Annemiek van Vleuten has bounced back from illness at Tour de France Femmes to go on the rampage today; putting in an 85km breakaway effort to take the stage win and yellow jersey.
The Movistar rider made her move on the first climb of today's stage 7, with Demi Vollering (SD Worx) the only rider willing or able to move with her on the 127.1km stage from Sélestat to Le Markstein.
They took flight on the first climb of the day, Petit Ballon, and were quickly out front gaining big time as an early early breakaway - featuring Trek-Segafredo's Elisa Balsamo, Ellen van Dijk, and Elisa Longo Borghini - swept aside.
Once they leading duo were clear, it soon became clear that Van Vleuten had fully recovered from the stomach problems she had suffered through in the early stages of the race. When the leaders reached the second climb, the Col du Platzerwasel, they ascended most of it together before Van Vleuten attacked close to the top.
Advertisement
Related News
A gap of a few lengths soon grew and for the remainder of the stage - over 60km - Van Vleuten led solo, with Vollering in a chase two and three minutes behind. In the end, 3:26 separated the winner and runner-up.
Some 5:16 after Van Vleuten (39) celebrated her victory, Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (FDJ-SUEZ Futuroscope) led home and three-rider chasing group.
Juliette Labous (Team DSM) was 4th two seconds later, with Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Canyon-Sram Racing) right behind her in 5th.
Yellow jersey Marianne Vos (Jumbo Visma) suffered a very difficult stage; unable to follow the leaders or the chasing group and finishing in the remains of the peloton at 24:44 with nearly 40 riders ahead of them on small groups and ones and twos.
The stage result, ahead of tomorrow's final stage to the summit of La Super Planche des Belle Filles, Van Vleuten leads overall by 3:14 from Vollering with Niewiadoma, who rode the final climb faster than Van Vleuten, 3rd at 4:33.
