Another outstanding team performance from UAE Team L’IMAD in the Queen Stage of the Tour de France Femmes. On the legendary Mont Ventoux, which hosted a stage finish in women’s cycling for the first time in history, the team confirmed its strength and depth by placing three riders in the top ten: Elisa Longo Borghini claimed an impressive third place after a strong comeback, Paula Blasi finished fifth and Dominika Wlodarczyk eighth. The result sees all three riders remain firmly inside the top 10 overall.
Stage 7 covered 146.8 kilometres from La Voulte-sur-Rhône to the summit of Mont Ventoux, providing one of the most anticipated challenges of this year’s Tour de France Femmes. UAE Team L’IMAD once again raced as a compact unit, with the aim of keeping its key riders in the best possible position ahead of the decisive final climb.
As the main contenders for the general classification began to make their moves, Elisa Longo Borghini, Paula Blasi and Dominika Wlodarczyk remained in the front group, perfectly positioned for the decisive ascent. Demi Vollering’s acceleration around 10 km to go further reduced the group, leaving the main GC contenders at the front together with yellow jersey Marlen Reusser and Kasia Niewiadoma.
It was Niewiadoma who launched the decisive attack. The Polish rider dropped her rivals with around nine kilometres to go and produced an impressive solo ride to build a lead of more than one minute, taking the stage victory and the yellow jersey.
Behind her, Demi Vollering and Marlen Reusser began to lose ground and were caught by the chasing group, which included Elisa Longo Borghini and Paula Blasi, together with Cédrine Kerbaol and white jersey Antonia Niedermaier.
In the finale, Vollering attacked again to secure second place, while Elisa Longo Borghini continued her comeback, catching and passing yellow jersey Reusser to claim a superb third place at the summit of Mont Ventoux. Just a few seconds later, Paula Blasi crossed the line in fifth, while Dominika Wlodarczyk finished eighth, completing another excellent collective performance from UAE Team L’IMAD.
Following today’s result, Elisa Longo Borghini is now fourth overall, 2’59” behind new race leader Kasia Niewiadoma. Paula Blasi sits seventh at 4’32” and is second in the young rider classification, 1’11” behind white jersey Antonia Niedermaier. Dominika Wlodarczyk is eighth overall at 5’13”.
After the finish, Elisa Longo Borghini highlighted the strength of the team and the important work done by her teammates: “Today was a very hard day. We expected it to be tough on Mont Ventoux and I think that, once again, we showed that we are a very strong team. Paula Blasi and I were able to catch and pass the yellow jersey because we worked together throughout the climb, also riding into the wind. We managed the situation well and were able to set a good pace all the way up. We executed the plan we had perfectly.
I would particularly like to thank Silvia Persico, because she gave everything she had and, together with Mavi Garcia, did a great job bringing us into the best possible position at the foot of the climb. Maeva also gave me a great hand at the bottom of the Ventoux.
Dominika Wlodarczyk gave everything on the climb and she also managed to finish in the top 10. I am definitely very happy with today, and together we are looking forward to the next stages with optimism.”
Tomorrow, the Tour de France Femmes continues with Stage 8, a 171.9-kilometre route from Sisteron to Nice. Another day promises plenty of action as UAE Team L’IMAD looks to remain at the forefront in the exciting final stages of the Tour.
(ph. Getty Sport)
