In a thrilling sprint of three, Puck Pieterse emerged victorious on the fourth stage of the Tour de France Women’s 2024. The Fenix-Deceuninck rider defeated Demi Vollering (Team SD Worx – Protime) and Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Canyon//SRAM Racing) in Liège.
The 122-kilometer stage started in the tourist town of Valkenburg (world famous for the Amstel Gold Race), to arrive in Liège, Belgium, in a sort of combination of the Amstel at the beginning of the stage and the Liège-Bastogne-Liège at the end of the fraction.
In the initial phase of the day there were four climbs, which were used by Italian Silvia Pérsico to score points at the top of the Bemelerberg (twice), the Cauberg and the Geulhemmerberg.
After the first mountainous zone Sara Martin (Movistar Team) broke away. The Spaniard’s lead was limited due to the work of the SD Worx-Protime riders at the front of the peloton.
The race exploded on the Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons. The favorites came into action on this climb. And it was leader Demi Vollering herself, who took the initiative. The Dutchwoman went to the front 600 meters from the top and set a particularly high pace. Only Katarzyna Niewiadoma, Pieterse and Rooijakkers were able to follow her.
At the end of the race, only Vollering, Niewiadoma and Pieterse remained in the lead. In the finish Niewiadoma tried to surprise her two rivals, but was unsuccessful. In the bunch Pieterse was the fastest in a photo finish.
The Tour de France Femmes 2024 will continue this Thursday with an undulating day that will take the riders from Bastogne to Amnéville, on a 152.5 kilometers route.
Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift (2.WWT)
Results Stage 4 | Valkenburg – Liège (122,7 km)
| 1 | PIETERSE Puck | Fenix-Deceuninck | 3:12:28 |
| 2 | VOLLERING Demi | Team SD Worx – Protime | ,, |
| 3 | NIEWIADOMA Katarzyna | Canyon//SRAM Racing | ,, |
| 4 | (LE COURT) PIENAAR Kimberley | AG Insurance – Soudal Team | 0:29 |
| 5 | RÜEGG Noemi | EF-Oatly-Cannondale | ,, |
| 6 | DE JONG Thalita | Lotto Dstny Ladies | ,, |
| 7 | MUZIC Évita | FDJ – SUEZ | ,, |
| 8 | VAN ANROOIJ Shirin | Lidl – Trek | ,, |
| 9 | FISHER-BLACK Niamh | Team SD Worx – Protime | ,, |
| 10 | MEIJERING Mareille | Movistar Team | ,, |
Ranking General
| 1 | VOLLERING Demi | Team SD Worx – Protime | 7:40:10 |
| 2 | PIETERSE Puck | Fenix-Deceuninck | 0:22 |
| 3 | NIEWIADOMA Katarzyna | Canyon//SRAM Racing | 0:34 |
| 4 | FAULKNER Kristen | EF-Oatly-Cannondale | 0:47 |
| 5 | LABOUS Juliette | Team dsm-firmenich PostNL | 0:56 |
| 6 | ROOIJAKKERS Pauliena | Fenix-Deceuninck | 1:03 |
| 7 | (LE COURT) PIENAAR Kimberley | AG Insurance – Soudal Team | ,, |
| 8 | DE JONG Thalita | Lotto Dstny Ladies | 1:04 |
| 9 | KERBAOL Cédrine | CERATIZIT-WNT Pro Cycling Team | ,, |
| 10 | VAN ANROOIJ Shirin | Lidl – Trek | 1:07 |
Source: Revista Mundo Ciclístico