Annemiek van Vleuten soars into yellow with stunning show of dominance on Stage 7 of Tour de France Femmes

Annemiek van Vleuten (Movistar Team) produced a ride for the ages to ride into yellow on Stage 7 of the Tour de France Femmes. Van Vleuten and Demi Vollering (Team SD Worx) made their move on the first climb of the day — the Petit Ballon — to put distance into their rivals. Van Vleuten then dropped the Team SD Worx rider a kilometre from the summit of the Col du Platzerwasel before sauntering home with Vollering some 3'26" in arrears.

Ad/> /> Tour de France Femmes‘They’d break!’ — Van Vleuten training regime beyond rest of peloton15 MINUTES AGO Featuring three unprecedented climbs, for a total of 3000m of climbing, as much as it would offer an opportunity for the likes of Van Vleuten the stage was always going to prove more of a challenge for many. The main question ahead of the start, given it was surely destined to break into a hundred pieces, was how long the race would stay together. The first 40km of the stage did not offer enough of a topographical springboard for an eager breakaway to steal a march on the main contenders.

Though 33 riders, representing most of the teams in the peloton, were able to split themselves off the front, the main GC contenders weren’t looking to hang around before starting to race. After returning the large group to the peloton, just ahead of the first climb of the day, the Petit Ballon, Annemiek van Vleuten (Movistar) made her move. Whether it came down to courage or capacity, Demi Vollering (SD Worx) was the only rider willing or able to go with her.