Sigrid Haugset stunned the Tour de France Femmes favourites with a spectacular solo breakaway, covering 90km alone to win stage three and seize the overall lead. The Norwegian national champion's daring move from the foot of the Col de la Savine left the peloton's top teams scrambling, and she now leads by 2 minutes 2 seconds ahead of the time trial.
How Sigrid Haugset Pulled Off the Unthinkable
Haugset's attack came at the base of the second-category climb, and she quickly built a gap that would prove insurmountable. Despite a fierce chase from Lotte Kopecky, the former world champion, Haugset held on with grit and determination. At one point Kopecky closed to within 10 seconds, but Haugset responded, extending her lead to win by nearly a minute and a half.
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"I never thought it was possible," Haugset said, still dizzy from exhaustion. "I could not lift my arms off the bike. It was impossible." Her victory marks the first time a Norwegian rider has worn the yellow jersey in the Tour de France Femmes.
The Epic Duel with Kopecky
The stage turned into a two-rider battle, with Kopecky pushing hard in the final 30km. But Haugset's relentless pace and the support from her team car kept her ahead. "I thought Kopecky would catch me," she admitted. "I can't believe she didn't, but I kept on." The 27-year-old's performance under scorching heat—temperatures hit the high 30s—was a testament to her endurance.
What This Means for the Overall Classification
With the 21km individual time trial from Gevrey-Chambertin to Dijon looming, Haugset holds a significant advantage. However, she admitted she hasn't trained specifically for time trials this year. "Tomorrow is the time trial, but I haven't worked on it this year so I will just enjoy it," she said. Her lead of over two minutes could be enough to keep yellow, but the race is far from over.
| Rider | Time Gap | Stage Result |
|---|---|---|
| Sigrid Haugset (NOR) | Leader | 1st |
| Kim Le Court (MRI) | +2:02 | 2nd |
| Lotte Kopecky (BEL) | +2:15 | 3rd |
Key Takeaways from Haugset's Historic Win
- First Norwegian to wear yellow in Tour de France Femmes.
- 90km solo breakaway—one of the longest in recent memory.
- Haugset's victory reshapes the GC battle ahead of the time trial.
- Kopecky's inability to close the gap highlights Haugset's climbing strength.