It was a fast start to the day with numerous attacks where unfortunately Juliette Labous abandoned the race after a crash, with Coryn Rivera steeping off the bike too after digging deep for the team. The high pace continued over the climbs as the peloton thinned dramatically, with Floortje Mackaij and Liane Lippert riding brilliantly to make a chasing group of eight that set off in pursuit of lone leader Van Vleuten, after some great work by Leah Kirchmann over the testing terrain.
Ahead, Van Vleuten would extend her lead and ultimately go on to take the stage win while in the chasing group, Mackaij and Lippert worked well together, riding smartly and not going too deep too early. Approaching the final few kilometres it became tactical in the group as riders attacked and were brought back. Sensing their moment, Lippert and Mackaij attacked, going clear alongside two others. Mackaij then buried herself on the front, leading out the quartet before Lippert repaid the work with a very punchy sprint to take a great second place on the line, with Mackaij holding on for fifth behind. As a result of the stage, Lippert moves up to fifth place on GC for the team with Mackaij in ninth ahead of tomorrow’s final day of racing.