Australia’s Sarah Gigante has kept pace with the Tour de France Femme leaders as France’s Maeva Squiban made a solo ride to the finish line with a perfectly-timed attack on the final major climb to win the mountainous stage six.
Gigante, who moved into the leading group after finishing in the leading pack on Wednesday, came home 16th — one minute 13 seconds behind the winner.
It meant the AG Insurance-Soudal rider moved up a place to seventh in the general classification, 1.3 behind yellow jersey wearer Kimberley Le Court Pienaar.
Squiban, of UAE Team ADQ, finished 1.9 ahead of compatriot Juliette Labous (FDJ-Suez) in the first French one-two in the history of the competition.
“It’s an amazing feeling. I didn’t expect to do that,” Squiban said after becoming the second French rider to claim a stage in the event after Cedrine Kerbaol took stage six last year.
Squiban stayed in the peloton led by Le Court (AG Insurance-Soudal), as mountains classification leader Elise Chabbey (FDJ-Suez) led the arduous 10-km climb to Col du Beal.
The 23-year-old broke away on the ascent to Col du Chansert and soon built a lead of over a minute and comfortably took the win in the 123.7km ride from Clermont-Ferrand to Ambert.
Mauritian Le Court, who won stage five, was the third to cross the finish line as she retained her lead in the general classification.
Pauline Ferrand-Prevot (Visma-Lease a Bike), another home favourite, finished seventh in the stage to remain second in the race for the yellow jersey, 26 sec behind Le Court.
Points classification leader Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime) fell back from the peloton during the first half of the stage and appeared to be content conserving her energy, as she retained the green jersey.
Australia’s Neve Bradbury was 49th on the stage, with Brodie Chapman, who won the combativity award 24 hours, back in 63rd, fading after being among the early pacesetters.
The Tour continues on Friday with a hilly 159.7km ride from Bourg-en-Bresse to Chambery.
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