Ventoux standoff costs Reusser the yellow as Niewiadoma-Phinney captures stage and GC lead

On Mont Ventoux, Marlen Reusser and Demi Vollering’s late tactical war cost the yellow jersey as Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney attacked late to win the stage by 1:16 and seize the race lead. Vollering finished second and Reusser, who had led early, dropped to third overall, 39 seconds behind the leader and 24 seconds behind Vollering, with two stages remaining including four climbs of Col d’Eze. Reusser called the mark-out battle “really stupid from both of us” as the GC fight intensified going into the weekend.