Maeva Squiban ascends to 16th in the overall standings.
Maeva Squiban delivered another remarkable performance, etching her name in Tour de Femmes history with consecutive stage victories, while Kim le Court held onto the coveted yellow jersey.
Just a day after becoming only the second French rider to clinch a stage win, the 23-year-old Squiban surged ahead of the pursuing pack with approximately 20km remaining, nearing the summit of the Col du Granier.
She crossed the finish line 51 seconds ahead of compatriot Cedrine Kerbaol, marking her achievement as the first French cyclist to secure two stage wins in the tour.
“It’s incredible. This morning I said I will attack kilometre zero, in the beginning it didn’t work but finally I did it. It’s an amazing day,” expressed UAE Team ADQ rider Squiban.
Le Court, who made history as the first African rider to win a stage in the Tour on Wednesday, rejoined the chasing group during the final descent into Chambery, finishing sixth and successfully defending her yellow jersey.
“I wasn’t feeling so good since the start of the stage, the last few days I’ve been going through some stuff,” stated the 29-year-old from Mauritius.
“On the last climb it was difficult, my body just shut off. Then I had to do the best downhill of my life.”
France’s Pauline Ferrand-Prevot remains in second place in the general classification, followed by defending champion Katarzyna Niewiadoma-Phinney in third and 2023 winner Demi Vollering closely behind.
The top five contenders in the general classification are separated by a mere 35 seconds with two stages remaining.
On Saturday, the riders will face a challenging 111.9km mountainous stage between Chambery and Saint Francois Longchamp-Col de la Madeleine.
1. Maeva Squiban (Fra/UAE Team ADQ) 3hrs 58mins 26secs
2. Cedrine Kerbaol (Fra/EF Education-Oatly) +51secs
3. Ruth Edwards (USA/Human Powered Health) same time
4. Shirin van Anrooij (Ned/Lidl-Trek) +53secs
5. Dominika Wlodarczyk (Pol/UAE Team ADQ) +1min
6. Kim le Court (Mau/AG Insurance-Soudal) same time
7. Anna van der Breggen (Ned/SD Worx-Protime)
8. Demi Vollering (Ned/FDJ-Suez)
9. Katarzyna Niewiadoma-Phinney (Pol/Canyon-Sram-ZondaCrypto)
10. Niamh Fisher-black (Nzl/Lidl-Trek)
1. Kim le Court (Mau/AG Insurance-Soudal) 22hrs 28mins 31secs
2. Pauline Ferrand-Prevot (Fra/Visma-Lease a Bike) +26secs
3. Katarzyna Niewiadoma-Phinney (Pol/Canyon-Sram-ZondaCrypto) +30secs
4. Demi Vollering (Ned/FDJ-Suez) +31secs
5. Anna van der Breggen (Ned/SD Worx-Protime +35secs
6. Pauliena Rooijakkers (Ned/Fenix-Deceuninck) +1min 4secs
7. Cedrine Kerbaol (Fra/EF Education-Oatly) +1min 9secs
8. Sarah Gigante (Aus/AG Insurance-Soudal) +1min 14secs
9. Evita Muzic (Fra/FDJ-Suez) +1min 35secs
10. Juliette Labous (Fra/FDJ-Suez) same time