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Mags‘ Crucial Support propels Cédrine Up GC Rankings in Tour de France Femmes Stage 8
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Chambéry, France –
In a pivotal moment during the eighth stage of the Tour de France Femmes, rider Mags delivered decisive support to teammate Cédrine on the challenging Col de la Madeleine, enabling Cédrine to maintain her position and climb in the general classification. The team’s strategy,though evolving,ultimately saw Mags sacrifice her own position in an early breakaway to provide critical assistance in the race’s decisive moments.
Evergreen Context: Teamwork and Strategy in Grand Tours
The Tour de France Femmes, like all major cycling stage races, is a testament to intricate team strategies and individual resilience. Success often hinges not just on the strongest climber or sprinter, but on the collective effort of the entire squad. riders in breakaways often have a dual purpose: to gain an advantage for themselves or the team, or to serve as a strategic pawn, expending energy to control the race or set up a teammate for later. The ability of a team to position its leader effectively before key climbs, protect them from wind and mechanicals, and provide direct support on the ascents is paramount. This stage highlighted the critical role of domestiques – riders who work selflessly for their leaders – in achieving overall goals in a Grand Tour.
Stage 8 Narrative: A Day of Sacrifices and Grit
The 13.3-kilometer Col de Plainpalais, the first important climb of the day, saw Mags initiate a breakaway shortly after the start in Chambéry. With 111.9 kilometers of Alpine racing remaining before the summit finish on the Col de la Madeleine, Mags’ presence in the 15-woman escape was calculated. She conserved energy, aiming to be in a position to assist Cédrine on the final, decisive ascent.
Meanwhile,back in the peloton,teammates Henrietta Christie,Noemi Rüegg,and Letizia Borghesi worked diligently. Their efforts were focused on ensuring Cédrine navigated the initial mountain stages and the rolling valley roads efficiently, shielding her from the wind and potential splits in the peloton. This protective echelon successfully delivered Cédrine to the base of the Col de la Madeleine, where the battle for the general classification truly began.
As riders ranked higher in the overall standings began to falter, Cédrine demonstrated remarkable tenacity, grinding her way up the demanding 18.9-kilometer Col de la Madeleine. Facing a difficult moment on the steepest gradients, where she risked being isolated, Cédrine received the crucial intervention from Mags.
Mags, having positioned herself strategically high on the climb, dropped back upon hearing Cédrine was in difficulty. She then executed a powerful turn, effectively pacing Cédrine back to the group ahead of her. This timely assistance allowed Cédrine to find her rhythm and ride with that group to the finish line, a performance that continues to elevate her standing in the general classification.
Rider Perspectives
Cédrine expressed her gratitude, stating, “The team was amazing. We had a plan. It didn’t work, but Mags went 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 reflected on her role: “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.”
Looking Ahead
Cédrine’s strong performance on the col de la Madeleine sets the stage for her potential to further improve her
