Women's Tour de France: Belgian Justine Ghekiere wins stage 7 before the big fight and final finish tomorrow at Alpe d'Huez

Ghekiere remporte la 7e étape, Niewiadoma reste en jaune. ASO

Belgian Justine Ghekiere won the 7th and penultimate stage of the women's Tour de France, winning solo at the top of the Chenaillon climb in Le Grand-Bornand ahead of Frenchwoman Maeva Squiban and Dutchwoman Demi Vollering on Saturday.

Polish rider Katarzyna Niewiadoma, 4th, kept her yellow leader's jersey on the eve of the final stage which will offer nearly 4,000 meters of positive elevation gain, with the ascent of the Col du Glandon before the final finish at the summit of Alpe d'Huez.

Ghekiere, leader of the AG Insurance-Soudal team and who signed the second victory of his career among the professionals, took the opportunity to consolidate his polka dot jersey as leader of the mountains classification.

The French Evita Muzic, regional of the stage, took 5th place ahead of her compatriot Juliette Labous (8th).

Kerbaol loses time

Winner the day before in Morteau and second in the general classification at the start of the stage, the Breton Cédrine Kerbaol lost a few seconds in the final to finish in 18th position the stage. She is now in third position behind Niewiadoma and the Dutch rider Puck Pieterse, 37 seconds behind the Polish rider.

A group of six riders broke away at the halfway point to quickly create a gap of more than five minutes. Among them, in addition to Ghekiere, was the Dutch rider Marianne Vos (green jersey in the points classification).

The Belgian placed her decisive attack 13 kilometres from the line. Demi Vollering, presented as the big favourite of the event at the start on Monday in Rotterdam but relegated to 10th place on Thursday after a fall, tried to attack, in vain, twice in the final.

Thanks to the bonuses of her third place, she nevertheless regained four seconds, and is 1 min 15 seconds behind Niewiadoma before the queen stage on Sunday.