Maëva Squiban’s exceptional performance at the Tour de France Femmes culminated in a remarkable second consecutive stage victory, solidifying her status as a formidable force in women’s cycling and marking a pivotal moment in the professional cycling calendar.

The UAE Team ADQ rider demonstrated incredible tenacity, attacking from an early breakaway to secure her triumph in this prestigious bike race, finishing a significant 51 seconds ahead of rivals Cédrine Kerbaol and Ruth Edwards, a testament to her strategic prowess and physical endurance.

Meanwhile, the yellow jersey holder, Kim Le Court-Pienaar of AG Insurance-Soudal, faced a thrilling challenge on the Col du Granier. Despite losing contact with the main group, she showcased incredible descending skills, executing a daredevil maneuver to close the gap and heroically defend her overall lead in the cycling championship.

Squiban herself humorously acknowledged her pre-race ambition, stating, “I said as a joke yesterday that I would attack from kilometre zero. My sport director didn’t like that I said that, but I think she is proud of me now,” highlighting her bold approach from the very start of the stage and her relentless pursuit of a stage victory.

The peloton, led by formidable teams like Fenix-Deceuninck and Visma-Lease a Bike, relentlessly chased the breakaway. The dynamics within the escape group were fluid and intense, with riders like Rijnbeek making daring solo attempts and others rejoining after tactical descents, keeping the race unpredictable and highlighting the strategic complexities of the Tour de France Femmes.

The ascent of the Col du Granier proved decisive, with Squiban launching multiple accelerations, ultimately dropping her companions, including Mareille Meijering, to build an insurmountable lead. Her climbing prowess and perfectly timed attacks underscored her dominance on this demanding segment of the bike race.

In the General Classification group, Pauliena Rooijakkers dictated a fierce pace, creating significant splits among the top contenders. The dramatic final kilometers saw Kerbaol’s aggressive pursuit, where she impressively bridged to Edwards and Van Anrooij, ultimately outsprinting Edwards for a hard-fought second place and gaining crucial bonus seconds, significantly reshaping the overall standings in this compelling cycling championship.

The stage’s conclusion also brilliantly set the stage for the highly anticipated decisive climb of the Col de la Madeleine. Riders like Sarah Gigante and Pauliena Rooijakkers, despite losing some time, are now positioned as top favorites for stage 8, while Nienke Vinke securing the white jersey adds further layers of intrigue to the race’s exhilarating final days.