Before a tough climbing weekend starts, the sprinters may have had one last chance in the Tour France Femmes. But it went up and down from start to finish. This stage was rather seen as a foretaste of what the riders will be presented with tomorrow and Sunday.
Yesterday it almost looked good for 2 early breakaways, but today an escape might have been more likely. It took a while for that flight, but after 38 kilometers 14 riders got away. Among others, Jesse Vandenbulcke, Christine Majerus and Audrey Cordon-Ragot were present. UAE Team ADQ and Valcar Travel & Service did not have a rider in the leading group, so they had to work hard. The escapees got no more than 1’30”.
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The classification riders could perhaps try something before a tough closing weekend. On the Route de Mollkirch, the climb for the bonus seconds, Grace Brown wanted to cause a stir with an attack. But after the top everything was back together.
In the descent things didn’t look good for Lotte Kopecky and Lorena Wiebes. The 2 riders fell and remained seated. Our compatriot was able to continue and later made the connection with the peloton. Wiebes had to chase with a bloodied elbow. The Dutch would not be able to sprint for her 3rd stage victory.
On the last cataloged climb, the Côte de Boersch, Marie Le Net broke away from her fellow refugees. The French rider dreamed of a victory in her own country, but that was not counted on Ellen van Dijk. In function of sprinter Elisa Balsamo, she made it difficult for Le Net. Later the FDJ rider also caught.
The classification riders left it to the sprinters to claim the leading role. Lotte Kopecky was well positioned and seemed to be taking a shot at the overall victory. Our compatriot did not get to sprint because she was closed in. Marianne Vos showed off her yellow jersey by racing to victory in Rosheim. Marta Bastianelli was 2nd and Kopecky had to be content with 3rd place.
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Marianne Vos can present impressive figures. We have 6 stages behind us and the Dutch have never finished outside the top 5.
“It was a tough ride again. Fortunately, as a team, we were in a good situation because we had a rider among the escapees.”
“My teammates made sure in the final that I was well up front, out of the wind and that the speed always remained high.”
“I was in the wheel of Ellen van Dijk and then Balsamo and Longo Borghini came up, I felt I had more speed and luckily it was enough.”
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