Local hero Squiban storms to second straight Tour de France Femmes stage win
The 23-year-old attacked on the upper slopes of the Col du Granier (8.9km at 5.4%) to reach the finish of the hilly stage alone, which lifted the UAE Team ADQ rider to second in the polka dot jersey standings, level on 17 points with Dutchwoman Silke Smulders.
A 17-rider breakaway had lit up the 159.7km stage from Bourg-en-Bresse, with Fiona Mangan (Winspace Orange Seal) becoming the first Irish rider to win an intermediate sprint at the Tour.
The move split on the Cote de Saint-Franc before Squiban's decisive attack on the final climb. Mauritian rider Kim Le Court Pienaar (AG Insurance-Soudal) lost ground on the Granier but finished sixth to retain the yellow jersey.
Mountains classification leader Elise Chabbey (FDJ-Suez) was distanced from the peloton before Squiban's climb.
Saturday's mountain stage will be from Chambery to Saint-Francois-Longchamp.
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