"Once she starts winning, she will never stop," said Annemiek van Fruten, praising Movistar teammate Liane Lippert after winning the uphill sprint of the second stage of the Tour de France Femmes Avec Zwift. The world champion believes that success breeds success and hopes Lippert's victory will give him confidence for future victories.

"This is Riane's biggest win to date. Winning the Cadel Evans Road Race, this is a landmark victory for her and to be able to finish like this even after a hard race will make her believe in herself more," said Van Vleuten at the end of a rain-soaked Monday race to Mauriac. [She is] super strong and sometimes you have to wait for that moment. This definitely gives me confidence and makes me better."

Van Vleuten enters the Tour de France Femme as the defending champion and one of the overwhelming favorites to win. She looks ahead to stage 7, a GC decider that will finish on the summit of the Col du Tourmalet, but is pleased with Lippert's opportunity to claim a stage win in the eight days of racing.

"It's even better to win [a stage] with the other guys with the goal of being GC number one. Still, to win a stage win like this would be great for her and for her confidence."

Lippert is one of the peloton's strongest riders, having moved to Movistar from her former team DSM earlier this season. Highlights of her career include overall victories in the Lotto Belgian Tour and the Cadel Evans Road Race, as well as three German road race championships. In addition, she has finished second in the Flèche Wallonne, third in the Amstel Gold Race, and fourth in the World Championships, all of which have earned her podium finishes.

"It's amazing. I've been waiting a long time to win these races. I've won national championships before, but to win a race like this means so much to me.

Given his sprinting and hilly ability, Lippert is also one of Van Vleuten's super-domestics. Lippert thanked the team for giving him a free role in the team's quest for a stage win in Mauriac and said he is looking forward to resuming his support role for Van Vleuten in the overall with five stages remaining.

"Our big goal is the GC with Anne-Mike, so there are certainly times when I have to sacrifice my card. If we finally win the GC, we can be together on the podium like in the Giro.

"I work for it and I like working for it. The team is giving me a chance too. I'm looking forward to getting back into work mode."

Van Vleuten is retiring at the end of this season, but she said that her time with the Movistar team has allowed her to take on the pressures of being a team leader and give her riders a place to grow. She said she hopes to see her teammates, including Lippert, grow as leaders after she retires from cycling. Lippert said she was grateful to have spent a season on the same team as Van Vleuten.

"It was great to race with Anne-Mike this season. It took the pressure off this year and I hope to come back [next season] and race well," Lippert said.

"I'm a different rider than she is, and I'm punchy like I was today. Right now I'm not a GC rider, but I can climb well and I want to focus on the Classics. Winning the Classic is my next goal."