Time is proving tight between Annemiek van Vleuten and her rival Demi Vollering, the two favourites for final victory in the Tour de France Femmes this year. In an echo of the sparring match that characterised much of the men’s race this year, the Team SD Worx rider Vollering has the upper hand, for now at least and if only by a few seconds.
Yara Kastelijn of the Netherlands won the longest stage of this year’s Tour de France Femmes, from Cahors to Rodez, after spending just under 160 kilometres on the front of the race, much of it in a 14-rider move that went clear on the day’s first climb, the Col de Crayssac.
