2024 Tour de France Femmes Stage 7 Preview

 Into the Alps

Stage 7 profile from procyclingstats.com

 The hardest stage so far, although the finishing climb is not the hardest even though it is quite long. Will the break stay away? I think not! The lead group at the finish I would think will look similar to today: a mix of the true GC riders and the best puncheurs in the peloton. Like the previous lumpy stages, I expect the racing will be aggressive all day and this stage will end up being selective. None of the climbs are too difficult, but there are a lot of them the whole way.

Contenders

JULIETTE LABOUS -- Rode aggressively today, I'm sure she would like to take a win here in the French champion's jersey. The form is there, but can she outsprint the rest of the group?

PUCK PIETERSE -- Continues to climb brilliantly even though she no longer owns the mountains jersey, but is the mountaintop finish a bit of a reach for now?

LIANE LIPPERT -- Seems all the way back after injury, the finish is a good fit plus she is in the GC game.

CÉDRINE KERBAOL -- Won't get the same freedom as today; I don't see lightening striking twice here.

KASIA NIEWIADOMA -- Another who the finish suits, but hasn't been able to get around in the sprints except at Fleche this year. Can the yellow jersey change that?

DEMI VOLLERING -- Keeping the powder dry for the weekend, still recovering from the crash, or both? She can save it for Sunday, but will she?

LIDL-TREK -- Same as yesterday

Prediction

Liane Lippert wins from a small group; no big changes on GC

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