Squiban solos to Tour de France stage win, Le Court maintains lead / Photo: JULIEN DE ROSA - AFP
Squiban solos to Tour de France stage win, Le Court maintains lead
Maeva Squiban secured a home win on the sixth stage of the women's Tour de France on Thursday, as history-maker Kim Le Court held on to her overnight lead.
Frenchwoman Squiban broke free from the chasing pack with 30km to go and soloed home to secure the victory in 3hr 20min 46sec, after a mountainous 123.7km slog from Clermont-Ferrand to Ambert.
Compatriot Juliette Labous finished second, with Le Court completing the podium as the Mauritian held onto the yellow jersey she claimed on Wednesday when she became the first African to win a stage on the women's Tour.
Le Court has a 26sec lead over France's Pauline Ferrand-Prevot in the overall classification, with Polish reigning champion Katarzyna Niewiadoma a further 4sec behind.
Demi Vollering of the Netherlands, considered the pre-race favourite by many, sits fourth overall with a 31sec gap to Le Court.
Friday's seventh stage will see the peloton arrive in the Alps, with a hilly 159.7km run from Bourg-en-Bresse to Chambery on the cards.
Y.Ingvar--MP
