The triple-header climb on stage 7 gave Urska Zigato (BikeExchange-Jayco), who has often struggled in the Tour de France Femmes Avec Tswift peloton, a rare opportunity to show his climbing prowess. The Slovenian placed eighth on the climb of Le Markstein.

Saturday was the first time Zigato, who had often been behind the peloton for most of the race, finished in the top 90.

"Positioning inside the peloton is one of my difficulties," he said. I don't feel comfortable." I think it's because I didn't start as a junior, I started later. But no one can win from last place."

Today's result gives her additional motivation to overcome her weaknesses, and she is working with her skills coach to improve her ability in the pack and on the descents this season.

"I need to keep working on that, but today was good motivation that I am on the right track," she said.

"Maybe I need to be a little more confident and positive in the peloton.

"I still need to practice and that's something to work on in the off-season. I'm motivated."

As a pure climber, a rider like Zigato has relatively few opportunities to race in terrain that suits him best.

"Of course, I came to the Tour for the last two days of big climbs. There are climbing races, but not many long climbs."

Off team leader Kristen Faulkner, whose GC hopes were ended, gave Ziegert more opportunity to race on her own.

"It was unfortunate that Kristen wasn't feeling well, but it allowed me to sit in the front group a little bit," Ziegert said. I tried to recover a little and work for Kristen, but in the end the pack stayed together." I was honestly happy to make it to the finish."

Zigato will have one more chance tomorrow as the Tour de France climaxes on the summit of Belle-feuille.

"I'm kind of scared about how I'm going to feel tomorrow," she said. But talking to the girls, they were all suffering, it doesn't matter if you're 5, 10, 20 minutes behind, it was a really hard course today. So I'm hoping to recover tomorrow and then we'll see what we can do."