This season she showed little or nothing in the high mountains, but in the Tour de France Femmes, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot has relegated the competition in the queen stage. Sarah took a gigante initiative on the Col de la Madeleine, but Stoic drove the Frenchwoman on about nine kilometers from the line. She also settled with the best riders from the flight and thus hit a clear double stroke. Le Court lost the Geel, Demi Volling and title defender Kasia Niewadoma clearly lacked and received a tap of three minutes.
Ride 8 of the Tour de France Femmes in a nutshell
- Winner of the day
There is only a name that fits here: Pauline Ferrand-Prévot was supreme on the Col de la Madeleine and takes a serious step towards tour win. She relegated the competition and takes a lead of 2’37 “to Joux-Plane.
- Losers of the day
The rest of the classification women can be put here, but especially Anna van der Breggen. The Dutch was the first to get rid of the top 10 and loses 9 and a half minutes. This way she falls away to place 12 in the rankings.
- Morning
The last ride in this Tour seems to be a measure for nothing after today, but it still has to be driven. With 2 cols from 1st category and the Col de Joux-Plane, this promises spectacle again, but more balanced spread over the ride.
Expectations are paid
Again a ride with high expectations, but the queen’s ride of this Tour solved expectations with verve, thanks in part to a 3rd French solo in a row.
Also for the third day in a row a group of refugees rushed out of the peloton. Below that for the 2nd time in Justine Ghekiere and Maeva Squiban. Lotte Claes was also there.
Many repetitions today, also on the Col de la Madeleine.
Dramatic drop from Le Court
First, however, there was the flight, on the initiative of Bollentrui Elise Chabbey, who wanted to get the first mountain points of this ride at all costs. The Swiss succeeded in her setup and can defend her sweater one last time tomorrow.
In the meantime, the yellow sweater Kim Le Court seemed to realize that her chances of retaining her sweater would be much less high. That is why she tried to support her fellow headwoman Sarah Gigante, but things went wrong in the descent.
The Mauritian flew out of the corner – fortunately without much bad – and was thus dependent on chasing. The group of favorites first went on but stopped below.
Le Court immediately transferred the news to Gigante. Even before the riders were on the Madeleine, there was already a change from the guard.
Madeleine as a sharpener
A strong thinned group of favorites started with a 2 -minute backlog at the thinning flight, on the Col Buiten category.
Yellow sweater Le Court took the lead, as a super kneed of Gigante.
The rest of the classification women seemed to follow effortlessly, until suddenly Anna van der Breggen had to release. The Dutch ceiling and was allowed to make a cross over her classification ambitions.
With the rest of the favorites it was now waiting for a first attack.
After a hairpin bend, Le Court finally took off, the sign for gigante to go.
The rest had to drop out, until Pauline Ferrand Prevot suddenly found a 2nd breath.
The Française came again at Gigante and so they drove together towards the last refugees. But Ferrand-Prévot clearly felt even stronger and went solo 5 kilometers from the top.
A great attack by another Frenchwoman, the 3rd in a row after 2 times squiber. Ferrand-Prévot thus takes a solid option on tour win, the first for France in this new format.
Tour decides?
Gigante was able to limit the damage the most and came in at 1’47 ”, the rest of the classification women lost more than 3 minutes.
For example, we have to wait and see what Joux-Plane has to offer tomorrow.
That the yellow jersey will again change shoulders seems to be very likely.
Ferrand-Prévot has a lead of 2’37 ”over Gigante. The rest is already following more than 3 minutes in the rankings.
Ferrand-Prévot sets to Tourwinst after solo on Col the la Madedeine
Fulling tries to limit damage
The Dutch top favorite squeezes out an immense last kilometer and enters 3’03 “, together with her fellow countryman Kastelijn.
Niewiadoma has to give up a little more time and loses 3’32 “, Rooijakkers 5 seconds more.
Gigante comes in at a minute and a half.
The stage is completed by Niamh Fisher-Black, who is now probably jumping in the top 10.
Ferrand-Prévot seizes power
She wins the queen stage and at the same time takes over the yellow sweater from Le Court.
Niewiadoma and Volling continue to lose ground and have been driving behind the Française for 3 minutes now.
Gigante seems to have found a small second breath and remains in ferrand-prévot about a minute and a half.
Victory party for Ferrand-Prévot
The Française Ridjt concentrated under the arch of the last kilometer and still looks down quickly to try to see her pursuers.
They all drive far enough behind her and so the Frenchwoman can gradually start celebrating.
Fulling and niewiadoma losing together
The numbers 3 and 4 from before this ride finally found each other in a group of 5, where Kerbaol and Rooijakkers also ride in Meer.
In the meantime, they are already following almost 3 minutes from Ferrand-Prévot: a dent in their ambitions for the yellow jersey.
Ferrand-Prévot still has 3 kilometers to go to the top and the measurement.
The Française thus completes a masterful climb and seizes power on the penultimate day of this Tour.
Now all by yourself
Ferrand-Prévot now also leaves her last partner and goes all the way to the top of the Madeleine.
Gigante tries to limit the damage as much as possible and drives around almost a minute from the leader.
The rest of the favorites is virtually driven at least 2 minutes behind.
The Dutch Yara Kastelijn must now also unload after a new acceleration of Ferrand-Prévot in the front.
Fisher-Black is still sucking in the wheel of the Frenchwoman, but it seems a matter of how long she will be able to sustain this.
Sarah Gigante is now following 45 seconds, Niewiadoma and Volling look at almost 2 minutes.
Ferrand-Prévot Lost Gigante on the way to Geel: “She sticks her hand to the day’s victory and overall victory”
Ferrerand-prevote each
The Française unloads gigante and drives steadily to the 2 leaders.
For example, a 3rd French victory seems to be coming in a row and the rankings are completely changed.
Her competitors (except gigante so far) all lose at least a minute. Fulling even loses almost 2.
Ferrand-Prévot still gets help from Megan Bunel, who was still in front.
Niewiadoma must also fit behind it while Rooijakkers drives on.
Fulling is currently losing more than a minute on the Française of Visma Lease-A-Bike, who seizes power in this Tour.
Overview
A second time chaos can again use an overview.
In the front, Niamh Fisher-Black and a creaking Yara Kastelijn have 45 seconds ahead of a trio of Ferrand-Prévot, Muzic and Gigante.
Niewiadoma and Rooijakkers are losing more and more grounds on that group and driving half a minute behind the 2 best favorites.
Fulling holds full and tries to drive back to Niewiadoma and Co, with Kerbaol in her wheel. That goes is still 15 seconds in date.
Gigante with the attack: “There is already Ferrand-Prévot, fulling not as good as we had thought”
Titanenduel
Ghekiere has completed her task and leaves Gigante alone with Ferrand-Prévot.
Behind it, Niewiadoma and Rooijakkers try to return, but that is simpler than done.
Fulling is currently losing for half a minute on its direct competitors.
Ghekiere arrives perfectly on time and puts himself to work again.
For example, we get a group of 4 riders: Gigante and Ferrand-Prévot in the wheel of Ghekiere, Rooijakkers has difficulty.
Niewiadoma drives a few seconds behind, the rest of the group has to leave some more space. Demi Volling has to work in this way to try to see the rest.
