As it happened: Breakaway succeeds with little change in GC on Le Grand-Bornand

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Polka dot jersey Justine Ghekiere soloed on the final climb to take her second professional victory as Vollering takes 4" on Niewiadoma

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Bonjour and welcome to Cyclingnews' live coverage of stage 7 of the 2024 Tour de France Femmes!

The mountains are here with back-to-back days of climbing. Today's stage is the longest of the race with a 166.4km ride with a final climb being split into two... The Col de Saint-Jean-de-Sixt (5.4km at 5.!%) followed by the Grand Bornand - Montée de Chinaillon (7km at 5.1%). 

The sign on is well underway in Champagnole with DSM-Firmenich-PostNL keen to put their leader and French champion, Juliette Labous, in the best position possible...

One rider is confirmed as not starting today's stage. That is Australian national champion, Ruby Roseman-Gannon of Liv-AlUla-Jayco. She came down in the mass crash two days ago and suffered yesterday. 

It was a good day in yellow for Kasia Niewiadoma (CSR) yesterday but can she continue to hold onto the jersey after today?

It was a special stage yesterday for Julietta Labous (DFP) on her home roads...

Demi Vollering (SDW) rode well yesterday after he crash the day before but often the second day is the hardest. How will she perform? 

Marianne Vos (TVL) goes into the green jersey after a near perfect day on stage six.

And it was an emotional day for Cédrine Kerbaol, Ceratizit-WNT and France as she took the nation's first Tour de France Femmes stage victory as well as going into second on GC.

Neutral start

Another rider who didn't start is Sofia Bertizzolo (UAD). Some pages saying Kim Le Court (AGS) didn't start but, she has according to the team's X page. Although she isn't able to compete at the level she would want so will support polka dot jersey, Justine Ghekiere (AGS) best she can. 

AG Insurance-Soudal have really gone for it with the polka dot details for Justine Ghekiere... 

166.4km to go

The riders immediately start climbing up the uncategorised climb of Saint-Laurent-en-Grandvaux. Several early moves trying to form the morning breakaway. But, nothing is getting away just yet. 

Another confirmed DNS is Human Powered Health's Lily Williams.

Riders already starting to lose contact with the peloton. 128 riders started today's stage. 

It is another beautiful sunny day in France with temperatures currently at 25 degrees centigrade and wind of just 4kph. 

Crash!

160km to go

Abandon

Abandon

Abandon

10km in and the peloton is still together. No moves are getting any sort of gap at all. 

Attack

That move has been dragged back again as the peloton is absolutely flying at the moment. Cofidis still have a rider on the front of the bunch. 

150km to go

AG Insurance-Soudal are doing a superb job so far as they look to protect Justine Ghekiere's polka dot jersey. Silvia Persico (UAD) is a big danger in the competition as she is just five points behind the Belgian. 

Abandon

140km to go

The riders are about 30km from the first categorised climb of the day. The category one Col de la Croix de la Serra. It is 12km long with an average gradient of 5.1%. 

There have been a few more moves but, again, nothing is getting away. AG Insurance-Soudal still keenly marking riders as plenty points, 25 to be exact, on offer today for the QoM jersey. 

130km to go

Onto the first categorised climb of the day goes the race! The category one Col de la Croix de la Serra. 12km long at 5.1% average gradient. Liv-AlUla-Jayco leading the peloton. 

120km to go

Rear puncture

Dropped riders

Abandon

AG Insurance-Soudal, Lidl-Trek and Canyon-SRAM lead the peloton on the Col de la Croix de la Serra. 

Around 4km to the top of the Col de la Croix de la Serra. 

AG Insurance-Soudal are setting a decent tempo on the front to deter attacks so that Justine Ghekiere can have the best chance of extending her lead in the QoM standings. 

110km to go

1km to the top of the Col de la Croix de la Serra. 10, 6, 4, 2 and 1 points available. 

Justine Ghekiere (AGS) leading the peloton. She will hope no-one challenges her in the QoM sprint. 

Puck Pieterse (FED) wins the QoM sprint on the Col de la Croix de la Serra. 

QoM (Col de la Croix de la Serra)

There is now just one point between Ghekiere (AGS) and Pieterse (FED) in the battle for polka dots. Kastelijn (FED) moves up to third and is now 12 points behind the leader. 

100km to go

When the riders finish the descent they start a small climb on a gradual gradient. Once over that, they start another descent where they will come to the bottom of the Côte de Bois d'Arlod. 

Lots of teams taking the opportunity to go back to the cars and get some fresh bidons and food on board before starting the next climb. 

Current situation for the top three in the polka dot jersey fight... 

In the valley the temperature has risen to 27 degrees centigrade. Still light wind of 7kph. Average speed so far is 38kph. 

Attack

This is an absolutely perfect situation for Ghekiere (AGS) as none of her main QoM rivals are in the group and she has a very strong teammate in Van de Velde (AGS) with her. 

The gap jumps up to 25" for the six rider breakaway over the peloton. 

Puncture

The riders have started the next climb of the day, the Côte de Bois d'Arlod. The climb is 2.4km long with an average gradient of 4.6%. The break now have a gap of 45" on the peloton. 

The gap continues to grow and is now at 55" between the breakaway and the peloton. 

Attack in peloton

Silke Smulders (LAJ) is one of the riders who was trying to bridge but the counter move has been caught. 

Abandon

80km to go

The gap is now over a minute! It is 1'15" between the break and the bunch. 

QoM (Côte de Bois d'Arlod)

A counter attack of Karlijn Swinkels (UAD) and Sheyla Gutiérrez (MOV) did get a small gap but has since been caught again. 

10km to go until the intermediate sprint in Frangy. This is now very beneficial for Marianne Vos (TVL) who looks to solidify her lead on green. Now that Kool (DFP) has left, Vos (TVL) has a lead of 66 points over Wiebes (SDW). 

The latest gap given is now 1'55" between the peloton and this breakaway who are working very well together. 

The gap is over two minutes to 2'10". Marianne Vos (TVL) is the virtual yellow jersey as she started the day 1'53" down on Kasia Niewiadoma (CSR) in 15th place. 

70km to go

The break are working really well together. They continue to grow their gap over the peloton. Now at 2'20" between the two groups. 

SD Worx-Protime leading the peloton as the break have less than a kilometre to the intermediate sprint. 

Attack in peloton

Marianne Vos (TVL) wins the intermediate sprint. 

Intermediate sprint (Frangy)

So far, a near perfect defence of polka dots and green by Ghekiere (AGS) and Vos (TVL). 

Onto the next climb of the day, the Côte de Cercier which is 4km long with an average gradient of 4.9%. It is a category three climb, so 3pts, 2pts and 1pt available at the top. 

After the intermediate sprint, Marianne Vos (TVL) now leads the green jersey by 85pts over Lorena Wiebes (SDW) with 170pts to Wiebes' 85pts. 

60km to go

Marte Berg Edseth (UXM) is now solo in the chase as Anniina Ahtosalo (UXM) has sat up to return to the peloton after gaining more green jersey points. 

The peloton is very reduced but looking calm as the riders wind themselves along the valley roads before heading onto the next climb of the day. 

1km to the top of the Côte de Cercier for the breakaway. 

QoM (Côte de Cercier)

Just over 40km to the top of the penultimate climb of Col de Saint-Jean-de-Sixt. 

Multiple teams on the front of the peloton. Fenix-Deceuninck, Liv-AlUla-Jayco, Lidl-Trek, Canyon-SRAM and SD Worx-Protime. The gap now at 5'16" between the break and the peloton. 

Abandon

50km to go

SD Worx-Protime, Canyon-SRAM and Fenix-Deceuninck all riding together through and off as Marianne Vos (TVL) is starting to take an extremely big gap and they don't want to risk anything. You don't want to go and give Vos (TVL) six minutes into the final stage even though she isn't a climber. 

FDJ-Suez also join the riders on the front of the peloton. The gap between the break and the bunch dropping to 5'00" now. 

40km to go

Caught

The peloton is riding very hard to try and drag the break back to a more controllable gap. 

A small split in the peloton has caught out riders such as Muzic (FST) and Markus (TVL) but it is slowly being dragged back together. Wiebes (SDW), Majerus (SDW) and Paladin (CSR) setting the tempo with 4'45" up to the break. 

30km to go

Lidl-Trek leading the peloton on the right hand side of the road with Fenix-Deceuninck leads on the left. This has split the peloton straight down the middle of the peloton. 

20km to go

Just 5km to the bottom of the penultimate climb of the day. The Col de Saint-Jean-de-Sixt which is 5.4km long with an average gradient of 5.1%. It is a category two climb with 5, 3, 2 and 1 points available. 

One climb split into one for the riders to take on now on their way to the finish at the top of La Grand-Bornand. 

The breakaway start the Col de Saint-Jean-de-Sixt. 15km to go with a gap of 3'33" on the peloton. 

Dropped from break

Two Canyon-SRAM riders are already dropped for Kasia Niewiadoma after doing a huge amount of work on the front of the peloton for the yellow jersey. They are Alice Towers and Agnieszka Skalniak-Sójka. 

Dropped from the break

Fenix-Deceuninck lose three riders from the peloton. Julie De Wilde, Marthe Truyen and Carina Schrempf. Also, Lorena Wiebes (SDW) and Elisa Balsamo (LTK) are dropped, too. 

Once again, FDJ-Suez decide to set a hard pace with Amber Kraak. Meanwhile, Canyon-SRAM loses Chloe Dygert and Soraya Paladin. 

Attack in break

Justine Ghekire (AGS) is absolutely flying here. Looking so smooth and powerful on the Col de Saint-Jean-de-Sixt. 

Dropped from peloton

Grace Brown (FST) now on the front for FDJ-Suez. Reducing the gap to 2'32" up to Ghekiere (AGS). 

Blanka Vas (SDW) now dropped from the peloton. Demi Vollering (SDW) now only has Niamh Fisher-Black (SDW) and Christine Majerus (SDW) left.

Caught

10km to go

Dropped

Justine Ghekiere (AGS) takes 10 points at the top of the Col de Saint-Jean-de-Sixt. She now has a gap of 18 points over Puck PIeterse (FED). 

QoM (Col de Saint-Jean-de-Sixt)

Onto the final climb goes Justine Ghekiere (AGS). The Grand Bornand - Montée de Chinaillon, which is 7km long with an average gradient of 5.1% and is a category two climb to the finish. 

Caught by peloton

Attack

Fisher-Black (SDW) now leading the peloton as Brown (FST) is dropped. 

Attack

5km to go

Lucinda Brand (LTK) starts setting a hard pace on the front of the peloton for Gaia Realini (LTK). The Niamh Fisher-Black (SDW) comes back through to continue setting the pace. 

Justine Ghekiere (AGS) continues to tap on her pace and still has 2'13" on the peloton. Maëva Squiban (ARK) catches Julie van de Velde (AGS) currently 1'43" down on Ghekiere (AGS). 

Attack

Dropped from peloton

4km to go for Justine Ghekiere (AGS) with a gap of 1'58" on the peloton who now catches Julie van de Velde (AGS). 

Attack

Up front, Justine Ghekiere (AGS) has gone through the 3km to go banner. She is riding really well with 1'54" on the peloton still. 

Attack

Niewiadoma (CSR) is pushing hard on the front now and is reducing the GC group down as they drag Vos (TVL) and Martín (MOV). 

Rooijakkers (FED) caught now as well as Niewiadoma (CSR) reduces the peloton down dramatically. Niewiadoma (CSR) does not need to do the pacing here. 

2km to go for Justne Ghekiere (AGS) with a gap of 1'28". Looking very good for the polka dot jersey. 

Several riders come back onto the GC group. This is what Niewiadoma (CSR) needs to do. Let others work and just follow. 

Attack

Flamme Rouge

Maëva Squiban (ARK) is still in the gap but only 30" ahead of the GC group. 

Attack

Justine Ghekiere (AGS) wins stage seven of the Tour de France Femmes 2024 in the polka dot jersey! What a perfect ride by the AG Insurance-Soudal team today. 

Niewiadoma (CSR) isn't getting any help from Vollering (SDW). She didn't need to do this. Just dragging Vollering (SDW) to bonus seconds potentially. 

Maëva Squiban (ARK) takes a brilliant second place. 

Demi Vollering (SDW) takes third with 4" bonus seconds and a small gap to Kasia Niewiadoma (CSR). That was poor tactics by Canyon-SRAM and Kasia Niewiadoma. 

S7 top 10

General Classification after S7

A time gain of 4" for Demi Vollering (SDW) over Kasia Niewiadoma (CSR). The only time there was any sort of gap between the two but the time bonuses is all the defending champion takes on the yellow jersey with over a minute still to make on Alpe d'Huez tomorrow. 

Situation in the QoM standings going into the final day with a lot of points on offer in the high alps...

Such an amazing moment for Justine Ghekiere (AGS) taking the seventh stage of the Tour de France Femmes 2024 as well as solidly extending her lead in the QoM classification and moving to tenth in GC. 

It is another day in yellow for Kasia Niewiadoma (CSR) as she goes into the final stage  with a 27" gap on Puck Pieterse (FED) who is in second place. 

Justine Ghekiere (AGS) extended her lead in the QoM jersey with just one more stage to go.

It was a pretty ideal day for Marianne Vos (TVL) as she took 25 points in the intermediate sprint extending her lead to 84 points ahead of second place Kasia Niewiadoma (CSR) with one stage to go. She just needs to finish tomorrow. 

Yet another solid day for Puck Pieterse (FED) who showed she can climb with the best today. Moving herself into second place on the GC once again. She holds white by 45" over WorldTour best young rider jersey wearer, Shirin van Anrooij (LTK). 

A very well deserved trip to the podium for Ghekiere's AG Insurance-Soudal teammate, Julie van de Velde. She wins the most combative rider prize after being the engine room for the breakaway from the moment it started to the point Ghekiere attacked on the final climb. She will wear the green numbers tomorrow. 

Make sure to have a read of our post race report which will be updated with more reactions as the afternoon goes on...

And don't forget, it is the opening stage of La Vuelta a España. Make sure you keep up to date with all the goings on with this evening's time trial in Portuguese capital, Lisbon, by following our live updates in the link below... 

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