TERRIBLE Tactics Might've LOST Her the Tour de France Femmes

[@jw3638]

Weibes today admitted that she crashed Vollering. There's not excuse for her not to stay and help her come back. Yesterday, she said she saw a yellow blur. There's only 1 yellow and she passing her on the descent. Fisher Black crashed with Vollering and never bothered to check on her leader. The SD Worx amd Vollering relationship is toxic. It been documented for the last few years. They usually leave her unsupported and some times attack her. She has to beat the competition and her teammates.

[@fujiman7]

Can't wait for Vollering to join FdJ

[@gideonmthembu8693]

They were truly terrible isn't it?

[@garysladek9110]

This!

[@richardlake5459]

No excuse for Weibes/Fisher Blacks' actions/inactions. If they were men riding for any men's team, they would be fired on the spot and most likely never race again.

[@zigazdovc6175]

Can someone explain to me how is this actually allowed to happen in modern cycling? Does the team do not want the prize money from Vollering winning the Tour? Considering the measly pays women get, winning a GT is probably the only real money the teams are going to make. How can professionals behave like this, like it is a kindergarten racing? Do they not care about the money?

[@colingibbons1757]

Chris, this is not the first time this has happened. SD Worx almost never work for Vollering if they can and even if Vollering works for Wiebers, Wiebers never helps her back even if she was the one who crashed Vollering. Her going to FDJ is going to be amazing because she will finally have teammates who help her. SD Worx don't believe that a Demi win is an SD Worx win, Reusser actually said this in a previous interview, so they don't care about helping her.

[@lesliereissner4711]

My first thought after watching this stage was: "Uh-oh! Breaking Chris Horner's Number One Rule." This was terrible tactics by SD-Worx. Win a stage at the expense of the overall? Knuckleheads. And my first thought on watching this video was that I was sorry to see Chris was hit by a car but luckily the damage is not severe. Fast recovery, Chris, but please don't bleed on the chesterfield!

[@ChrisHornerCycling]

I washed the sheets this morning but so far the chesterfield survived. But Spain starts tomorrow. 😂🛋️🦋

[@dennismwallentin296]

No wonder why Vollering is changing team. SD Works seems to have internal issues. Not the first time Demi Vollering is betrayed by the team...

[@stephanemaclean6562]

Thank you Chris for addressing this debacle

[@patrickwong4824]

Vollering got screwed by her own team in so many ways. I wonder if it has anything to do with her leaving at the end of the season. The radio is not working, Olympics hangover. Some people are saying Weibus caused Vollering to crash?

[@chrisgould7606]

@@patrickwong4824 💯

[@JanneBernards]

People crashed in front of them. Wiebes overcorrected trying to dodge and hit Vollering's handle bars who then crashed. Wiebes managed to stay upright and rode on.

[@chrisgould7606]

@@patrickwong4824 probably

[@ChrisHornerCycling]

I could not tell who crashed Demi. But I have seen enough racing from SDWorks to know that their tactics are some of the worse I have seen. They are so bad often enough that there’s zero way to know if Demi’s teammates did it on purpose because it happens all the time on that team. 🤔🦋😱🔥🇳🇱

[@stevemawer848]

@@ChrisHornerCycling I doubt they'd deliberately crash a teammate, but if a crash happens, they can let her deal with it alone. Glad Demi's going elsewhere next year.

[@telapreta9795]

the drama in the bus after the stage must've been epic hahahahahaha Missed you chris and garrett

[@PolarRed]

now that would have been something I'd even take out a Netflix subscription to see!

[@andrewlabat9963]

SD Works should be completely embarrassed by such shitty treatment of their yellow jersey team leader. Yea, the radio didn't work, and the dog ate my homework..

[@michaelglidewell1524]

SD Worx is a disaster zone. Go back and watch Horner's comments on Vuelta Stage 17 2023 last year. At about the 10 minute mark he points out the bad team chemistry on SD Worx when Vollering and Kopecky sprint for the line in that year's Strade Bianche. That stage 17 of the men's Vuelta was the worst I've ever seen but Stage 5 of TdF Femmes is a very close second.

[@LordViktorHun88]

OK I'm maybe a biased Hungarian who doesn't watch races like this, but I wouldn't blame Blanka Vas for this. She was with the front group, and did the maximum by winning the stage and took 4 seconds away from Kasia, who came 2nd. You can blame Wiebes, who allegedly caused Vollering to fall and then rode on, the other one Fisher-Black, who was involved in the crash, but get going and passed Vollering, she eventually I think ended up helping her as she finished behind. I mean how many people you need to draft Vollering? Don't think more than two is needed. Especially it was like 5 km left from the stage. What should people do? Stop, wait then cheer her to the finish? I always put common sense in front of principals and slogens, and this makes little sense to me. You can make the argument that you blame the team and the coordination, not the riders, but Blanka gets a lot of toxic comments and hate, while this was a big achievement and milestone for her and Hungarian cycling as a whole.

[@TomLeeCycling]

Was thinking you'd be making a video after yesterday's atrocity from SD Worx. Just abysmal from the "team"; Demi deserves so much better

[@ChrisHornerCycling]

Yep. I wanted to. But I got crashed. 🥲🦋😱🚗

[@GaborEID]

I wish you a speedy recovery, and thanks for the analysis!

[@LadyBird-n2t]

Total disgrace how Vollering's her team treats her. Surely the sponsors cannot be happy with this horror show.. and their lame ass excuses😢

[@nakawesiabia6311]

That’s why she’s taking specialized with her to fdj-suez

[@cpk313]

Ouch, glad you're in one piece!

[@starkparker16]

Watch out for Horner, Oregon.

[@ChrisHornerCycling]

👊🦋🙏

[@mountaincat123]

Sorry to hear that you got hit by a car, great that your covering the Women’s Tour. Lots of knuckleheads

[@timdowney6721]

Thanks for the great explanation, Chris. Heal up soon.

[@doomguy2000]

Ah yes Demi's old nemesis, her own team.

[@ghcheong]

Matter of fact is, the Yellow Jersey is so obvious in the peloton that no one could have missed it. Secondly, I wonder who else in SD Worx is confident to be able to bring home the Yellow after stage 8 besides Demi Vollering. This looks worse than the Sepp Kuss betrayal in the Vuelta.

[@oscarw1060]

SD Worx have never gotten behind Demi for a long time and it is beyond baffling as to why. I don't think its cause she's leaving, i think its *why* she's leaving, because she deserves better. Lost all respect for Lorena Weibes today (remember Amstel gold race 😂) - she was the very rider that took out Demi, knew exactly what she had done, and just continued on to contest 8th place sprint because...? Sprint points?? After she didn't even contest them on stage 1 IS??? Yeah nah, disgraceful from Lorena and indeed the whole team.

[@cheechorino3710]

Weibers said today she crashed her but yesterday she said she just saw a yellow thing on the side of the road and didn’t know for sure it was vollering shameless rider

[@nakawesiabia6311]

They are trying to sabotage her to not win this tour

[@stevefranke3985]

Thank you so much Chris!!!I was so shocked Demi had nobody stay back and the peloton never let up!!!

[@Alllvii]

shes leaving at the end of the season, they did this on purpose. "radios aren't working such BS". if youre teammate is in Yellow and you dont see the yellow around you, you slow down and start looking for her that is common sense. disgraceful on the teams part.

[@formulacritic]

That’s gonna cost them (the team) to loose the tdf

[@nicolas2838]

You re expressing my feelings so hard. Just love you. The behavior of sd was a disgrace for cycling.

[@ChrisHornerCycling]

👊🦋

[@seaportalgit807]

Hi Chris, good to hear you are Ok , have a soon recovery. ! Your excellent comments always illustrate the tactics in and out.

[@scottperine8027]

Demi Vollering was executed and abandoned,straight up with no excuses,she’s already going to leave to another team. I’ve never ever seen someone purposely wrecked!

[@oblio9147]

Only SD-Worx can stop Vollering

[@sandwich25-k5w]

lol. witty.

[@st14]

As of Sunday, we know this is how Demi lost the overall GC… She must be furious. If just one teammate waited for her, she’d get those 4 seconds back easily.

[@srikrishnamurthy]

When I saw Vollering chasing on her own, Chris, I remembered you and that you would call SD Worx a bunch of knuckleheads!

[@marathoner43]

I'll admit that I am no expert on cycling, but when I saw the highlights from that stage, and I saw Vollering riding alone I was like "Where are her teammates?" Shouldn't they be doing a team time trial to get her back or a close to back as possible? I didn't understand it. Glad I wasn't the only one.

[@stuartwalker6786]

Once the crash had happened, given Vas was in the split, she should have made the tactical decision to hold position, but it should have been a GIVEN that every other SDW rider should have stopped, to pace, defend and minimise time loss! As you said, this should have been 1st point of conversation PRE stage! Weibers sprinting for 8th was the most pointless and bizarre sight (apart from her saying she saw a blur of Yellow when the crash happened!... SHE CAUSED Vollering to crash!) This is why Women's cycling is so bizarre at times, they show their lack of professionalism with amateur moves, tactics and decision making in race situations.

[@garysladek9110]

Glad you are OK Chris. Looking forward to you coverage of the Vuelta.

[@bihlygoat]

I’m so glad for Vollering that she’s going to a team that might appreciate her.

[@superstrada6847]

Jeeze, CHRIS! hit by a car! Please be careful! Cars kill! Get well asap! Best to you Chris!

[@joebriggs8422]

Vollering got Worxed over by her team.

[@ericvonhellens8822]

Hope you heal full and fast. Wonder if Finn told his sister that she screwed up leaving the team leader?

[@prestachuck2867]

The Knucklehead of the Week Award go to….All of Demi’s teammates who crossed the finish line ahead of her, and the team director(s) at SD Worx. Bunch of boneheads.

[@TT-Bricks]

That Wiebes had to wait yes! for sure. But Blanka Vas has a shot at stage victory. Why? You got Bredewold and Wiebes for the flat and no one can really help Vollering on the uphill. They don't go as fast as Vollering uphill. Also how would you know if Vollering is raceready the next day. Atleast you got a second stage. But wiebes 100% should work for her. But SDworx has already said goodbye to Vollering I feel.

[@ChrisHornerCycling]

No one would pick Vas to win that stage. And Vas has no proper working radio (her words;), so how would she know who’s back there. 🤔🦋😱👊

[@paulevans6403]

@@ChrisHornerCycling Except Vas. She lost silver in Olympics by less than a bike length.

[@ronwest6176]

So true Chris. Perhaps the "team" thinks Vollering is so strong she will have no trouble riding herself back into yellow. Please cover the final stage. It was epic. And the vuelta was a sleeper.

[@ChrisCapoccia]

Oh no! 😢 Hope you feel better soon from the crash!

[@captainclavicle]

Best wishes with your recovery Chris!

[@donbracci2199]

I'm glad you are OK. Get well soon.

[@stevehageman6785]

And today, at the finale SDW lost the Tour by 3 seconds. How silly to not have helped her. They must have no respect for her at all.

[@mariposa1112]

Chris, hope you heal quickly!

[@tonyvanderstraaten1040]

Knucklehead's. Thanks very much Chris. Have a great day. 👍♥️

[@ThePottingShedWorkshop]

I've been waiting for you to comment on this. First though - this contravenes the first rule of the Butterfly effect, surely!

[@prestachuck2867]

Boy oh boy, you called it, @Chrishorner. 4 seconds at the end. You know where Demi could have found five seconds? Right after that crash, had her teammates dropped back to her and then ridden TTT style to minimize her time gap to the front. Demi is a real champ, but the SD Worx directors and the rest of that squad displayed a cat.5 level of tactical expertise in this TDF. I hope that whatever team Demi signs with for her next contract will give her the kind of support that a rider of her caliber and class truly deserves.

[@benibf]

4 second gap in the end between Niewiadoma and Vollering. SD Worx 100% ended up costing Demi the Tour.

[@jimjr4432]

I agree with Leslie----- below! Get well soon and save the Chesterfield!

[@georgehugh3455]

Hope you heal up quickly, Chris.

[@leifkarlsson723]

Wish you speedy recovery Chris!

[@RoyHughes-tg9hh]

Sorry to hear about your accident. Hope your bikes okay. We heal, but the shock of supprise is definitely harder to get past. 💪🙌🙏

[@Jm-Gonz]

Your teammate takes you out when your in yellow and your whole team rides away and you loose yellow. Time to fire the director and trade everyone around end of the year because there will never be trust with any of the teammates

[@cb6866]

Thanks Chris and Garrett...so , they sent a car to take you out ?? Damn ! The UCI has reach ! Glad you are OK ...Papillon is tough !

[@joebriggs8422]

Where was Bobke when this happened? 😉

[@ChrisHornerCycling]

Hehehe. Exact 😂🦋👊

[@trroland1248]

Get well soon and please be careful out there Chris. 🙏🏻

[@swisstopia]

I blame Bob Roll for your accident, CH. Rest up and heal well!…The Vuelta is here! 👊🦋

[@martinyeager7948]

Best wishes for a speedy recovery. I hope you will cover the last two stages of the TDF Femmes. Close times for the top ten times and lots of teams. Two good stage routes. I guess you will be focused on the Vuelta. Regardless, thanks for covering this stage. Hope Demi Vollering recovers and wins!!

[@DBxCooper]

Also Chris. Hope you feel better man. Gotta keep our heads on a swivel out there

[@buzzman4860]

SDWorx racers for years have never been loyal to each other

[@MoonlightGrahamCracker]

A lot of terrible decisions by team management at SDWorx vervthe past few years but this one was so bizarre I felt it couldn’t be attributed to their typical incompetence any longer. I went back to spring when they bizarrely put Vollering on blast on social media, announcing she would not be on team SDWorx the following year, adding they made a substantial offer to her and gave her a deadline to agree to it and she failed to do so, even referring to it as an ultimatum. So bizarre, who does that? I had the feeling after seeing this they at best “kind of” wanted her to win but it wasn’t their top priority, at best it was equal to other achievements. Because even if she had won, yes, that is another TdFF team victory for them, but come next year the defending champion and all the attention that comes with that is on another team.

[@GoliPowerEIC]

The SD-Worx tactics at this stage were knucklehead moves. Bredewold couldn’t do anything, because she had been riding the front of the peloton for quitt some while. The others have no excuse. I don’t get why the team is so toxic in On Vollering with her being the worlds best GC rider by far. That was the only way they could have lost this TdF. She should be glad to leave soon.

[@atoms-to-atoms]

Great post Chris...Femmes race picking up traction and very exciting, helped by all involved including you! ...get back on your bike🤣

[@javierdelrio4953]

Quick recovery Chris! how's the bike? ;-)

[@PelicanIslandLabs]

Any NBC sports commentators in that car that hit you? Since it was confirmed that Vollering is leaving SD Worx I bet the team management is encouraging this chaos.

[@subtropicalken1362]

Speedy recovery Chris

[@cheechorino3710]

Been waiting on this one for sure

[@ChrisHornerCycling]

👊🦋🔥

[@gideonmthembu8693]

Vollering is leaving SDW at the end of the season, that might have an explanation 5o this, team jealousy. You wonder where was team pride in this case.

[@patrickwong4824]

Welcome back 🦋👍👍

[@ChrisHornerCycling]

👍🦋👊🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋

[@thomashurwitch1537]

He didn’t say it specifically but what Chris is talking about is called Strategy. It’s not that hard…just need a clear one and a plan for when when things don’t go to plan. Well done Chris!

[@xander0901]

I couldn’t believe what I was seeing from the Tour de France Femmes, and it made me wonder why they don’t get 21 stages of this kind of high drama. Hope you are recovering from the crash and looking forward to what is bound to be a very interesting Vuelta. I’d love to see Sepp Kuss defend his title, but I also feel for Primoz as this has been yet another season marred by injuries. I think there will be some very interesting storylines as various teams will try to use the Vuelta to salvage some success before the season comes to a close.

[@johnsenior478]

Ok..Vollering has had very weird ‘support’ since she announced she was leaving SDW. ( Further complicated by AVDB coming back in 25). Vollering was Stam and AVDBs protoge and they’re pissed she’s going. They’re even more pissed that she’s the highest profile female cyclist, that she’s a Nike marque athlete, that Specialised will probably go with her and her new team will get all the benefit of all that..including being the current TdF champion. So Stam is left convincing sponsors that they’ll still be a number one team without Vollering ..but NFB and Lotte will never win a tour..and AVDB is a gamble given how women’s cycling has moved on…and the only cycling event that is known throughout the world beyond the cycling bubble is the TdF. So it’s not hard to figure that Stam is desperate for every win that isn’t Vollering and preying that AVDB will do something because otherwise he’s going to be Ineos. A lot of talent but they are never going to win the Tour and he’s going to have sponsors reducing their support.. especially as other teams have GC leaders and/ ot high profile riders who are better ..it’s pretty petty but then Stam is the guy who refused to retain Lizzie Deignan when she got pregnant.

[@stevemawer848]

That weird "support" is the reason for her choosing to leave SDW, I reckon. It's happened a lot before.

[@mokasusa]

LR says in his podcast that this is a bitrail, not a mistake

[@rderouck]

Horrible tactics but I'm sure it wasn't amateurism. Vollering is the most unpopular cyclist in the women's peloton - both with fans and riders. My guess is she's leaving the team because most of SD Worx wanted her out

[@lehtjug]

I am not aware of Vollering's reputation and her history so why is she unpopular with fans and riders?. What is she done and/or said.

[@TopgunB]

Welcome back Chris missed your insightful commentary. Hope Demi wins despite SD Worx. Justice needs to be done. Radiios faulty?? There is a massive crash and your leader and yellow jersey is missing from the group!! Its not rocket science.

[@daviddjerassi]

This is Woman's pro cycle road racing much more interesting to watch then Men's with all these stupid rules and regulations please don't call men's pro road racing a sport its so far removed from a sport Vollering was badly positioned her team mate won the stage good for her and the team its totally delusional to think that a rider in the winning break that's 4 to 5 kl up the road should stop and help anyone two other team riders were close to Vollering at the time of the crash let them help but not a top contender that's in the winning break Keep winning stages please Miss Vas that's why you have a pro contract and ignore the begrudgers like you Chris Horner Sir.

[@michaelhansen7516]

The sponsor cannot be too happy with the ds

[@scherzo0o]

I'd love to have the femme races analysed by you the same that you do with men's races. Anyway, speedy recovery.

[@Cycleplayer117]

You know the tactics had something to do with her leaving. They already got stage wins and that might be enough for contractual obligations

[@hakonpettersen4140]

SD Worx just blew it 😡. They should have all been back there with the yellow jersey.

[@NightShooter87]

I would of loved to be there on the bus after the race 🤣🤣She's an amazing rider, esp when her team, not for the first time, seem to self destruct.

[@JSBax]

Did I not hear a single knucklehead in this video?? Chris you're going soft on the girls!! Have to say though I really appreciate you dissecting it and giving your thoughts on how a shit storm like this comes about (though you didn't mention Wiebes or Fisher Black who were there at the crash...)

[@ananovo8662]

The driver who hit him was knucklehead of the day

[@rossman450]

I saw this comment on Lantern Rouge video and I think it sums it up in my opinion: “SD Works has UAE (men’s) strength and power but the DS runs it like Movie Star.

[@tonyg3091]

Even Movistar would never stoop to such thing man. Remember couple years back when the jersey (Primoz I believe) crashed and Movistar upped the tempo a bit instead of slowing down? The cycling community torn them a new one for that although their actions were million miles above the SD Worx shitshow. Or what they did at the Vuelta to Carapaz by helping Primoz? Still both cases were much more excusable than the total atrocity we witnessed here.

[@camillelively]

Honestly, UAE often doesn’t have great team tactics either. If Pog isn’t there, it’s like they forget they’re on a team.

[@easternbrown]

Tour de Farce from SD nobody works

[@DBxCooper]

I finally caught up on this race today and it did completely cost them the race. I’m actually very happy because I wanted a niewiadoma win. That being said, what a damn joke. You couldn’t send one or two teammates to pace her back??? Pathetic

[@roland4610]

I was waiting for this

[@brendanward9877]

The DS should have been fired after the race, a clown. If he doesn’t know what’s going on, and he did, he does not deserve to be there , they shafted her, plain and simple.

[@charlestoddsullivanforpres6628]

Glad you're ok after getting hit by a car...I thought we might get a video on this topic.

[@ChrisHornerCycling]

I was riding yesterday before I got hit thinking, as soon as I get home I’m doing the video on the women. Then bam, I’m on the ground. 😱🦋

[@kauaimurph]

Yikes. Please provide details when you’re able to hopefully educate all the knucklehead drivers out there. Was it on Bend city streets or outside town?

[@BruceGaims-r3i]

Hey, Chris, The Tour de France Femmes had an epic Stage 8 conclusion. Are you planning to cover that? The women deserve the attention and analysis for that kind of effort and competitiveness.

[@JeffBraumberger]

Always defend the jersey. That's the number one objective in the race is to win the race overall. What if that had happened to Vingegaard, would WVA continue ahead to try to win the stage?

[@bigwave_dave8468]

Well, that scenario kinda happened on stage 5 of the 2022 TDF but it was Wout in the yellow jersey who stayed back to help their GC rider (Jonas) rejoin in the cobbles stage -- earlier in that tour WVA was getting some flak for always seeking stage glory but in the end he made good and supported his GC team leader (also Primoz crashed out on that stage, i think)

[@chrisrichardson5023]

Demi deserves better and hopefully she finds that with her next team

[@wadesmith5499]

Damn. Hope you are ok Chris.

[@cottoncatt1186]

Few days later, Vollering lost the Tour for 4 little seconds.

[@andreasabels589]

If I was SD Worx, I'd pull sponsorship of the team for sure. Follow Vollering, like the fans do. Hope the team falls apart never to see their previous dominance.

[@ShawnStradamus520]

It seems to be a dynamic that plays out in most superteams…too many leaders and not enough workers makes for knuckleheaded tactics but entertaining racing! I hate it when I get hit by cars…glad it wasn’t worse! 🦋🤙

[@bigwave_dave8468]

What was Demi doing in the middle of the Peleton anyway? She had no teammates around except Weibes on her wheel then Weibes crashes her and rides on. Like a nightmare out of a Mad Max movie.."Beyond the Blunderdome"? Bad juju on that team for sure. She'll be much better off without them. PS: glad to see you walking after your accident!

[@ChrisHornerCycling]

Beyond The Blunderdome. I like that. 😜🦋👍

[@adelinas.6598]

I think it was Wiebes who said in an interview afterwards that Demi was supposed to help her on the final climb and launch her for the sprint to win the stage. That's why Demi was so far back in the peloton..Like..lmao can you imagine that? The yellow jersey staying behind to help the person who later crashes and abandons her. And it's not the first time Demi rides for Wiebes anyway, which makes it even worse

[@davidpybas8250]

Hope you heal fast Chris. That looks like shit.

[@GeekonaBike]

SDworxs has been disrespecting Demi for 2 solid years. They get their just deserts next year why she'll still be racing against them but now on another team.

[@cooldude.1811]

If this had happened with Pog and UAE, many riders would have been looking for new contracts. We saw how many teammates were there during Stage 2 of the Giro to bring him back to the front.

[@ChrisHornerCycling]

Can you imagine Bjerg winning a stage while Pogi loses yellow. Oh man. Ridiculous. 😱🦋

[@tonyg3091]

Forget Pog, what about Cav? If it was SD Worx they would be: Ah we are so tired of pulling you up the mountains old man, you are on your own, we don't care if you make the time cut or not...🤣😅

[@jonathanzappala]

I got a cherry on my hip too. Great over the bars crash in age group draft legal duathlon world championships, all by myself! New helmet and road task, the bikes ok ;)

[@janweyant8902]

yah women's racing is so different from men's. It was as an amateur when I raced and I guess it STILL is and in the pros. WHy be on a team if you're NOT going to work for the team leader especially in a race like the Tour? These tours should have their "A" game on! As bad as some of the DS's are in men's cycling, I'm guessing they're worse in women's which also means the racers are being led in the wrong direction with tactics. Finally, I'm sorry, but there isn't an understanding of basic team strategy in a team sport like cycling, that seems like a major problem. All of this contributes to why I don't watch women's cycling. Fortunately, The Vuelta starts tomorrow so we can talk about THAT! :)

[@geovanniperez9148]

Talk about burying the lead! Hit by a car! Hope you heal soon. Terrible how the team did her like that.