Despite a difficult start in the Zwift at the Tour de France Femme, FDJ-SUEZ-Futuroscope had some luck on their side in their home race. In a stage where many riders were unlucky and lost time, the team put into action a plan to keep a solid ride while Cecilie-Uttrup-Ludwig took second place after a well-timed attack by Evita Mujic.

Less than 24 hours after his emotional victory on stage 3, Uttrup-Ludwig suffered a puncture in the third sector on stage 4, preventing him from winning the overall.

"When I got a puncture in the gravel in the third sector, Vittoria (Guazzini) and Marie (Le Net) found the puncture very quickly and stopped with me to change the wheel. It was like writing a book."

After losing Marta Cavalli and four riders falling in the crash-filled second stage, FDJ-Suez-Futuroscope rallied itself not only to win, but to unite after a "dark day" that "really tied" the riders together.

"It's just amazing," Uttrup Ludwig said of the team's rebuilding. 'This team is united. After the second stage I almost wanted to go home, or at least forget the day. But yesterday we got back on our feet, and today Evita came in second. It's really great."

Mujic, who made a late attack in the last 10km to finish second, was happy to be on the podium in his home race, a good result for his team.

"I'm really happy to get this podium for the team after yesterday's win and after a dark day on stage 2," he said. We still have four more stages to go and the GC in Cire."

Mujic, who is racing in the Tour as Uttrup-Ludwig's domestique, admitted that she "would love to win a stage like she did" and was very happy to have made the podium in Val-sur-Aube.

"It was tough," she said. I didn't know if I could make it to the finish and I wanted to try to sprint." I kept running anyway, so I'm really happy. I had a tough winter with the surgery, so I worked hard and it paid off."

Before her own attack, Mujic worked for Uttrup Ludwig.

"When we came to what I thought was the lead group, we actually split into two groups. Then Evita was there and said, "Get on my wheel!" I said, "Get on my wheels! The whole team was great. It was a great team performance and I'm so proud of how we worked together, how we bounced back, how we fought every day.