After years of trying to get a female version of the Tour de France and several variations of women’s Tours have been held in the past but this years eight stage race is the first time since 1989 that the event has been officially held and hosted by the men's Tour organisers.
Van Vleuten, aged 39 had to change her bike three times in the final stage because of mechanical problems but was able to make up time to win three minutes and 44 seconds ahead of everyone else.
The Dutch rider was not seen as a contender during the first days of the race as she had suffered from a stomach bug so severe that she had been unable to eat nor to pack her own suitcase. However she recovered and battled her way to the front and on Saturday she attacked on the steep slopes of a climb called the Planche des Belles Filles and secured the Yellow Jersey, which for non cycling fans is earned and worn with pride by the overall leader.
On the final day her lead was such that she only needed to keep pace with everyone else to be sure of overall victory, but put in the necessary effort to end with a flamboyant finish . The first female Tour winner in 33 years.
Unfortunately her victory occurred on the same day as England's women won their football match and there was a dramatic crash in the men's cycling event in the Commonwealth Games which between them pushed this remarkable triumph from the newspapers here in England.
However, I am sure that the Dutch newspapers gave her victory more notice than the football results, so she should not feel her magnificent effort was under-reported in her home country.