Tour de France Femmes: A Struggle Against the Heat

Tourreporterin

Stand: 03.08.2026 • 22:40 Uhr

Linda Riedmann is facing a challenging situation at the Tour de France Femmes, as her team, Lotto Intermarché, is rapidly dwindling in numbers. The extreme heat has taken a toll on the cyclists, leaving Riedmann with only two teammates after the third stage.

Initially starting with seven riders, the team has seen significant losses, including Elisabeth Ebras, Marieke Meert, and Sterre Vervloet, who all exited the race during the second stage towards Geneva. Dina Boels also had to retire, while Romina Hinojosa, the first Mexican woman to compete in the Tour, barely made it to the finish line, sharing an emotional moment with her teammates afterward.

A Mix of Emotions for Riedmann

Amidst the turmoil, Riedmann managed to secure a commendable tenth place, marking both the best result for a German cyclist in this edition and her personal best. Reflecting on the mixed emotions, she stated, "Of course, this is a setback for us as a team. But I was still able to enjoy my tenth place a bit yesterday. Overall, though, the mood in the team is not great."

Having previously competed in the Tour in 2024 with Team Visma – Lease a Bike, Riedmann joined Lotto Intermarché this year. Her excitement about returning to the prestigious event is palpable. "I missed it last year and watched it on TV. But being back here is obviously much cooler. And my form is getting better every day."

The Swiss stage began with Riedmann arriving full of confidence after winning a stage at the Volta a Portugal Feminina. She now has the opportunity to ride more independently within her new team, which might be necessary given the circumstances.

Extreme Heat Challenges

Riedmann explained the reasons behind her team's dwindling numbers: "Sterre had a heat stroke. Elisabeth didn’t feel well the day before and had to withdraw due to muscular problems, and Marieke unfortunately crashed." She added that Dina had also fallen on the first day but managed to continue. The heat has been relentless, with temperatures exceeding 35 degrees Celsius for three consecutive days.

The men's Tour de France faced similar heat-related challenges, leading to the shortening of stages and changes in the route due to severe wildfires. Currently, no such measures are in place for the women’s race, leaving teams to adapt to the high temperatures on their own.

Koch's Struggles

Franziska Koch, a prominent rider and assistant to Demi Vollering, has also faced difficulties during the race, particularly after her victory at Paris-Roubaix. She remarked on her struggles in the first two stages, where her time deficit grew to 19 minutes, stating, "It was very hard and unexpected. My heart rate was too high, and I had no power in my legs. We strongly suspect it's due to the heat. It was a shock to the system. It just shows we are human and not machines."

Despite using cooling measures such as ice vests and ice baths, Koch has been unable to pinpoint her issues with the heat. "I wish I could explain it. But sometimes the body reacts differently."

As for the upcoming time trial, Koch was uncertain about her performance, saying, "Originally, the plan was to go full throttle. We’ll see how I feel today. I might need to take a rest day tomorrow. That would be disappointing, but the fifth stage is also very tough, and I hope to help the team as much as possible."

On the third stage from Geneva to Poligny, Koch played a crucial role in maintaining the pace for her team, helping to keep the gap to the yellow jersey manageable. Meanwhile, Riedmann has to cope with her team's fourth withdrawal. She expressed her feelings at the finish line: "It's not a nice feeling. But we’ll give our all as a trio." Interestingly, in the song by the Toten Hosen, a lone Jägermeister survives until the end.