Following the U17 races, it is time for the junior women's finish! As expected, two teams controlled the race in the final stages: the French national team and Airtox - Carl Ras Junior Women. With 20km to go, Justine Baud was leading the race, but her move was reabsorbed by the peloton. This opened the door for another attack by a French rider, this time Lucie Elizalde, but her effort was also shut down by the bunch.
Consequently, Ida Østbye Støvern launched an attack from the peloton to anticipate the Côte de Varent, where she would have been at a disadvantage against the more explosive punchers. Indeed, on the Côte, French champion Thaïs Poirier attacked with Edda Bieberle glued to her wheel. Over the crest, Lise Revol attacked from the chasing group and bridged across to the leading trio, establishing a four-rider breakaway with two athletes from France and two from Airtox.
The leading quartet built an advantage of about 20" over the peloton, where NXTG and Grouwels-Watersley, both missing out on the break, were driving the pace. However, with 6km remaining, the dynamic shifted as Støvern dropped acting on the climb. At this point, Poirier took the front to work for Revol, stretching the trio's advantage to 40" over the pack.
It all came down to a sprint finish where Bieberle seemed to be the favorite, but Lise Revol clearly proved to be the strongest. A prestigious road victory for the former cyclocross World Champion, who now imprints her mark on the road as well! Bieberle and Poirier completed the podium, while just off the podium in fourth place came Linda Rapporti.