Annemiek van Vleuten from the Netherlands is close to winning the overall women’s Tour de France.
The three-time world champion won the demanding mountain stage over 127.1 kilometers to Le Markstein as a soloist and took over the yellow jersey. The second-placed Demi Vollering (Netherlands) was already 3:26 minutes behind on Saturday (07/30/2022), the previously leading Dutchwoman Marianne Vos collapsed completely.
Attack 62 kilometers from the finish
“It was incredible. I just had to try today”said van Vleuten. “It was a roller coaster ride after I was ill. It’s incredible. My mentality is to attack. I had to make up some time. I just survived six days. The stage was right for me.”said the 39-year-old, who had complained of stomach problems in the first few days.
The Olympic champion in the individual time trial was in a class of her own on the climb through Alsace, which included climbing 1,338 meters over the Grand Ballon, the highest peak in the Vosges. Van Vleuten attacked 62 kilometers from the finish – and was never caught. In the overall standings, she is now 3:14 minutes ahead of Vollering before the final stage.
The decision will be made on Sunday at the top of the Planche des Belles Filles, where a stage of the men’s tour ended on July 8th. At that time, escapee Lennard Kämna was intercepted just 100 meters from the finish by the pursuers around the eventual winner of the day, Tadej Pogacar.
Vos passed to the back
The Dutchman Marianne Vos, who had extended the overall lead the day before with her second stage win, was more than 20 minutes behind van Vleuten at the finish and was also passed in the overall classification. The two-time stage winner Lorena Wiebes (Netherlands/Team DSM), long wearer of the green jersey of the rider with the best points, did not compete after her violent fall the day before.