Racing
Tour de France Femmes Daily | Stage 6 | Cédrine tests her rivals and climbs to ninth on GC
Magdeleine Vallieres is the MVP for EF Education-Oatly on the first tough day in the mountains
July 31, 2025
On a tough but hugely exciting day in the Tour de France Femmes mountains, EF Education-Oatly was in the thick of the action with GC contender Cédrine Kerbaol and Magdeleine Vallieres making it into the lead group when the hammer went down inside the final 40 kilometers.
The stage between Clermont-Ferrand and Ambert presented the Tour with its hardest terrain yet, and on the early undulating climbs through the Massif Central, Cédrine was well protected, with the entire team focused on delivering her to the key climbs in the best position possible.
The first category ascent of the Col du Béal thinned down the peloton dramatically, and on the high technical descent, it was Cédrine who burst from the pack with a trademark attack that only one other rider could follow with 37 km remaining. The French rider’s move sparked a full-on chase from the remnants of the field, and when she was finally caught before the Col du Chansert, it was Mags who was right by her side for the entirety of the climb.
Several teams tried to increase the pace at various points on the ascent, but with each pedal stroke, Mags and Cédrine matched the rest of the favorites, with Mags providing the perfect super domestique performance as she kept Cédrine right at the front of the group.
Into the final kilometer, Cédrine once again hit the front with a powerful move, this time dragging the yellow jersey group to the line before finishing 14th, with Mags taking a highly creditable eighth.
The result moves Cédrine up one place to ninth on GC, and 1:24 away from the yellow jersey. On her favorite terrain, Cédrine once again showed that she’s ready for the fight.
Read our riders' thoughts from the finish of stage 6.
Cédrine Kerbaol
It was hard, but more fun than the past days. Mags was amazing. I had to tell her to calm down sometimes on the climb and to go slower because she is just so, so strong. She did a massive job, and we were there in the finale. We tried something in the finale. It didn't work, but it's good to see the legs are back.
Magdeleine Vallieres
We started well. We were all riding together. The girls did a good job to keep Cédrine, Noemi, and me in a good position. And then we did an amazing lead out into the first long climb, so we were in perfect position and Noemi kept us in good position all climb, riding the wind.
And then, after, I took over and kept Cédrine out of the wind, moved her up when she wanted, and we made it into the front group. I think some GC riders got dropped, so we gained a bit of time on some girls, so we were happy. My climbing is getting better than before, so I’m happy that I can support her for longer.
