Ghekiere "was dead" after sprints for mountain points, but wins "just like that" at Grand-Bornand: "Think I'm dreaming"

Justine Ghekiere won - in her polka dot jersey! - on a superb and highly clever way, won the second to last stage of the Tour de France Femmes. She was the best of the bunch on the famous climb of the Grand-Bornand. ''I have no words for this."

''I think I'm dreaming,'' the 28-year-old from West Flanders eagerly proclaimed in the flash interview. "This is just unbelievable. I must genuinely thank my team for this win. After all, they did everything they could to protect me well at the beginning of the stage and then get me into the breakaway."

Her utmost gratitude went to Julie Van de Velde, her compatriot and teammate who, in a six-man breakaway group - Marianne Vos was also among them - did solid execution work for the eventual winner. "She rode so powerfully," Ghekiere praised. "She sacrificed everything for me to start the climb in the best possible way and save energy."

"This win really belongs to her, too," Ghekiere emphasized again in the context of what Van de Velde did. "It's so special. When I took the last points in the mountains, I was dead. Then, I chose my own pace, but suddenly, I could stay away. I really can't believe this! I'm also very proud to ride in the polka dot jersey in the final stage and ride on a bike with special paint! That's a great gift."