Faun Tour Femmes: Solène Muller steals a surprise first professional win from under the WorldTour teams’ noses

Solène Muller was a surprise winner of the opening stage of the four-day Faun Tour Femmes on Thursday, the St Michel-Preference Homes-Auber93 rider took her first professional win.

Part of a huge breakaway which had escaped early in the race, the French woman attacked the group on the final uphill drag to the line, around 1,500m from the line, drawing a group of five clear.

With 175 metres to go and the peloton closing them down, she opened her sprint and beat Ninke Vinke (SD Worx-Protime) into second place, with Anna Henderson (Lidl-Trek) third.

Formerly known as the Cycliste Féminin International de l'Ardèche, the race contracted from one week to just four days for this year. Though the event is only a third-tier 2.1 race, six WorldTour teams were on the start line, and many of them were represented up the road, limiting the chase.

Early in Thursday’s 115.7km opening stage between Guilherand Granges and Boffres, a huge breakaway of 20 riders or more got away.

However, with the lead well over three minutes with 50km to go, and despite having local rider Léa Curinier in that breakaway, the FDJ United-SUEZ team began to ride.

The French squad steadily brought the deficit down, and when they were within 1:35 with 20km to go it seemed it was advantage peloton. However, despite a lack of commitment in the front group, the gap settled on the day’s final climb.

On the final uphill three kilometres to the line, riders in the leading group began attacking each other, lifting the pace and ensuring they could fight for the win.

Results

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