Marta Cavalli (FDJ-SUEZ) questioned the tactics used by SD Walks in the chase group that formed behind lone winner Lotte Kopecký on the opening stage of the Tour de France Femme. Kopecky and her teammates tried to chase, but said their efforts were "interrupted" and it was difficult to keep pace and stay organized. [It's cycling. Sometimes it doesn't look fair, but it's cycling and it's part of the game," Cavalli said, but she did not seem upset by SD Worx's strategy and said her team will focus on the upcoming stages, with an eye on stage 7 in Tourmalet.

Kopecký attacked hard as part of a select lead group on the uphill of the Côte de Durmalet, the day's only categorized section, and was the strongest of the day, gaining 41 seconds on the descent and run-in to Clermont-Ferrand to take the stage win and her first leader's jersey in eight days of racing. He took the stage win and his first leader's jersey in eight days of racing.

The small chase group included Kopecký's teammates Volering, Cavalli, Cecilie Uttrup-Ludwig, Evita Mujic (FDJ-SUEZ), defending champion Annemiek van Fruten, Rian Lippert ( Movistar), Ashley Moolman-Pasio (AG Insurance-Sudar-Quick Step), Kasia Niewiadoma and Ricarda Bauernfind, Elise Chaby (Canyon-SRAM), Mavi Garcia (Liv Racing Techfind), Elisa Longo Borghini (Lidl-Trek), Ane Santesteban (Jayco Aroura).

The second chase group, including SD Worx's Marlen Reusser and Lorena Wiebes and Marianne Vos (Jumbo-Visma), reconnected about 2 km from the line.

Some wondered why the other teams did not make a more organized chase to close the gap to Kopecký, but Cavalli suggested that SD Walks had sabotaged the chase.

"Volering and Reusser started interfering with our work. They wanted to slow us down so that Kopecký could keep the gap and secure first place and so that Vives could come back," Cavalli said, expressing his understanding of the tactics used by SD Walks in the final.

"It's cycling. Sometimes it doesn't look fair, but it's cycling and it's part of the game. We can't do anything. We just have fun and try to do our job. It worked out well for them today and I hope it will tomorrow and the next day. We're a good team and we're trying to improve our communication.

Cavalli returned to the Tour de France femme after a horrific crash last year that forced him to retire. He is one of three team-approved GC contenders for this year's race, along with Utrapt Ludwig and Grace Brown.

Kopecky currently leads the race by 45 seconds over teammate Wiebes and 47 seconds over Charlotte Kuhl (Team dsm-Filmenig).

"As a team, we have other climbs like the Tourmalet, and we have enough space to close this gap in the next stages," Cavalli said.

Cavalli questioned SD Worx's tactics in the final, but praised Kopecký for winning in Durrut.

"Lotte Kopecky was so strong, nobody could keep up with her, SD Worx is the biggest team here. They have a very good lineup and we already knew that yesterday. But now the peloton and SD Volks are going to play each other. Hopefully it will be as fun a race as it was today."