(Montreal) After a Tour of Spain that fell short of her expectations last week, Olivia Baril (Movistar) responded on Friday during the first stage of the Tour of the Basque Country. The Quebecer finished sixth in a massive sprint which saw the Dutchwoman Mischa Bredewold (SD Worx – Protime) win.
Obviously, the cyclist from Rouyn-Noranda would have hoped to win, or at least to see her Cuban teammate Arlenis Sierra triumph, she who finished second, just behind Bredewold.
“We definitely wanted to win! I think I missed it a bit lead-out, I should have pushed Demi Vollering (SD Worx – Protime) a little more and started my sprint hard after the last turn to better launch Arlenis. I made a little mistake and we finished second,” Baril commented to Sportcom.
The 26-year-old runner was, however, active in the intermediate sprints where she was able to grab three bonus seconds, which allows her to find herself in fourth place in the provisional general classification. A satisfactory start to the competition for someone who was not at the top of her form a few days ago at the Tour of Spain.
“The bonus seconds are excellent for the general classification. I was coming back from an illness at the Tour of Spain, but now I feel really good, especially in the bumps. I was even able to follow Demi Vollering on an attack on a climb, it’s really good,” she added.
The latter is used to success at the Tour of the Basque Country, having finished fourth overall last year, achieving a third place during the last stage. She had also taken the 11e rank in 2022, notably thanks to his second place obtained on the second day of the event.
A first World Tour outing
A week ago, Florence Normand was not yet part of the French team Winspace. After signing a contract for the rest of the season in the last days, she is taking part in the very first World Tour race of her career at the Tour of the Basque Country.
“It’s so brand new, my signing was only made official on Tuesday. I feel really good in the peloton and I think I have a good level, despite mononucleosis last year which prevented me from being in action from March to October. It’s a very good start with my new team,” said Florence Normand.
“The team was not sure of returning this year, but the sports director (Jean-Christophe Barbotin) fought and managed to find a sponsor to be able to continue. The team started the year with 10 girls, which really isn’t many and I thought I might have a chance to join them with my climbing profile. I sent an email and a week later they said they were taking me on, it all happened really quickly and they seem happy so far,” she continued.
The 22-year-old Almato resident was notably hired to support the Polish Karolina Perekitko on the climbs. The Quebecer also fulfilled her role well on Friday, helping her teammate to collect a point in the ranking of the best climbers.
Florence Normand subsequently finished at 93e rank (+2 minutes 1 second), while her teammate Perekitko finished 58eat the same time as the winner.
The second stage of the Tour of the Basque Country will take place over 104 kilometers in the vicinity of Basauri, where three major climbs will be on the program.
reference: www.lapresse.ca