Cyclist Squiban secures Tour de France stage victory; Le Court retains overall lead
Maëva Squiban Wins Epic Solo Attack in Stage 6 of Women's Tour de France Femmes
In a thrilling display of cycling prowess, 23-year-old Maëva Squiban of UAE Team ADQ claimed a stunning victory in Stage 6 of the 2025 Tour de France Femmes. The 123.7 km stage from Clermont-Ferrand to Ambert, marked the first medium mountain challenges of the race, and Squiban's 32 km solo attack secured her a lead of over a minute on a reduced peloton.
The decisive moment came on the second-category Col du Chansert, with about 3 km remaining on the climb. Squiban launched her attack and managed to maintain her lead despite the presence of a significant uncategorized climb afterward. This victory marks the biggest win of Squiban's career so far, propelling her into the limelight of women's cycling.
Key results and standings after Stage 6 saw Juliette Labous (FDJ-Suez) and Kim Le Court Pienaar (AG Insurance-Soudal) following Squiban, with Le Court remaining in yellow and extending her overall lead to 26 seconds thanks to bonus seconds. Demi Vollering (FDJ-Suez) was also prominent among the favourites but could not reel in the winner.
The Queen of the Mountains (QoM) lead went to Chabbey, 15 points ahead of her closest rival Smulders, after another strong performance. Lorena Wiebes struggled on the climbs, finishing 105th, but managed to keep the green jersey as Marianne Vos did not gain points on the day. Julie Bego (Cofidis) maintained the white jersey for the best young rider, narrowly leading over Nienke Vinke (Picnic-PostNL) by 22 seconds after their battle today.
The dynamics of the race saw favourites closely marking each other rather than attacking aggressively on the climbs, allowing Squiban’s timed solo to succeed. Stage 7, set to be the third-longest at 159.7 km, beginning in Bourg-en-Bresse and finishing in Chambéry, will feature three categorized climbs, concluding with a category-two Col du Granier topping out 17 km from the finish.
This epic solo victory by Squiban, a French cyclist from Mauritius, has shaken up the general classification, with Le Court holding onto the yellow jersey she claimed on Wednesday. Katarzyna Niewiadoma, the Polish reigning champion, is 4 seconds behind Squiban in the overall classification, while the 29-year-old Squiban has a 26-second lead over France's Pauline Ferrand-Prevot.
The peloton will arrive in the Alps during Friday's seventh stage, promising more exhilarating racing action. Le Court stated that she felt really good during the race, and with such form, she is a strong contender for overall victory. The women's Tour, currently being held, continues to captivate audiences with its fierce competition and exciting stages.
Sports enthusiasts rejoice as Maëva Squiban secures a historic victory in the Tour de France Femmes, demonstrating her exceptional cycling skills with a thrilling solo attack. Her winning moment occurred on the second-category Col du Chansert, solidifying her lead over a reduced peloton and propelling her to the top of women's cycling.
