Charlotte Kool Wins First Two Stages of Tour

Dutch cyclist Charlotte Kool has dominated the opening stages of the 2024 Tour de France Femmes, winning both Stage 1 in The Hague and Stage 2 from Dordrecht to Rotterdam, maintaining her lead in the yellow jersey. Kool's victories came through intense sprint finishes, narrowly beating fellow Dutch riders Lorena Wiebes and Marianne Vos. The tour's split stage format on Tuesday included a morning road race and an afternoon time trial, adding to the riders' fatigue and tactical challenges. The race will continue south into Belgium and conclude on August 18th with a grueling climb at Alpe-d’Huez. Defending champion Demi Vollering remains a strong contender, currently trailing Kool by 20 seconds in the general classification.