Van der Breggen abandons Tour Femmes as Vollering targets yellow on Mont Ventoux
SD Worx-Protime says Anna van der Breggen will take a period of rest after struggling throughout the race, while Demi Vollering heads into the Mont Ventoux showdown just 12 seconds behind Marlen Reusser in the fight for the yellow jersey.
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Van der Breggen abandons
Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-ProTime) has abandoned the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift ahead of stage 7, which concludes with a summit finish on Mont Ventoux.
The former two-time world champion was in 28th place following stage 6, having slipped 12 places in the GC after being distanced on Thursday’s stage.
SD Worx confirmed that Van der Breggen will take a period of rest after it became clear that she was unable to perform at her normal level.
“From the very first stage, Anna was not feeling at her best. We kept hoping she would start to feel better as the race progressed, but unfortunately that improvement never came. Therefore, we have decided not to take any unnecessary risks and to give her the rest she needs,” said Sports Manager Danny Stam in an official statement.
The team statement concluded by confirming that Van der Breggen will have additional time to recover and prepare for her upcoming goals later in the season.
Van der Breggen has had a busy season to date, finishing second overall at the Vuelta España Femenina, before slipping from first to third on the final stage of the Giro d’Italia in June.
Despite the withdrawal of Van der Breggen, SD Worx still have a GC card to play for the final three stages of the Tour. Nienke Vinke (SD Worx-Protime) sits 11th overall, 3:54 behind the race leader Marlen Reusser (Movistar).
Vinke finished 19th overall last year and was the winner of the youth classification.
Vollering targets yellow
Meanwhile, Van der Breggen’s former teammate Demi Vollering (FDJ United-Suez) remains firmly in the contest for the yellow jersey. The European champion trails Reusser by twelve seconds, and will be buoyed by her victory on stage 5.
Vollering has had to settle for second overall in the previous two editions, but knows that stage 7’s Ventoux finale is a crucial opportunity to take a leap towards reclaiming the yellow jersey for the first time since 2023.
Speaking to Sporza, FDJ United-Suez’s performance manager Lieselot Decroix pulled no punches when discussing Vollering’s and the team’s ambitions for the stage.
"I won't mince words: today, we want to win the stage and take the yellow jersey,” Decroix told Sporza.
"Mont Ventoux is the climb she [Vollering] tackled for the first time as a teenager. It’s the first mountain she ever rode up. That makes this stage extra special and emotional for her."
Though Delcroix also suggested that regardless of the outcome on Friday’s stage, the race will still be far from decided, with two stages remaining, including the Nice finale which features four ascents of the Col d’Èze.
“The Tour certainly won't be decided yet, no. There is still a lot at stake in Nice on Sunday, too.”
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