In tears on arrival, Cecilie Ludwig could not believe it. However, it was she who won the 3rd stage in Épernay on Tuesday in a strong sprint ahead of Marianne Vos (Jumbo-Visma) and Ashleigh Moolman (SD Work). The Dane managed her effort perfectly well, letting the two riders launch the final sprint from afar, to offer a happier day than the day before for her FDJ Suez Futuroscope team, which lost its leader, Marta Cavalli, on Monday after being hit by Australian Nicole Frain.
Marianne Vos is still the Yellow Jersey ahead of Silvia Persico (Valcar – Travel & Service) and Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Canyon – SRAM Racing) even though she showed signs of weakness in the last listed difficulty of the day, the Mutigny coast.
Vos shows its limits, Van Vleuten too
Because everything went very quickly once the foot of this coast was approached and its approach was chaotic. 17 km from the finish, a double fall disrupted the peloton and led to a first selection. The favorites for the stage victory were all ahead. Only Mavi Garcia (UAE Team ADQ), who fell to the ground, was delayed but she quickly made her return to the yellow jersey group.
This Yellow Jersey which was going to fail under the impulse of Ashleigh Moolman. The South African carried the first acceleration and Marianne Vos marked time with Juliette Labous and Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig. At the top of the Mutigny hill, an ambitious group made up of Longo Borghini, Moolman, Garcia, Van Vleuten and Persico led the way. Paradoxically, while the interests between the five riders converged in the general classification, the understanding was not very good and they could not prevent the return of Marianne Vos’ group 6.8 km from the finish. .
In Mount Bernon, Kristen Faulkner shook the leading group and blew up Annemiek Van Vleuten, big favorite of the Tour and winner of the last women’s Giro. If the Dutchwoman came back in the last kilometer, she couldn’t play for the stage victory.
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