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One day after taking the first Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift stage of her career, French rider Maeva Squiban dazzled in doubling up at the race, soloing in well clear into Chambéry.
The UAE Team ADQ rider was part of the day’s breakaway and put in a big attack on the final climb of the day, the Col du Granier, catching and passing US rider Ruth Edwards (Human Powered Health) and Marielle Meijering (Movistar Team), and reaching the top alone.
She sped down the descent to seal a stirring win, while behind overnight leader Kim Le Court (AG Insurance Soudal) defiantly returned on the downhill after being dropped and left 35 seconds behind at the summit by the GC group.
Edwards was still out front and fought hard to try to take second, but was caught by ace descender Cédrine Kerbaol (EF Education-Oatly) on the line and pipped for that runner-up slot.
They were 51 seconds behind Squiban, with Shirin van Anrooij (Lidl) a further two seconds back.
GC group finishes together but Le Court counting blessings
Le Court had a tough day but showed great determination (Photo: Tim de Waele/Getty Images)
Dominika Włodarczyk (UAE Team ADQ) led in the GC group one minute behind the winner, just ahead of a relieved Le Court, Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime), Demi Vollering (FDJ-Suez), Kasia Niewiadoma (FDJ-Suez) and others.
Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (Visma-Lease a Bike) was there too, having been race leader on the road after Le Court was dropped on the final climb.
Squiban’s success shows how her confidence is on a high following her breakthrough victory on Thursday. She said she was determine to try something again.
“It is just incredible. This morning I said, ‘okay, I will attack kilometer zero.’ It was at the beginning a tough job but finally I did it. It was just an amazing day,” she said.
“At the beginning I thought my sports director in the car could be really against me because I attacked kilometer zero. But I think she is now proud of what we did today.
Squiban lost time early on in the race and is still seven minutes back as a result.
The biggest threat to Le Court is Ferrand-Prévot, who is 26 seconds back overall heading into the crucial mountain stage on Saturday.
Niewiadoma is a further four seconds back.
The GC battle remains very close, with Vollering at 31 seconds, Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx Protime) at 35 and Pauliena Rooijakkers (Fenix-Deceuninck) and Kerbaol just over a minute down.
More to follow soon…