Maëva Squiban secured a home win on the sixth stage of the women’s Tour de France on Thursday, July 31, as history-maker Kim Le Court held on to her overnight lead. Frenchwoman Squiban broke free from the chasing pack with 30 kilometers to go and soloed home to secure the victory in 3hr 20 min and 46 seconds, after a mountainous 123.7-kilometer slog from Clermont-Ferrand to Ambert.
“It’s incredible, I don’t know what to say! When they told me I had 1 minute and 20 seconds, 1 minute and 30 seconds (lead), I didn’t really believe it,” said Squiban. “I had Amalia (Debarges) from the team waiting for me with Haribo at the finish. That motivated me even more! It’s a special day for us,” added the 23-year-old from Brest.
Compatriot Juliette Labous finished second, with Le Court completing the podium as the Mauritian held onto the yellow jersey she claimed on Wednesday when she became the first African to win a stage on the women’s Tour. “It could only have been better if I won the stage. I felt really good today. The goal was to control the race,” said Le Court.
The 29-year-old has a 26-second lead over France’s Pauline Ferrand-Prevot in the overall classification, with Polish reigning champion Katarzyna Niewiadoma a further 4 seconds behind. Demi Vollering of the Netherlands, considered the pre-race favorite by many, sits fourth overall with a 31-second gap to Le Court.
Friday’s seventh stage will see the peloton arrive in the Alps, with a hilly 159.7-kilometer run from Bourg-en-Bresse to Chambéry on the cards.
