Wolelin takes the lead in the Women’s Tour time trial

Defending champion Demi Wohlerin won the third stage of the Tour de France, completing a “triple victory” for the Dutch rider on home soil.

The 27-year-old from Painaker completed the 6.3km course on the streets of Rotterdam five seconds faster than her nearest rival, American world champion Chloe Dygert.

Wöllering’s unexpected victory in the short time trial stage was enough to snatch the yellow jersey from her compatriot Charlotte Cool, who had won her second sprint stage earlier in the day on the 70km route from Deventer to Rotterdam.

Kuhl narrowly beat another Dutch rider, Lorena Wiebes, to cross the finish line first, adding to her victory in Monday’s opening stage from Rotterdam to The Hague.

Wolelin rides with the SD Worx-Primetime team and was in pole position as the team headed to the French Alps, where she is considered one of the strongest climbers in the field.

“I was really surprised,” she said after the race. “I only managed one track session because I had a lot of problems with my equipment, including a flat rear tire.”

“We don’t do these short time trials very often. My team said the course was set up for me, but I think it’s set up for sprinters. It’s special to win the yellow jersey in your own country.”

In the race, Wolelin finished three seconds ahead of her SD Worx teammate Vibes in the overall standings, while a group of riders including Dygert and Kuhl were two seconds behind.

On Wednesday, the drivers will start from Valkenburg, cross the Belgian border and finally reach Liège, 127 kilometers away. On Sunday, the seventh stage will end with a total of 150 kilometers to the top of Alpe d’Huez.