Dutch rider Lorena Wiebes sprinted to victory in Tuesday's third stage of the 2023 women's Tour de France, with Belgian teammate Lotte Kopecky holding onto the leader's yellow jersey.

SD Worx's Wiebes crossed the line in Dordogne ahead of compatriot Marianne Vos and Kopecky for her 10th win of the season.

Wiebes took advantage of the work of her teammates as the peloton caught Julie Van de Velde on the wire, after the Belgian broke clear with 58 kilometers to go, before being reeled in 250 meters from the line.

The Flemish climber was the main protagonist of the stage. 

After her attack on the Cote des Andrieux, she widened the gap of 2 minutes, 30 seconds 30 kilometers from Montignac.

A lead that forced the peloton to react in the final straight, at the initiative of the DSM team of Dutch sprinter Charlotte Kool and Frenchwoman Juliette Labous, a podium hopeful after her recent second place at the women's Giro d'Italia.

But Kool, finally seventh, could do nothing against the power of Wiebes, expertly led to 50 meters by Kopecky.

"I really was perfectly set up by Lotte," Wiebes said. "It's an honor to have the yellow jersey as a pilot fish (domestique)."

After Kopecky's victory Sunday in Clermont-Ferrand, this is a second success for SD Worx, whose team leader Demi Vollering shares the status of race favorite with compatriot and defending champion Annemiek van Vleuten.

The two women crossed the line at the same time within the peloton.

On Wednesday, the riders will tackle the longest stage this year over 177 kilometers between Cahors and Rodez, which includes five climbs on the final 40 kilometers.