Dutch rider Annemiek Van Vleuten blew the Tour de France Femmes field apart with a climbing masterclass to seize the yellow jersey on the penultimate stage today.
Only compatriot Demi Vollering could stay with Van Vleuten on the first of three huge climbs on stage seven, but Van Vleuten then poured on the power for a solo victory.
The 39-year-old Movistar rider, who was suffering with illness earlier in the week, put 25 seconds on Vollering at the summit of Col du Platzerwasel, the first test of the 127km ride from Selestat, and was relentless thereafter.
Golden ride
She appeared to be in a race of her own for the final 62km with a display reminiscent of her 2019 golden ride at the road world championships in Yorkshire when she went solo for 100km.
The three-time world champion began the day in eighth place overall, one minute and 28 seconds behind leader Marianne Vos, but ended it with a huge lead in the general classification with only tomorrow’s mountain stage remaining.
Vollering (SD Worx) dug deep on the final 13.5km Grand Ballon climb to finish the stage three minutes and 26 seconds behind Van Vleuten and grab second place overall.
Poland’s Katarzyna Niewiadoma is third overall, 4:33 behind.
Dutch great Vos, who had worn the yellow jersey since taking it on stage two, was distanced on the first climb although she always knew Van Vleuten would take over in the mountains.
Van Vleuten leads Vollering by three minutes 14 seconds ahead of tomorrow’s La Super Plance Des Belles Filles finale.
Lost time
“It has been such a rollercoaster after being sick,” Van Vleuten, who could not eat for two days earlier this week, told Eurosport. “So to win like this is unbelievable.
“Beautiful to finish here solo. For sure I had to try today because I had lost some time. My style is always attacking, not to wait. I wanted to make the big time gaps which meant going on the first climb.
“I have a lot of capacity and then it comes down to fitness and that’s something I’m really good in. I knew that if I was fit after being sick this would be my day.”
