Charlotte Kool of The Netherlands celebrates as she crosses the finish line of the first stage of the Tour de France Women cycling race with start in Rotterdam and finish in The Hague, Netherlands, August 12, 2024
DUTCH rider Charlotte Kool won a mass sprint on home soil in the opening stage of the women’s Tour de France today.
Kool will start Tuesday’s second stage in the leader’s yellow jersey after completing the 123 kilometres (76-mile) stage in two hours, 47 minutes and 40 seconds.
“It’s very special that everything fell into place,” she told Dutch broadcaster NOS. “This is the day I was hoping for.”
Anniina Ahtosalo of Finland was second and Elisa Balsamo of Italy finished third in the same time as Kool.
Last year’s race winner Demi Vollering of the SD Worx team finished back in 35th spot, three places ahead of Olympic road race champion Kristen Faulkner. Both riders also registered the same time as Kool.
The stage took riders over flat countryside between the port city of Rotterdam to a North Sea beachside finishing line in a southern suburb of The Hague, amid hot summer temperatures. Thousands of spectators lined the streets of the two cities to watch.
