Double stage race days are not a new concept in cycling's elite races. However, the second day of the Tour de France Femmes was a logistical headache, with many riders and teams not liking the unusual day and staff spending extra time to ensure smooth operations.

For stage winner Demi Vollering, there was time for not one, but two naps; for FDJ Suez, it meant booking another hotel in Rotterdam so the riders could shower and cool down before the time trial.

The 22 teams arrived in Dordrecht, the starting point for the second stage, around 8:00 am local time. They had to move quickly to complete team presentations and official commitments and return to Rotterdam before the start of the 67.9 km race.

With the time trial starting less than four hours after the road stage, some riders may have wondered why two races were held in one day.

“It's not something I like to do. It puts a lot of stress on the staff and riders, mainly. I don't know why they do it, but there must be a reason,” Lizzie Deignan of Lidl Trek told Cycling News at the finish of the second stage.

“It's a lot to ask. We're one of the bigger teams and we have a lot of staff, so we'll be fine, but I think it's a real headache for the smaller teams”

. [There are] sponsors, there is the public, there is more than just my opinion as a rider.”

The Paris Olympics were the main reason the Tour de France Femme was forced to move from late July to mid-August. However, by making it a double stage, it was possible to start the race on Monday and finish in Alpe d'Huez on Sunday so as not to clash with the closing ceremony of the Games. In addition, the finale in Alpe d'Huez took place on Sunday. Thus, the race was held over eight stages and was not reduced in size from the first and second editions.

FDJ-Suez shared a more critical view of having two races in one day, with team manager Stephane Delcourt stating that it was “a lot of logistics” and “stressful” especially for the staff.

“Having two stages on one day like this, on the same day, is really hard on the logistics, both for the athletes and for the staff. For example, after the finish line, there are no buses and it's almost impossible to go to a hotel and come back and book another hotel because you need to recover,” Delcourt told Cycling News and Escape Collective in Dordrecht before the second stage.

His head mechanic, Lucas Fouquet, spent the morning washing his road bike and setting up his TT bike for the afternoon with two colleagues.

“It's been a busy day. It's good for the spectators, it's good for the city. But as a staff we don't think it's a good idea, and I think a lot of teams are thinking the same thing,” he said.

But for Roland, one of the smaller teams, it was a no-brainer.

Recovering from a crash on stage 1, Coles-Lister did well in the sprint of stage 2, finishing eighth. However, it was not stressful for the track athlete, who had just returned from the Paris Olympics, to have multiple races in one day.

“It's going pretty smooth and well coordinated,” she said. 'It's not too complicated, so I don't have any complaints.' For the crew, the logistics behind the scenes might be more complicated, but from my perspective as a rider, it's very smooth.”

“We finished early so we could shower, have a good cup of coffee, and go to recover while we wait for the other racers.

Two hours and five minutes after Coles-Lister started the 6.3-km course, final stage winner Volering awoke from his nap, ready to claim victory and the yellow jersey.

“I took two naps after the first stage. After I got back to the hotel, I laid down on the bed and fell asleep,” Vollering said at the victory press conference. I wanted to meditate after the recon, but I fell asleep again. I think I relaxed a little too much today.”

“Thanks to my teammates who kept me safe during the 67.9km sprint stage.

“As I said before, I didn't really like to concentrate twice. The first stage in the morning was a bit scary. Everyone was fresh towards the front and everyone thought they could sprint,” Vollering said.

“I was fine. I especially want to give a shout out to Mischa (Bredewald), Christine (Majerus), Blanca (Vas), and Niamh (Fischer Black). They really worked hard all day to keep me safe and out of the wind.”

The 2025 Tour de France Femme will return in its usual July, so there will be no need to get special permission to run a double stage. However, there is no doubt that the two one-day stages of the 2024 event will be memorable, whether in a good or bad way.

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