Cycling Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift

Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift: Maeva Squiban solos to spectacular win as GC battle catches fire with Kim Le Court losing big time

French superstar-in-the-making Maeva Squiban soloed to victory for a second day in a row on Stage 7 at the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift. Squiban pulled clear inside the final 20 kilometres and surged clear of her rivals for another memorable win. Behind her, Kimberley Le Court battled hard to hold onto the yellow jersey and avoid losing time.

‘It’s going to be dangerous’ – Le Court predicts ‘technical’ battle on Stage 7

Video credit: TNT Sports

Maeva Squiban (UAE ADQ) soloed to a second spectacular stage win in a row as the French favourite triumphed on Stage 7 at the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift.

The day after claiming the biggest win of her career, Squiban repeated the feat with another sensational ride on the run to Chambery.

In the general classification battle, Kimberley Le Court (AG Insurance-Soudal) had to battle hard to rejoin a group featuring her rivals late on and avoid suffering major damage as she held onto her 26-second lead on top.

Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift

Ferrand-Prevot celebrates 'crazy' victory as she praises team

03/08/2025 at 22:43

Squiban's race-winning attack came on the final climb, Col du Granier, with 20 kilometres to go.

A few minutes prior, she had put in a seemingly effortless attack - with commentators likening her style to that of men's Tour de France winner Tadej Pogacar as she looked to serenely sit in the saddle to split the group she was in from five to two.

While Squiban set off solo, it all erupted behind her as the general classification (GC) hopefuls aimed to further their yellow jersey campaigns, as the chance of the stage victory slipped away.

‘Honestly incredible’ as Squiban claims back-to-back stage wins

Video credit: TNT Sports

Le Court found herself dropped from the peloton simultaneously with the stage winner's attack up the road; however, an immense ride meant she held on to the yellow jersey with her sixth-place finish after making her way back into the chasing group, which contained many of her closest GC rivals.

Cedrine Kerbaol (EF Education-Oatly), who was the first-ever French stage winner at the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift in last year's edition, also put in a huge effort to take second place. She also moved up to seventh in the GC from starting the day in ninth.

A 17-rider breakaway kicked off the day’s action, and from it, Fiona Mangan (Winspace Orange Seal) reached the intermediate sprint point first.

The group - which included the likes of Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime), Chloe Dygert (Canyon-SRAM zondacrypto) and Squiban - entered the first categorised climb together, but their numbers would soon drop drastically.

By the time they’d reached the summit of Cote de Saint-Franc, they were down to nine riders, and Squiban swept up maximum Queen of the Mountains points after they were powered to the top by Shirin van Anrooij (Lidl-Trek), who crossed second.

Maud Rijnbeek (VolkerWessels) broke free from a reduced breakaway for a solo effort that spanned until the final ascent was underway, and it was on the Col du Granier that the race really ignited.

Cycling has ‘a new superstar’ in Squiban – ‘A very special rider’

Video credit: TNT Sports

Rijnbeek was initially caught by Ruth Edwards (Human Powered Health) and Mareille Meijering (Movistar), but before long, Squiban had made contact and was lining up her race-defining pair of attacks.

The first saw only Meijering able to stick with her before the Frenchwoman seized her opportunity with 20km remaining. This time out of the saddle, she delivered the decisive blow, now with Meijering unable to match her.

What followed was a masterclass in finishing a race solo as she navigated the final summit, which she reached with a gap of 1’33" on the main chase group, and the descent that carried her victory home.
Le Court found herself almost 40 seconds behind her group that contained key threats to her yellow jersey, namely Pauline Ferrand-Prevot (Visma-Lease a Bike), Demi Vollering (FDJ-SUEZ), and Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney (Canyon-SRAM zondacrypto).

The Mauritian, despite admitting to "not feeling so good" at the start of the day and for a few days prior - put in a massive ride and well-manoeuvred descent to rejoin her competitors and crucially retain her 26-second lead in yellow.

The day’s action was still not done yet as Kerbaol broke from the group Le Court had just joined to go up the road in pursuit of Edwards and Van Anrooij - the only two riders from the original breakaway who were left chasing standout French rider Squiban.

Highlights: Squiban sprints clear to win Stage 6 as Le Court stays in yellow

Video credit: TNT Sports

Kerbaol’s descending prowess once again paid off, and this time led her to beat Edwards in a sprint to the line to claim second place.

Squiban’s second stage win in as many days truly cemented her as France’s next - or even current having won two Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift stages - superstar, with another confident ride that will no doubt be another defining moment in her career as the first French rider to win multiple stages.

Squiban crossed the line 51 seconds ahead of Kerbaol and Edwards, who finished third, before Van Anrooij crossed the line a matter of seconds behind them. The double stage winner’s UAE ADQ team-mate - one of only four remaining after the departure of three riders on previous stages - Dominika Wlodarczyk crossed with a deficit of a minute.

Le Court’s sixth place was followed by Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime), with the top 10 then completed by Vollering, Niewiadoma-Phinney, and Niamh Fisher-Black (Lidl-Trek).

The peloton will next battle it out on the queen stage, with Stage 8 finishing atop the hallowed Col de la Madeleine, where the fight for the GC will only intensify further.

Le Court will wear the yellow jersey for a fourth day, having already made history on Stage 7 by becoming the first African rider - male or female - to wear the yellow jersey at a Tour de France for three days.

Stream the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift live on TNT Sports and discovery+

Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift