Tour de France Femmes: Cédrine Kerbaol Climbs Top 5
Mags’ Masterclass on the Madeleine: A Crucial Assist for Cédrine in Tour de France Femmes Stage 8
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Châtel Les Portes du Soleil, France – The unforgiving slopes of the Col de la Madeleine witnessed a display of selfless teamwork and sheer grit on stage 8 of the Tour de France Femmes, as EF Education-Cannondale rider Maggie Coles-Lyster, affectionately known as Mags, delivered a pivotal performance to support teammate Cédrine in the general classification battle. While the stage itself was a brutal test,Mags’ strategic pacing and late-race heroics proved instrumental in keeping Cédrine’s GC ambitions alive.
A Calculated Effort in the Breakaway
The day began with a 15-woman breakaway,a move that saw Mags position herself strategically. She played a crucial role in keeping the group moving forward,a calculated effort to conserve her energy for the critical final ascent. This foresight allowed her to be in the perfect position to offer vital support to Cédrine when it mattered most.
Back in the peloton, Henrietta Christie, Noemi Rüegg, and Letizia Borghese were instrumental in protecting Cédrine. They battled through the initial mountain passes,ensuring Cédrine remained sheltered from the wind and avoided any dangerous splits on the rolling valley roads.Their collective effort successfully escorted Cédrine to the base of the Col de la Madeleine, the stage’s defining challenge, where the real fight for the overall standings would commence.
The Legendary climb and a Moment of Truth
As the race hit the iconic 18.9-km ascent of the Col de la Madeleine,riders ahead of Cédrine in the general classification began to falter. Cédrine, demonstrating remarkable resilience, dug deep, grinding her way up the legendary climb. She faced a challenging moment on the steepest gradients,finding herself on the verge of being isolated.
It was at this critical juncture that Mags, having expended significant energy to stay in contention, reappeared. The Québécoise climber had pushed herself to the limit, ascending far up the climb to ensure she could assist Cédrine as late in the race as possible.Hearing that her teammate was in difficulty, Mags dropped back, sacrificing her own position to execute a massive turn. This powerful effort brought Cédrine back into contact with the group ahead of her, a testament to Mags’ unwavering commitment.
A Rhythm Found, GC Hopes Rekindled
With Mags’ crucial intervention, Cédrine found a much-needed rhythm. She was able to ride with that group all the way to the summit, a significant achievement that saw her continue her climb in the overall GC rankings. The question now on everyone’s lips is: how high can she ascend on the final stage of the Tour de France Femmes, from Praz-sur-Arly over the Col du Joux-Plane and Col du Corbier to Châtel Les Portes du Soleil?
Rider reactions: A Team Effort
Reflecting on the stage, Cédrine expressed her gratitude for her teammates’ efforts: “The team was amazing. We had a plan. It didn’t work,but Mags whent in front,so she could help me on the flatter section on the climb and thanks to her we could come back to the other girls. She was amazing. It was so crazy. The climb was like a TT, so I liked it.”
Mags, detailing her strategic approach, added: “I knew not to work too much, so I made sure not to do too many pulls, because I wanted to be sure I could help in the finale.I also knew I had to do a little bit so that the group would keep working a bit. It worked out perfectly, so that I could be with Cédrine on the climb at the end. I was really glad that I could help her. I could hear that they were coming and I was like, “Oh, my legs, I don’t know if I can really help,” so then I slowed down so I could recover and do one last effort to help get get back to the group. And then I just died.”
the camaraderie and determination displayed by EF Education-Cannondale on the Col de la Madeleine underscore the spirit of the Tour de France Femmes, where individual brilliance often shines brightest when supporting a collective goal. The team’s performance on this challenging stage sets the