Determined riders share insider tips on successful breakaways in the Tour de France Femmes' cutthroat competition
Breakaway Riders Shine in the Tour de France Femmes
The Tour de France Femmes, held this year, was a showcase for breakaway riders who strategically exploited terrain, teamwork, and timing to make and sustain breaks. One such rider was Maëva Squiban from UAE Team ADQ, who scored two stage victories in the race.
Squiban's first stage victory came with a 32km solo attack into Ambert on stage 6, demonstrating the importance of endurance and timing in sustaining a break. Her second stage victory was from a day-long breakaway over the Col du Granier on stage 7. Brodie Chapman, another rider from UAE Team ADQ, won the combativity prize on stage 5 into Guerét.
Breakaways in the Tour de France Femmes are chaotic and unpredictable, with riders needing to read race dynamics accurately. Choosing the right moment and terrain is crucial. Breaks tend to form on stages with punchy, hilly profiles that help diminutive or aggressive riders escape the main group. Early climbs or rolling terrain can create natural selection points ideal for breakaways.
Riders must be combative and willing to ride hard from the start, sometimes launching solo attacks or forming small groups that cooperate to gain a gap. Teamwork within and outside teams is also essential. Breakaway success often depends on collaboration, both among break members and with teammates who may help drive and control the group’s pace.
For example, Ruth Edwards, a rider for Human Powered Health, advised that it's probably best to avoid the very first attack of the stage. Instead, she and her teammate Shirin van Anrooij survived from the break to take fourth and fifth behind Squiban on stage 6. Teamwork, using one-two attacks to get a gap with either rider, can lead to success in the Tour de France Femmes.
However, breakaways thrive when they can exploit moments when the peloton is content to allow a group to go clear, often because sprint or GC teams are watching each other or saving energy. If the peloton increases tempo or coordinated chase efforts begin, it becomes harder to sustain the gap.
Dominka Włodarczyk, another rider for UAE Team ADQ, finished fourth overall after a strong closing weekend. The German champion, Franziska Koch, won the combativity prize on stages 1 and 4. Niamh Fisher-Black and Yara Kastelijn scored top-five placings the next day. Uno-X raced with three, and then two, riders during the last four days of the race due to bad luck.
Making it to the breakaway in the Tour de France Femmes and staying there is in a rider's own interest. According to Brodie Chapman, picking the right time to move is key to getting out in front of the peloton. The Tour de France Femmes took place this year and featured breakthrough riders, history makers, and a home winner.
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Breakaways in the Tour de France Femmes can be chaotic and unpredictable, requiring riders to read race dynamics accurately. Riders must be combative and willing to ride hard from the start, sometimes launching solo attacks or forming small groups that cooperate to gain a gap, as demonstrated by Maëva Squiban and Brodie Chapman during the race.
