Solo show helps Kerbaol become first home rider to win stage in women's Tour de France

Solo show helps Kerbaol become first home rider to win stage in women’s Tour de France

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CORRECTS THE SURNAME - Cedrine Kerbaol of France forms a heart as she crosses the finish line to win the sixth stage of the Tour de France Women cycling race with start in Remiremont and finish in Morteau, France, Friday, Aug. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

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CORRECTS THE SURNAME - Stage winner Cedrine Kerbaol of France celebrates on the podium after the sixth stage of the Tour de France Women cycling race with start in Remiremont and finish in Morteau, France, Friday, Aug. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

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CORRECTS THE SURNAME - Cedrine Kerbaol of France forms a heart as she celebrates winning the sixth stage of the Tour de France Women cycling race with start in Remiremont and finish in Morteau, France, Friday, Aug. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

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Katarzyna Niewiadoma of Poland, wearing the overall leader’s yellow jersey, celebrates on the podium after the sixth stage of the Tour de France Women cycling race with start in Remiremont and finish in Morteau, France, Friday, Aug. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

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Katarzyna Niewiadoma of Poland, wearing the overall leader’s yellow jersey, right, hugs Demi Vollering of The Netherlands who lost her yellow jersey to Niewiadoma following a crash in the fifth stage, prior to the sixth stage of the Tour de France Women cycling race with start in Remiremont and finish in Morteau, France, Friday, Aug. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

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Puck Pieterse of The Netherlands, wearing the best climber’s dotted jersey, front, Loes Adegeest of The Netherlands, Katarzyna Niewiadoma of Poland, wearing the overall leader’s yellow jersey, and Mavi Garcia of Spain, in orange, climb Col du Mont de Fourche during the sixth stage of the Tour de France Women cycling race with start in Remiremont and finish in Morteau, France, Friday, Aug. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

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Kristen Faulkner of the U.S., far left, Puck Pieterse of The Netherlands, wearing the best climber’s dotted jersey, second left, and Katarzyna Niewiadoma of Poland, wearing the overall leader’s yellow jersey, climb Col du Mont de Fourche during the sixth stage of the Tour de France Women cycling race with start in Remiremont and finish in Morteau, France, Friday, Aug. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

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Victoire Berteau of France wears a happy birthday hat prior to the sixth stage of the Tour de France Women cycling race with start in Remiremont and finish in Morteau, France, Friday, Aug. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

MORTEAU, France (AP) — Cedrine Kerbaol soloed to the biggest victory of her career on Friday as she became the first home rider to win a stage in the three-year history of the women’s Tour de France.

Kerbaol lifted her arms above her head and made a heart sign with her hands as she crossed the line at the end of the sixth stage, a hilly 159.2-kilometer (99-mile) route from Remiremont to Morteau.

The 23-year-old Frenchwoman attacked from the bunch at the top of the final climb, with 14.5 kilometers (nine miles) remaining, and used her descending prowess to pull away and finish 21 seconds ahead Marianne Vos and Liane Lippert.

The victory also lifted Kerbaol into second spot in the general classification, 16 seconds behind Kasia Niewiadoma heading into the final two stages in the high mountains. American Kristen Faulkner was third, 19 seconds behind Niewiadoma.

Polish cyclist Niewiadoma moved into the overall lead on Thursday after yellow-jersey wearer and defending champion Demi Vollering crashed in the final stages of the fifth stage and lost more than a minute to her rivals.

Saturday’s penultimate stage is almost entirely devoid of flat sections and has five classified climbs on the 166.4-kilometer (103.4-mile) route from Champagnole, including the second-category ascent to the summit finish at Le Grand-Bornand.

The race finishes Sunday at the top of the punishing climb of the Alpe d’Huez’s famous 21 hairpin bends.

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