The Dutch rider finished 43 seconds ahead of Elizabeth Deignan of Britain. Elisa Longo Borghini of Italy was third, 1:23 behind Van Vleuten.

The women’s race was run over 42 miles from Briancon to the top of the Izoard pass – also the finish of Stage 18 in the men’s race. Van Vleuten covered the distance in 2 hours, 7 minutes, 18 seconds. The men’s route on Thursday was longer at 112 miles.

The women race a second stage in Marseille on Saturday, where the men will have a time trial.

Van Vleuten sustained three small fractures to her spine in a crash during the women’s Olympic road race last year in Rio de Janeiro.