Daria Pikulik became the unexpected heroine of the last day of the Olympic Games in Paris. When it seemed that Polish athletes from the capital of France would not bring even ten medals, Pikulik reached for the silver medal in track cycling, in the omnium competition.
– It still hasn't sunk in. I finally fulfilled my dream. Today I had a new attitude. I told myself from the start that I would do everything I could. If it wasn't enough, I wouldn't have anything to blame myself for, because I would know that I gave it my all. I couldn't believe what was happening until the end and I didn't look at the scoreboard. I only looked at it at the penultimate finish. I said to myself: Thank God that the Chinese girl is pulling it off and no one is attacking. I rode my race disconnected – the newly-baked Olympic vice-champion said in a hot interview with TVP Sport.
Daria Pikulik sixth after the first stage of the Tour de France
However, Daria Pikulik did not go on vacation after her great success in Paris. She moved to the Netherlands, where the women's Tour de France started on Monday. Today, the first stage of the race from Rotterdam to The Hague, 124 kilometers long, took place.
Pikulik finished sixth in Monday's stage, and first from the Human Powered Health team she represents. And that was a day after winning a medal! The Pole had to give way to Charlotte Kool, Anniina Ahtosalo, Elisa Balsamo, Lotta Henttali and Marianne Vos.
The second stage on Tuesday 13 August will be 67 kilometres from Dordrecht to Rotterdam. The Women's Tour de France will finish on Sunday 18 August.