Tour de France Femmes 2022: Ludwig wins in Épernay, Vos cements GC lead

image: Cor VosCecilie Uttrup Ludwig wins the uphill sprint finish in Épernay ahead of Marianne Vos. The Dutch icon extends her lead on GC. Silvia Persico and Katarzyna Niewiadoma sit in second and third. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 3rd stage 2022 Tour de France Femmes

1. Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (den)
2. Marianne Vos (nld) + 0.02
3. Ashleigh Moolman (rsa) s.t.
4. Silvia Persico (ita) s.t.
5. Elisa Longo Borghini (ita) s.t.
6. Katarzyna Niewiadoma (pol) s.t.
7. Mavi García (spa) + 0.06
8. Demi Vollering (nld) + 0.08
9. Juliette Labous (fra) + 0.11
10. Annemiek van Vleuten (nld) + 0.20

GC after stage 3
1. Marianne Vos (nld)
2. Silvia Persico (ita) + 0.16
3. Katarzyna Niewiadoma (pol) s.t.
4. Elisa Longo Borghini (ita) + 0.21
5. Ashleigh Moolman (rsa) + 0.51
6. Mavi García (spa) + 0.55
7. Demi Vollering (nld) + 0.57
8. Juliette Labous (fra) + 1.05
9. Annemiek van Vleuten (nld) + 1.14
10. Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (den) + 1.48

Race report
High pace from the gun. Despite a lote of movement the peloton is still bunched on the Côte de Trépail. Femke Gerritse adds 2 QOM points to her tally at the summit.

Still no gap at km 33. Then Pauline Allin embarks on a solo and she opens a 30 seconds gap. Femke Markus tracks her down. The two are caught with 75 kilmetres remaining.

Gerritse adds 2 more points to her QOM tally on the Côte de Vertus. This scenario repeats itself on the Côte du Mesnil-sur-Orge and the Dutch rider is the Queen of the Mountain.

Alena Amialiusik attacks right after the QOM-sprint. She opens up a 1 minute gap before she is reeled in at the foot of the Côte de Mutigny. Yellow jersey Marianne Vos loses contact on the climb.

Demi Vollering hits the deck on descent. Elisa Longo Borghini, Ashleigh Moolman and Silvia Persico push on. Mavi García and Annemiek van Vleuten regain contact.

Vollering rejoins a chasing group with Marianne Vos, Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig, Kasia Niewiadoma and Juliette Labous. They bridge across to the lead group before Mont Bernon. Van Vleuten is dropped on the climb, but she comes clawing back before the uphill home straight.

Niewiamoma opens the sprint early. Vos follows her move to overhaul her, possibly too early, as Ludwig takes the win a powerful performace. Vos finishes in second to cement her GC lead.

Another interesting read: route 3rd stage 2022 Tour de France Femmes.