Daria Pikulik captured a top ten finish on the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift opening day, 24 hours after scoring a silver medal on the track at the Paris 2024 Olympics in the Madison.
“I can’t believe that yesterday I was racing in the omnium, taking a medal and today I’m here,” she said after.
Sunday was a glorious day for the 27-year-old, finishing second in the omnium in Paris and celebrating with sister Wiktoria and her parents before a whistle-stop drive to Rotterdam.
“I’m so tired but so happy, so I don’t really know what is happening right now but this is my first tour ever and I am really enjoying this atmosphere and the huge crowds,” Pikulik said. “I am of course happy to be back with the team.”
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- Olympic silver on Sunday. Photo: SW Pix Cycling
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- 6th place sprint on Monday. Photo: GettySport
Resplendent in their new changeout Pactimo kit from Maisie Wilen and atop special Factor bikes, Human Powered Health Cycling rode well in the bunch and stayed out of trouble throughout the 123 km stage from Rotterdam to the Hague.
With two kilometers to race, Audrey Cordon-Ragot guided the sprint train to the head of the action, with Romy Kasper and Marit Raaijmakers acting as Pikulik’s final lieutenants.
Pikulik then used all her track craft to guide herself through the closing stages, albeit not having a huge amount of space to trigger a full sprint. Dutch rider Charlotte Kool took the victory and the first yellow jersey (Team dsm-firmenich PostNL).
“I didn’t feel super good today so of course this makes us hungry for more,” Pikulik explained. “The girls were amazing today, they take care of me doing a good lead out but I got stuck in the last 500 meters so I couldn’t open up full gas.”
The Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift remains in the greater Rotterdam area tomorrow with a split stage 3 and 4 on the same day. Pikulik will have another opportunity to strike out for victory on a flat parcours before an afternoon time trial will indicate where the GC favorite’s legs are.
“The sprint makes me feel confident that my legs are still okay after the Olympics,” she said. “Now, we need to try again for something bigger.”
Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift stage 1 results
1 KOOL Charlotte – Team dsm-firmenich PostNL 2:47:40
2 AHTOSALO Anniina – Uno-X Mobility ”
3 BALSAMO Elisa – Lidl – Trek ”
4 HENTTALA Lotta – EF-Oatly-Cannondale ”
5 VOS Marianne – Team Visma | Lease a Bike ”
6 PIKULIK Daria – Human Powered Health ”
7 DE ZOETE Mylène – CERATIZIT-WNT Pro Cycling Team ”
8 (LE COURT) PIENAAR Kimberley – AG Insurance – Soudal Team ”
9 FAHLIN Emilia – Arkéa – B&B Hotels Women ”
10 VAS Blanka – Team SD Worx – Protime ”
