'You want to gain a few seconds every day' – Demi Vollering claims narrow GC advantage on Tour de France Femmes stage one

Democratizing the significance of a four-second gap, Demi Vollering reclaimed the spotlight on Tour de France Femmes stage one. Having narrowly missed the top step in the previous year's race, Vollering's fourth-place finish in Lausanne's opening stage offered her a chance to demonstrate her value. Coming in third behind stage winner Lorena Wiebes and Kim Le Court-Pienaar, Vollering's bonus seconds could not be ignored by her GC rivals.

Vollering expressed her satisfaction in gaining those extra seconds, stating she hoped to have more during the entire Tour. With the confidence bolstered by her recent performance, Vollering had prepared differently for this year. Reflecting on her mindset, she said she now woke up every morning feeling motivated and excited, rather than dreading the long haul to the Tour.

Vollering's FDJ United-SUEZ team director, Lars Boom, acknowledged that while the team aimed to win, their satisfaction came from completing the stage successfully. Despite the limited impact of four seconds, Vollering remains optimistic, knowing that any lead, no matter how slight, could prove crucial as the Tour progresses.