This article was first published by聽.
In the medieval walled town of Provins, Marianne Vos (Jumbo-Visma) sits on a bale of hay. She鈥檚 got her head bowed, hands clasped together in front of her, taking a moment to catch her breath. As a throng of journalists crowd around her, Vos reflects on the moment.
In a pro cycling career that鈥檚 included nearly every type of victory, Vos has never had this: a stage win and the yellow jersey at the Tour de France Femmes. She鈥檒l later call it 鈥渄efinitely the best鈥 win of her career鈥揳 weighty statement given that her career contains more than 240 victories in road cycling alone, including three world titles, an Olympic gold medal, three UCI series titles, and 32 stages at the Giro d鈥橧talia, among other wins. And that lineup doesn鈥檛 even include her eight cyclocross world titles, Olympic gold medal in track cycling, and various other accomplishments in cycling.
Sitting there past the finish line, in the eye of a post-race media storm, Vos shares a brief hug with her mother鈥揳 moment of comfort and calm with a stalwart supporter. Later, in her post-race press conference, Vos reflects on the significance of the celebration.
鈥淥f course, it鈥檚 special to us to share a moment with the people close to you,鈥 Vos says. 鈥淎nd I also know that, yeah, even when my girlfriend is not here, she鈥檚 also supporting from the side. And my dad and my parents, if they鈥檙e not at the race they鈥檙e also with their hearts at the race.
鈥淏ut it鈥檚 of course really cool that they were here and also here at the finish line to enjoy and celebrate with me.鈥
There鈥檚 a nice symmetry to Vos winning a stage at the inaugural Tour de France Femmes. Back in 2009 she won the final stage of the final edition of the Grand Boucle F茅minine Internationale, one of several races touted as an unofficial women鈥檚 Tour de France in the years following the end of the officially licensed event. And then Vos won two editions of La Course by Le Tour de France鈥攁 race she helped to launch鈥攊ncluding the inaugural edition on the Champs-脡lys茅es back in 2014.
Like that win in 2014, her stage win on Monday at the inaugural Tour de France Femmes was a landmark result for both Vos and for the sport.
鈥淲hen nine years ago we were talking with the ASO about an opportunity to race [at the Tour de France] it went really fast to get La Course,鈥 Vos says. 鈥淎nd when we raced then the first time on the Champs-脡lys茅es it felt [like] a milestone. And now to be here back for a stage race, for a real Tour de France? Yeah, that鈥檚 another milestone.鈥
In her press conference, the subject of Vos鈥檚 age becomes the subject of multiple questions. At 35, how is it she鈥檚 still at the top of the sport? Did she think she鈥檇 miss her chance to race the Tour de France if the race hadn鈥檛 happened now?
鈥淭hey say age is just a number,鈥 she says with a chuckle. 鈥淚 feel good and I try to be at the best [that] I can. And, yeah, I think the most important thing is to enjoy and to be able to ride your bike every day with pleasure. As long as I鈥檓 healthy and enjoying racing as much with this team 鈥
鈥淎t this moment, I don鈥檛 think age is something that鈥檚 really playing a role except [for] the fact that, of course, some experience might help, especially if you鈥檙e racing a final. And that doesn鈥檛 mean you never make a mistake. I keep learning.鈥
As Vos finishes her press conference in a humble sports stadium on the outskirts of Provins, she receives a hearty round of applause from the gathered media members. That鈥檚 not a normal occurrence in a Tour de France press room. Then again, there鈥檚 nothing normal about what Marianne Vos has achieved today or in the sport more generally.
Vos likely won鈥檛 be in yellow on the final podium on Sunday. She and her team are more interested in stage wins on the way there. But you can bet that while Vos is in the maillot jaune, she鈥檒l be doing what she can to keep it. On paper, it鈥檚 possible she maintains her lead for the next few stage鈥攁ll the way up to the mountains of the final two stages (Vos defended her yellow jersey on Tuesday鈥檚 stage into Epernay).
But even if Vos loses the jersey between now and Friday, there鈥檚 something most fitting about seeing her in yellow. The greatest cyclist of all time, so long a figurehead for women鈥檚 cycling, a winner of virtually every race there is to win in a career of remarkable longevity鈥攖here could be no finer recipient of the yellow jersey at the inaugural Tour de France Femmes.
In wearing yellow, Vos is right where she belongs.