Mavi García Wins Stage 2 of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift

With the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift now well underway, team Liv Alula Jayco has scored a massive victory with Spanish Rider Mavi García launching a successful solo attack to take the stage. 

The second stage of the tour was 110km with 4 categorised climbs and plenty of action. Early on, Liv rider Silke Smulders followed and overtook the polka dot jersey Elise Chabbey, taking 3 mountain points. She continued to put the pressure on, staying at the front of the group for most of the stage along with Chabbey gaining a gap of up to one minute and staying competitive on the mountain sections.  

When they were finally caught, an attack was launched from Niewiadoma-phinney of CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto and Ferrand Prevot of Team Visma Lease a Bike which was shortly neutralised and countered by Riejanne Markus (LIDL – Trek).  

As the breakaway was finally caught, Mavi García, the oldest rider in the peloton, successfully gained a gap with 10km to go and held a steady pace managing to hold off the final attacks at the finish and crossing the line 3 seconds ahead of second place. 

With García’s GC hopes dashed after an enormous crash in stage 1 which set her back 4:51, the shear grit and determination on display to win this stage is nothing short of incredible. After her win, García said “Today, I don't know, but I thought, ‘OK, I need to fight again’."  

With this early stage win García has secured team Liv Alula Jayco’s first ever Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift stage victory. 

García, close to tears, had this to say “I have a lot of emotion. I can’t believe it, I’ve tried so many times and never made it to the finish. This victory means so much to me. I really needed it.” 

 

Image credit: Cor Vos and Getty Images