UAE TEAM ADQ

Coming out stronger from adversity and bad luck, the UAE Team ADQ riders showed great unity and undefeated desire to win today. Marta Bastianelli took an excellent second place behind yellow jersey Marianne Vos in the sixth stage of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, 128.6km from Saint-Dié-des-Vosges to Rosheim.

Just 24 hours after a nasty crash in the peloton leaving Marta with several injuries all over her body, it was yet another difficult day for the team. But against all odds, the girls started out with the conviction that they could turn this Tour around. Stronger than the injuries, stronger than the bandages and plasters, ready to scale the mountains. All the teammates worked to get Marta in the front at the most decisive moment. And it was then, this strong Italian rider put in all her grit and experience to achieve the unachievable, but only to surrender to one yellow jersey Vos, for now.

This is a rather valuable second place from where with right mentality, the team has managed to defeat bad luck and develop the morale to face the last two upcoming days of the race.

Maaike Boogaard, Eugenia Bujak and Erica Magnaldi did a great job to help Marta Bastianelli and by keeping the leader Mavi Garcia safe in the finale. The Spanish champion remains in 11th position in the GC with 2:40 behind the yellow jersey.

Marta Bastianelli said: "This result is for the team. Today I wanted to try to do my best. A second place came and I’m very happy with this placing, it's all for my teammates. We had two very unlucky days and Mavi fell again today, but we had a goal and managed to do a great performance together".

General manager Rubens Bertogliati commented: "It was a demanding stage, where we had to work because with a breakaway where all the teams were present we had to close the gap. We gave confidence to Marta who had confided in us that she wanted to make the final sprint. We worked well with all the girls and managed to get Marta into the sprint and at the same time safeguard our leader Mavi. After two difficult days an important result for the group and for the morale of the team in view of the last two days that will be very challenging".

From tomorrow, the mountains will start with the last two decisive stages of the Tour de France Femmes. Saturday 30th July will be the seventh stage from Sélestat to Le Markstein (127.1 km) and Sunday 31st July the eighth stage from Lure to Super Planche des Belles Filles (123.3 km). It will be possible to follow both stages live on Eurosport/GCN from 15:15 CEST.