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Emma Norsgaard earns Movistar its second 2023 TdF Femmes triumph

Alison Jackson's 13th the best Canadian result so far

July 28, 2023
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It’s the Tour de Breakaway Femmes. Once again, the fugitives prevailed at the 2023 Tour de France Femmes, with Emma Norsgaard winning Friday’s sixth stage from a three-rider escape. It was Movistar’s second stage win after Liane Lippert’s on Monday. On the day before the big mountains, Lotte Kopecky kept her yellow jersey. Alison Jackson was top Canadian in 13th, the best result for a Canuck so far.

The Course

It was the last chance for the sprinters before the weekend GC-fest. Four Cat. 4 climbs were set within 53 km in the middle of the route.

In an extension of Demi Vollering’s time penalty on Thursday, the UCI excluded SD Worx-Protime directeur sportif Danny Stam, the driver of the drafting car. from the race for dangerous driving and inappropriate comments.

By the first categorized climb, there was a breakaway duo up the road. Norsgaard lit out after them and soon was chasing Pole Agnieszka Skalniak-Sójka with Sandra Alonso, the peloton two minutes back of the lone leader. The three linked up before Côte de Puycelsi, the second climb.

On the way to the final ascent, Stage 4 victor and Queen of the Mountains holder Yara Kastelijn was caught up with a few others in a crash, but she rejoined the peloton.

The TdFF had found the sunflowers!

With 18 km to go the trio still held a minute over the Jumbo, ADQ and DSM-Firmenich-led peloton.

The intrepid fugitives head into the final 15 km.

The pace of her breakmates was too much for Alonso, and she was dropped with 4.2 km remaining. Norsgaard and Skalniak-Sójka had 15 seconds at the 2 km to go banner. A crash slowed the pursuit. With a group of about 20 including Alison Jackson hot on their heels, Norsgaard surged clear of the Pole and hung on for the victory. Charlotte Kool was runner-up and Kopecky third.

Saturday, the penultimate day, is the first of two big GC stages, ending on the mighty Tourmalet.

2023 Tour de France Femmes Stage 6
1) Emma Norsgaard (Norway/Movistar) 2:59:15
2) Chalotte Kool (Denmark/DSM-Firmenich +0:01
3) Lotte Kopecky (Belgium/SD Worx-Protime) s.t.
13) Alison Jackson (Canada/EF Education-TIBCO-SVB) s.t.
29) Simone Boilard (Canada/St Michel–Mavic–Auber93) +0:22
32) Clara Emond (Canada/Arkéa) +0:23

2023 Tour de France Femmes GC
1) Lotte Kopecky (Belgium/SD Worx-Protime) 21:54:30
2) Ashleigh Moolman (South Africa/AG-Soudal Quick-Step) +0:53
3) Ammemiek van Vleuten (The Netherlands/Movistar) +0:55
27) Clara Emond (Canada/Arkéa) +8:06