Katarzyna Niewiadoma-Phinney of CANYON//SRAM took the general classification lead at the Tour de France Femmes by winning stage seven after a solo attack. Before the stage, Marlen Reusser of Movistar Team held the overall lead, ahead of Demi Vollering of FDJ-SUEZ in second, Niewiadoma-Phinney in third, and fellow Polish rider Dominika Włodarczyk of UAE Team L’IMAD in sixth.
The outcome of the stage was decided less than nine kilometers from the finish line when Niewiadoma-Phinney launched a solo attack. Reusser and Vollering attempted to chase, but a lack of cooperation caused the gap to grow. Niewiadoma-Phinney accelerated again about four kilometers from the finish line and crossed alone to earn one of the biggest victories of her career.
Solo attack on stage seven
Vollering broke away from Reusser near the end to finish second, 1 minute and 16 seconds behind Niewiadoma-Phinney. The result put Niewiadoma-Phinney into the race lead, 15 seconds ahead of Vollering and 39 seconds ahead of Reusser, placing her in an excellent position to fight for final victory before the end of the race. Niewiadoma-Phinney previously won the Tour de France Femmes general classification without winning an individual stage.
General classification standings
- 1. Katarzyna Niewiadoma (CANYON//SRAM) 24:07:34
- 2. Demi Vollering (FDJ United-SUEZ) + 0:15
- 3. Marlen Reusser (Movistar Team) + 0:39
- 4. Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team L’IMAD) + 2:59
- 5. Antonia Niedermaier (CANYON//SRAM) + 3:21
- 6. Cedrine Kerbaol (EF Education-Oatly) + 4:01
- 7. Paula Blasi (UAE Team L’IMAD) + 4:32
- 8. Dominika Włodarczyk (UAE Team L’IMAD) + 5:13
- 9. Isabella Holmgren (Lidl-Trek) + 6:09
- 10. Kim Le Court Pienaar (AG Insurance-Soudal Team) + 6:17
