As it happened: Vollering smashes Van Vleuten to win Tour de France Femmes stage 7 and take yellow

Hello and welcome to Cyclingnews' live coverage of stage 7 of the 2023 Tour de France Femmes!

Today's stage is one of the most anticipated days of women's racing in recent memory. It starts in Lannemezan and finishes atop the fabled Col du Tourmalet. The Tourmalet is used in tandem with the Col d'Aspin and together they should provide the perfect arena for the well-poised GC battle to explode. 

There's been some unfortunate news this morning as Elisa Longo Borghini has been forced to abandon the race ahead of the queen stage due to being in a 'considerable amount of pain' as a result of a skin infection at the top of her thigh. Her teammate and former World Champion, Elisa Balsamo has also left the race because of fatigue. 

Here's a look at the GC standings before they are changed significantly after stage 7. It should be the final day in yellow for Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx), with the GC favourites below her in second to sixth place separated by just 14 seconds. 

Veronica Ewers (EF Education-TIBCO-SVB) also won't start the queen stage after she was confirmed to have broken her collarbone in a crash yesterday, despite finishing the stage with that injury. 

The American would've featured heavily on today's mountain stage that suited her, so it's a big shame to see her unable to continue. 

Here's a look at the profile for the queen stage which shows the two brutal climbs that will decide the day after 89.8km of racing. 

Make sure you read Simone Giuliani's great feature on the mythical climb that has featured more in the men's Tour de France than any other mountain pass. Today it plays host to, hopefully, a battle for the ages between the best climbers in the women's pro peloton. 

Col du Tourmalet: The crowning climb of the 2023 Tour de France Femmes

The riders are completing sign-ons and the team presentation ahead of the neutralised roll out from Lannemezan at 16:15 CEST. 

Lovely reception for Juliette Labous (DSM-Firmenich) on stage from the French crowds. The young French climber was fourth overall in the 2020 Tour de France Femmes and should be one of the protagonists of the day on the long climbs. 

Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM) was one of the best climbers behind Van Vleuten and Vollering at last year's race, and hid no secrets on the podium as she stated the tactic was simple today: "To follow Annemiek [van Vleuten] and Demi [Vollering]."

It's the sixth and, should be, final day for Kopecky in yellow who will be working all day for Vollering's GC campaign. She'll be one of the final domestiques for the Dutch superstar alongside Marlen Reusser. 

All eyes will be on how the World Champion, Van Vleuten goes today. She was incredibly dominant at last year's Tour de France Femmes, but Vollering has seemingly closed the gap since them. 

She's been the best GC rider of a generation and will want to make a huge step towards completing the Grand Tour triple today after already winning the Vuelta and Giro in 2023. 

We're under 10 minutes away from the start in Lannemezan with the riders coming to the start line now. 

Stage 7 of the Tour de France Femmes is underway! We'll have the neutralised roll out before the flag is dropped at 16:25 CEST and racing proper gets started. Col du Tourmalet here we come. 

Big smile for Kopecky in yellow ahead of the start. She's had a small mechanical issue with her power meter/head unit in the opening kilometre, but as we're still in neutral it won't be much of a problem. 

Now Van Vleuten is at the back of the peloton with her hand up. You'll remember her changing bikes about 20 times in the mountain stages at last year's Tour. Clearly she'll want everything to be exactly right ahead of the most important stage. 

89.8KM TO GO

Flag waved by Marion Rousse and the queen stage of the Tour de France Femmes is underway! Our first categorised climb arrives 60km into the stage so we'll have a long period of tension building before the action kicks off properly on the painful inclines of the Col d'Aspin and Col du Tourmalet. 

First attacks come straight from the gun, it's Julie De Wilde (Fenix-Deceuninck) and Alice Barnes (Human Powered Health). 

It's all-action in this opening kilometre with Ceratizit-WNT among the teams clearly most interested in forming a break. 

We're getting some early looks at Marta Cavalli (FDJ-SUEZ), who could be one of the riders to challenge the likes of Van Vleuten and Vollering on such a huge summit finish up to altitude. 

She won't play a role in GC anymore, but can climb with the very best on her day. 

Alongside the big battle for the yellow jersey, today will also be huge for the white and polka-dot jerseys, currently being worn by Cédrine Kerbaol (Ceratizit-WNT) and Yara Kastelijn (Fenix-Deceuninck). 

Kerbaol leads the young riders classification by 2:45 from Ella Wyllie (Lifeplus Wahoo) and Kastelijn leads the QOM classification by on 23 points and with 25 available throughout today's stage, she just has to climb relatively well to prevent Van Vleuten and Vollering from overtaking her as neither of them have any points yet. 

80KM TO GO

Crash for Liane Lippert (Movistar) and it doesn't look good at the back of the peloton.  Van Vleuten narrowly avoided it. 

The German national champion looked to be only winded thankfully and is back on her bike and getting into the peloton now. 

Here's the 132 remaining riders on the start line ahead of the start of stage 7. 

A big group of riders have nipped off the front. Movistar and SD Worx are both represented through Gutiérrez and Majerus respectively. 

Attack from Lizzie Deignan (Lidl-Trek) on this small uphill section.  The bunch is all together, but strung out. 

75KM TO GO

Anna Henderson (Jumbo-Visma) and Justin Ghekiere (AG Insurance-Soudal QuickStep) are both very interested alongside Deignan to try and split things at the head of the race. Trek have nicely switched up their plans after losing Longo Borghini. Amanda Spratt will be their climbing focus for the day. 

The attacks have been flowing non-stop since the flag was dropped on stage 7. 

There are dark clouds closing in and we could get some poor weather as the kilometres tick by, hopefully it's clearer and we're able to see all the action atop the Tourmalet. 

Coralie Demay (St Micherl-Mavic-Auber93) has got off the front of the peloton on her own. She's got a 35 second advantage over the peloton for now. 

70KM TO GO

Quinty Ton (Liv Racing-TeqFind) attacks out of the peloton to try and bridge to Demay at the head of the race. 

Another small group has got away from the peloton. Majerus is once again the nominated SD Worx rider to follow any breakaways. Movistar have two riders in this small move through Gutiérrez and Floortje Mackaij. 

Very slow wheel change for Typhaine Laurance (Lifeplus Wahoo) at the back of the peloton. 

The very big chasing group has 13 riders in it, but it looks like it's going to be all dragged back together by the teams that have missed out. 

Demay on the move in the opening 20km. She's back in the peloton now. 

Speeds are still very high in the bunch as Jade Wiel (FDJ-SUEZ) attacks.

60KM TO GO

Susanne Andersen (Uno-X) has been incredibly active in the opening 28km of racing. She's joined at the head of the race by Margot Pompanon (St Michel-Mavic-Auber93). 

Sara Poidevin (EF Education-TIBCO-SVB) attacks away from the bunch. After losing Ewers, their main GC hope, EF will likely be trying everything to get into the break. 

The two leaders have a 34 second advantage over the peloton, with Poidevin only nine seconds behind them and bridging the gap as I type. 

Here's Deignan in one of her many attacks at the start of the stage. She was unable to get away, and will now just settle into a domestique role for Spratt on the big climbs. 

50KM TO GO

Poidevin has stopped gaining on the duo in front and this move is turning into a chasse patate. She's stuck in the gap 14 seconds ahead of the peloton, while Andersen and Pompanon are 47 seconds in front. 

The duo in front take the maximum prize over the intermediate sprint into Sarrancolin. Kopecky moves to the front and cleans up third even though she already confirmed her win in the green jersey competition yesterday, as long as she makes it to the finish in Pau tomorrow. 

Rapid start to the seventh stage ahead of the Pyrenean finale that awaits the peloton. 

The battle for position in the peloton is heating up with AG Insurance-Soudal QuickStep, Canyon-SRAM and Fenix-Deceuninck dominating the front spots for the moment. 

The riders are approaching the foot of the brutal Col d'Aspin (12km at 6.5%). It's another of the iconic Pyrenean climbs that have long been featured in the men's race and often appears in tandem with the Tourmalet as it does on today's stage. 

Pfeiffer Georgi (DSM-Firmenich) is doing a huge pull on the front of the peloton for Labous as we swing right onto the Col d'Aspin. The breakaway has been caught and the GC battle is about to begin. 

Georgi, Labous, Niewiadoma, Spratt then Markus. That is the current order at the front of the group as the climbs starts. Only the best riders will be able to follow for now and this peloton will be shredded very soon. 

40KM TO GO

Mackaij and Biannic hit the front for Movistar. Is Van Vleuten gearing up for a trademark long-range attack? 

Van Vleuten is sat in fourth wheel and looking ominous. Moolman is aware of the danger and keeping herself towards the front as are all the GC favourites. 

Reusser moves up for SD Worx and Vollering. 

Biannic is really putting the pain on this peloton. Many of the sprinters and faster riders on the flat are beginning to drop and will settle into a groupetto soon. It's going to be painful day at the back of the race to try and beat the time limit. 

Kastelijn is sat towards the back of the peloton. Perhaps all her efforts to get into breakaways and fight for QOM points are catching up with her. 

It's luxury climbing domestique Paula Patiño revving up the pace for Van Vleuten now. When will the World Champion go?

37KM TO GO

Kastelijn dropped. She's got Van de Velde to try and help her comeback, but it's not looking good for her polka-dot jersey dream. 

Not the best sight of the current conditions atop the Tourmalet. 

Lippert hits the front, which must be final leadout for Van Vleuten. The race is about to explode here as the World Champion is in attack mode. 

Gap to Kastelijn is now 45 seconds. She'll need a perfect composition of different riders to crest the Col d'Aspin and Col du Tourmalet if she's going to win the polka-dot jersey. 

35KM TO GO

Lippert is blowing the group to pieces!

Job done for Lippert and now it's up to World Champion, Van Vleuten to go all on her own. She kicks with Niewiadoma and Vollering the closest to her for now. The rest of the GC favourites are dropping. 

That was surely the first of many attacks by Van Vleuten who loves to make a race as hard as possible. Niewiadoma is in tremendous form to be able to follow for now with Vollering. 

Kopecky is notably still int this group with all the other GC riders, tremendous effort from the yellow jersey. Silvia Persico (UAE ADQ) is curiously dropped and not showing similar form to that which took her to fifth overall in the 2022 Tour de France Femmes. 

Here's a look at Van Vleuten, ominously ready to launch her first attack on the Col d'Aspin. 

Garcia and Markus both dropped already. Labous is leading the second group on the road which also contains Reusser, Moolman, Spratt, Uttrup Ludwig, Cavalli, Santesteban and Kopecky. 

Bauernfeind also dropped out of the first chasing group which sits 28 seconds in arrears of the three leaders. 

The big attack from Van Vleuten. 

30KM TO GO

Vollering isn't relaying with Van Vleuten and Niewiadoma as she has two teammates in the group behind: Kopecky and Reusser. 

Our leading trio of Van Vleuten, Vollering and Niewiadoma. 

Chance for a refuel for the leaders as they approach the crest of the Col d'Aspin with a 50 second lead over the chasers. 

Niewiadoma sprints for the QOM points at the top of the climb. She takes the maximum 10 points over the top adding to the five she already had. 

Labous and Moolman have done the majority of the work in the chasing group. 

Niewiadoma is gapping the two pre-race favourites on this long descent off the Col d'Aspin. The Polish rider has been one of the very best descenders in the women's pro peloton for a long time. 

Vollering has gone ahead of Van Vleuten and is pacing herself on this descent to try and not let Niewiadoma get away. The group behind is 58 seconds in arrears. 

24KM TO GO

Van Vleuten and Vollering and playing cat and mouse in the valley. Very nicely timed move by Niewiadoma, but curious tactics from the two favourites. 

They've let Niewiadoma get 20 seconds ahead as they continue to track stand and speak to each other. You can hear the disk breaks screeching as van Vleuten genuinely hits the breaks ahead of the final climb. 

Niewiadoma is pushing on at the head of the race as the two GC favourites continue to play games. Vollering must be waiting for her two teammates in the group behind. 

20KM TO GO

Niewiadoma is going all in on the descent to try and benefit as much as possible from the two leaders being more concerned with their game than the rider up the road. 

Here's the profile of the brutal Col du Tourmalet. Its a legendary climb that has often been the arena for cycling's greatest battles over the years. It's the most used climb in the men's Tour de France and has been used since 1910. The elite women's peloton haven't climbed it in a race since 2000. What a climb and finale it's going to be. 

Here's the controvesial moment Van Vleuten put on the breaks during the descent. The chasing group has now made the catch to the two pre-race favourites with Niewiadoma a minute ahead. 

17KM TO GO

Niewiadoma has began the climb up the Tourmalet. 

Reusser is now pacing on the front with Cavalli dropped out the back and the chasing group splitting under the Swiss Champion's pressure. 

Niewiadoma's advantage has been reduced to 42 seconds as Reusser picks up the pace. 

Vos has abandoned the race on the Col d'Aspin. Proper hard day this. 

Just 27 seconds for Niewiadoma out in front. The Tourmalet gets harder in difficulty as the kilometres tick by, so you can imagine Van Vleuten or Vollering catching her once it kicks off behind her. 

Marlen Reusser is doing Marlen Reusser things in the group behind and shredding the Polish rider's advantage. We're only on 6% inclines for now which is comparatively easy to what is left to come as the riders approach the crest. 

12KM TO GO

Spratt is the first to drop out this leading group. 

Reusser pulls off after a great turn on the front. Labous is pulling behind after Vollering chose to not immediately attack. 

It's an incredible ride from Kopecky, who is still in this leading group which contains Van Vleuten, Vollering, Labous, Uttrup Ludwig, Moolman, Santesteban and herself the yellow jersey. 

Reusser brought the gap down to just eight seconds from Niewiadoma, but once the pace swelled behind as the Swiss TT specialist pulled off, Niewiadoma kept pushing on at her own pace and it's back out to 20 seconds again. 

10KM TO GO

It's very misty at the top and the visibility will be poor. 

Niewiadoma's advantage is back out 30 seconds ahead of the peloton. The battle for the white jersey is also nicely poised behind with Wyllie and Kerbaol sat in the same group and ready to battle it out on the upper slopes of the Tourmalet. 

Spratt is coming back to the group of leaders which probably says a lot about how they aren't pushing on in this group. 

When will Van Vleuten or Vollering attack?

It's Labous that has a go first, forcing Vollering into action with Moolman and Van Vleuten straight into the wheel. 

The altitude is going to play a huge role in this final 9km of racing as if you start struggling once you enter the red zone, you can bleed minutes of time very quickly. 

8KM TO GO

Labous is still riding at her now pace in the group of now five leading GC riders: Van Vleuten, Vollering, Moolman, Labous herself and the yellow jersey, Kopecky. 

The most difficult section of the climb is approaching for Niewiadoma who has a 37 second advantage. 

Labous goes again! She must be confused at what Van Vleuten and Vollering are doing. 

Kopecky is still in this group and putting on the climbing performance of her life. Can she hold onto yellow? 

Did somebody tell Kopecky this was the Oude Kwaremont and not the Tourmalet? Because the Belgian classic specialist is riding out of her skin at the moment in this group of favourites.  

6KM TO GO

Labous has another go on the climb.

Van Vleuten doesn't look great on the bike, but we've seen that all too many times before and sometimes on her best performances. 

Niewiadoma is still tapping away on the pedals at the head of the race as she enters the mist with a 40 second lead. 

Finally, Volleying attacks! Van Vleuten is straight onto her wheel. Labous is dropped under the pressure as Kopecky grinds away to try and make contact. 

Gap is starting to form between the Dutch superstars. Is Van Vleuten gone? 

Into the mist we go and Vollering has a lead. She's set off to try and take the yellow jersey and victory on stage 7. 

5KM TO GO

Vollering has melted Niewiadoma's lead after waiting so long to attack. You can see her ominous silhouette approaching the Polish rider in the mist. 

Niewiadoma's time alone out in front has ended as Vollering gets onto her wheel and moves past her putting the power down in the saddle. 

The gaps are going to be huge as Vollering looks incredible. She's done her typical and now trademark seated attack and the race behind is left in her wake. Kopecky is still riding incredibly well behind. 

Van Vleuten is 33 seconds behind Vollering with 4 kilometres left to climb. The Grand  Tour triple is going up the road with Vollering. 

Vollering is taking big gulps of air as the altitude starts to play a bigger role at the top of the climb. She was second in last year's Tour, but was no match for Van Vleuten. All season she's been the best rider in the world and it's all been leading up to this moment up the Col du Tourmalet. 

CURRENT RACE SITUATION

Head of the race - Vollering +37 - Niewiadoma +In the gap - Moolman, Van Vleuten +1:42 - Kopecky

2KM TO GO

Vollering is going to do it and it looks as though this ride will seal the yellow jersey victory for her. Niewiadoma is a minute down, Van Vleuten a further 20 seconds back and Kopecky is down at 2:06. 

Vollering flying in the mist. 

Huge grimace on the face of the race leader to be, Vollering. She's entering the crowds and conquering this fabled climb that has so long been a part of the Tour de France. 

Here's the moment Vollering left everyone in her dust as she's done all season long.

1KM TO GO

Flamme rouge arrives for the race leader on the road. 

The fight for the podium is going to be fascinating in tomorrow's time trial as all the other GC favourites continue to grind away at this brutal climb not too far away from each other. 

She's been the best rider all season long, she won the Ardennes triple and she's going to win the queen stage of the 2023 Tour de France Femmes which should all but confirm her victory of the overall race. Chapeau Demi Vollering. 

STAGE FINISH

Demi Vollering wins stage 7 of the Tour de France Femmes and goes into the yellow jersey!

She's had the spotlight on her throughout the first six stages with drama dominating the discussions around SD Worx, but none of it will matter as Demi Vollering was simply too good on the climb and she's smashed the opposition atop the Col du Tourmalet. It's her first Tour de France stage victory and certainly won't be her last. 

Niewiadoma finishes an incredible day off with a second-place finish after riding for so long on her own. She comes to a complete standstill over the line after her huge efforts. 

Van Vleuten finishes in third, 2:34 down on Vollering with Moolman and Labous close behind her. 

The emotions are pouring out for Vollering as she sits on the floor and reflects on a career best day. Kopecky crosses the line 3:31 after respecting the maillot jaune in the best way possible with a climbing performance that not many people would've thought she was capable of. She'll be in green tomorrow, but what a stint in yellow it was. Big hug between her and Vollering. 

Here's what Annemiek van Vleuten had to say after disappointingly losing out to Demi Vollering:

"Of course disappointed, I was hoping to have a way better day, I didn't have my best day out there, but I was full confidence to go. That's why I went on Aspin already, we had a good team plan and if I had a good day that was the best plan to make it hard from the Aspin already and in the end I didn't; have a good day so I had to pa the price on the top"

"She [Vollering] didn't want to ride I said okay if you don't ride I also don't ride but she also hand point she had two teammates behind so I let Demi wait for it. For me, the goal to attack on Aspin was not to drop everyone there it was more to do a first effort, but maybe in the end it was not so smart for my shape of today it was not the best plan, but you never know that and I always like to race with my heart and you always need to focus on your strengths and usually that is my capacity and my endurance so that's why I went."

Here's Vollering's crowning moment at the crest of the Tourmalet. 

Vollering moves into the yellow jersey with a lead of 1:50 ahead of Niewiadoma in second. Van Vleuten is third 2:28 back on the leader with Kopecky still incredibly in fourth a further seven seconds behind the World Champion. 

Full results from an incredible queen stage at the 2023 Tour de France Femmes via FirstCycling. 

Here's what Vollering had to say after claiming the yellow jersey on stage 7 of the Tour de France Femmes: 

"It’s amazing, I saw it a lot of times in my dream of course but to wear it [the yellow jersey] now in real life, it feels really good.

"Tomorrow is still a hard day, a time trial day. Of course, if everything goes well there, I hope that I can keep the yellow. I will still go full gas, I will still do a good TT. 

"Also, because it’s good training of course, and to see how I can still go after today. It’s also interesting of course to see how far you can come, and how deep you can still go after today. All good things to know for the future.

"They are amazing. Marlen [Reusser] and Lotte [Kopecky] did a really good job today. The whole team, everybody is so super strong in our team and they believe so much in me, that means a lot to me. It’s a crazy week for us. 

"Actually, I would like to ask one thing from the organisation, to also put a kind of Champs Elysees stage so we can also enjoy with the team because tomorrow we will be full gas, the whole team with the TT but it would be so nice if we could celebrate it with the team, this [yellow] jersey, Lotte’s [green] jersey, it would be great, crazy amazing if we could do a celebration like the men."

Kasia Niewiadoma's (Canyon-SRAM) incredible efforts both in front of the GC group and on the final climb not only put her into second on GC, but also into the lead of the queen of the mountains classification. Canyon-SRAM have raced tremendously well tactically over the seven stages. 

All good things must come to an end, as does this fantastic Tour de France Femmes tomorrow. A 22.6km time trial starting and finishing in Pau is the last test for the riders and should play a huge role in the battle for the podium as second and fifth are separated by just 49 seconds. Can Niewiadoma hold onto second with the Olympic TT Champion, Van Vleuten chasing her down? Or will Kopecky move back onto the podium in shocking fashion after the climbing performance of her life today? We'll find out tomorrow. 

That wraps things up for Cyclingnews' live coverage of stage 7 which was won in emphatic fashion by Demi Vollering (SD Worx) atop the fabled Col du Tourmalet. She moved into a commanding lead in the overall and will look to confirm her GC win in the final stage time trial tomorrow. Check back tomorrow for live coverage of the eighth stage and in the meantime read our full race report and look out for all the news and other great content coming out of the race from our team in France. 

Tour de France Femmes: Demi Vollering conquers Tourmalet to win stage 7 and seize yellow jersey