In the sixth stage of the French stage race, the riders once again faced several climbs. Shortly after the start in Montbrison, three riders broke away and built up a maximum lead of two minutes. However, their breakaway came to a swift end, as the peloton was riding at a brisk pace.

On the penultimate climb, the peloton thinned out considerably. Team Visma | Lease a Bike was well represented by Femke de Vries, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, Marion Bunel and Van Dam. On the descent from the Col de Lalouvesc, Celia Gery opened up a gap, after which Van Dam and six others bridged across.

The eight-rider breakaway’s lead was comfortable enough to decide who would take the stage win. Van Dam waited patiently for her chance, but fell just short in the sprint. "I’m slightly disappointed, because I felt I could have won. But all in all, I can be pleased with the progress I’ve made and how I rode today", said Van Dam.

"It was a really tough day. The climbs came thick and fast, and on the descent we were going flat out. That was quite nerve-wracking. At one point I found myself in a leading group and the eight of us went into the final stretch together. Unfortunately, I messed up my sprint and just missed out on a podium finish."

After the race, Ferrand-Prévot praised her team mates. "It was great to see them take control in the final and help shape the race. They’re all keen to learn and are developing incredibly quickly. I’m incredibly proud of my team mates", she said.