Marianne Vos Annemiek Van-Vleuten France Netherlands Poland cycling Other sport Sport Yellow Marianne Vos Annemiek Van-Vleuten France Netherlands Poland

Annemiek Van Vleuten seizes yellow jersey ahead of Tour de France Femmes finale

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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 on Saturday.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.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 Sunday'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 Sunday's La Super Plance Des Belles Filles finale."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.

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Dutch rider Annemiek van Vleuten won the Tour de France Femmes after she tamed the brutal ascent to La Super Planche des Belles Filles in Sunday's final stage to grab the overall victory.
Five days ago Annemiek van Vleuten was in trouble. A lot of trouble. Plagued by a stomach bug that meant she “couldn’t eat, couldn’t drink,” the Giro Donne champion was on the brink of abandoning the first women’s Tour de France in 33 years She didn’t.
Annemiek van Vleuten says the Tour de France Femmes is «alive» after winning the event atop the Super Planche des Belles Filles. The 39-year-old led by 3'14" ahead of the final stage and sealed the overall win at the top of the celebrated climb on Sunday, and said she would celebrate with ice cream and pizza. Ad/> Van Vleuten says she had «goosebumps» as she approached the finish line.
The 39-year-old Movistar rider, who grabbed the lead with a brilliant solo performance in the mountains on Saturday, bided her time in the peloton before powering up the final climb to seal her triumph.
PLANCHE DES BELLES FILLES, France — Veteran rider Annemiek van Vleuten won the women's Tour de France for the first time on Sunday after clinching the eighth and final stage in style.

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