds.
Quebecer Magdeleine Vallières achieved the best Canadian result in 12e position, covering the distance in 29 seconds more than the winner.
Her compatriots Simone Boilard, Olivia Baril and Alison Jackson finished 27th respectively.e43e and 123eMaggie Coles-Lyster abandoned the race during the stage, while Clara Émond did not start.
Vollering, who won the third stage in Rotterdam on Monday, retains the yellow jersey with a 22-second lead in the general classification. Pieterse has moved up to second and Niewiadoma is third, 34 seconds behind.
A first attack, led by Sara Martin, came after 24.7 km. She had to stop at a level crossing before the ascent of Mont-Theux, but the commissaires also stopped the peloton to preserve her lead. She was nevertheless caught 500 meters from the summit, at the 74.8 km mark.
The Spaniard finished the stage 14 minutes behind Pieterse.
Thursday’s stage will run from Bastogne in southern Belgium to Amnéville in the Moselle Valley in northeastern France. The race will then continue and conclude on Sunday with the challenging climb of Alpe d’Huez on Sunday.