How do you take the yellow jersey from Marianne Vos?

Sylvia Persico doesn't have the answer, but she will find it in two more stages before the race reaches its mountainous finale at the Tour de France Femme Avec Zwift.

Persico races for Valcar Travel & Service, a development team, and is showing the world how strong she is when competing against experienced riders in the Women's World Tour.

She finished second behind Vos on stage 2, Provins, fourth on stage 3, Epernay, and seventh on stage 4, the gravel of Val sur Aube, putting her in second place overall, 16 seconds behind Vos.

"I tried to take the yellow jersey today. I tried on the last climb but Marianne was really strong and I couldn't drop her.

Marlen Reusser (SD Worx) won the solo race, with Vos leading the group in fifth. Persico finished seventh after a difficult race that included 12 km of white gravel roads and steep climbs through the Champagne region. Persico said he tried to attack but was unable to close the time gap to Vos.

"I didn't join the Tour de France to do GC. I want to see how the race goes every day now, but I don't want to give up now," Persico said.

"I'm dreaming of the yellow jersey. I feel good and I want to run the next day like I did today."

She will be back for stage 5, a 175.6km stage between Val-le-Duc and Saint-Dier-des-Vosges, and stage 6, a tough 128.6km stage from Saint-Dier-des-Vosges to Rossheim. Persico sees these stages as his last chance to wear the yellow jersey in the eight-day race, which concludes Sunday at La Planche des Belles Filles.

"I think the next two days are my last chance to get the yellow jersey. I'm not a climber, so I have to try tomorrow or Friday to take the yellow jersey.

Asked how she would take the leader's jersey from someone like Vos, Persico replied, "I don't know."

"I have to attack her. I attacked her today on the last climb and she was really strong. She sees me and I think she is a little bit scared because she is always racing close to me.

Persico is not intimidated by her more experienced rivals and is developing into one of the strongest up-and-coming riders in the world.

She was third at the elite women's cyclocross world championships behind Vos and Lucinda Brand. On the road, she finished in the top 10 at Strade Bianche, Trofeo Alfredo Binda, and Ghent-Wevelgem, and wore the leader's jersey at the Serratigit Festival Elsie Jacobs.

Vos also recognized Persico as a rider to watch. I've seen her every day, both in this Tour de France and in other races. She's here, she's doing well, she's good at climbing and gravel. Certainly, we haven't seen all of her yet," Vos said.