Tour de France Femmes rider sent the wrong way in bizarre time limit drama

Jansen was already around 25 minutes behind the leaders when she reached the finishing area in Nice on Sunday. With Demi Vollering and the front of the race still roughly ten kilometres from the finish, the Dutch rider suddenly appeared on the Promenade des Anglais and crossed the line despite still having part of the course to complete.

According to WielerFlits, organisers had already changed the barriers near the finish in preparation for Vollering and the other leading riders.

The local circuit required the riders to turn away shortly before the finish and continue racing around Nice, but the route had already been opened towards the line by the time Jansen arrived.

As a result, she was directed straight across the finish.

Jansen, visibly exhausted and confused, continued beyond the line and entered an area occupied by waiting team staff and media. She quickly realised something had gone wrong, turned around and eventually managed to return to the course.

WielerFlits reports that the Tour de France Femmes organisation accepted responsibility for the mistake. Jansen was reportedly assured that she would remain in the final classification even if the additional delay pushed her beyond the official time limit.

In the end, no exception was necessary.

Jansen eventually reached the finish for a second time, having completed the full course, 32 minutes and 52 seconds behind stage winner and overall winner Demi Vollering, just five seconds inside the official time limit.