As we head into the latter half of the Tour de France Femmes, the climbers are set to come to the fore – but don't expect the likes of Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime) and Marianne Vos (Visma-Lease a Bike) to sit idly by as the yellow jersey battle rages around them. The fast-finishing Dutch compatriots have their own battle on their hands.
Just past the halfway point of the race, Wiebes is wearing the green jersey, largely thanks to a pair of stage wins over these first several stages. She has a lead of 30 points over Vos, who has a stage win of her own and was runner-up on both of the days that Wiebes won. With mountains on the horizon, neither rider is likely to add to their haul of stage wins, but Wiebes can't get comfortable just yet.
Whatever happens at the finish lines to come, four intermediate sprints lie between the Tour peloton and the end of the race. Can Wiebes maintain her hold on green with the more versatile Marianne Vos contesting as many or more intermediate sprints?
Abby Mickey
The short answer is: probably, but not definitely. It will be a fight all the way to Châtel Les Portes du Soleil.
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