Defending champion Pauline Ferrand-Prevot has been forced to withdraw from the Tour de France Femmes before Saturday's penultimate stage because of illness.
"Unfortunately, Pauline was not feeling well this morning. In consultation with the medical staff, it has been decided that she will not start today," her Visma-Lease a Bike team said in a post on X.
The 34-year-old French rider was 14th in the overall standings heading into the eighth stage between Sisteron and Nice, more than 14 minutes behind leader Kasia Niewiadoma.
Poland's Niewiadoma, the 2024 winner, holds a 15sec overall lead on Dutch rider Demi Vollering after winning the gruelling climb up Mont Ventoux on Friday, with Swiss Marlen Reusser third overall at 39sec.
The race ends in Nice on Sunday with a title struggle in the hills outside the Riviera city, with a series of four climbs of the same steep 7km slope.
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