The Team DSM rider won solo at the summit of Passo Maniva following a brutal 112.9-kilometres journey from Prevalle after 3hr 22min 36sec.

Dutchwoman Annemiek van Vleuten clocked in 1:37 later to extend her overall lead in the general classification while Mavi García Cañellas of Spain secured bronze with a time of 3:24:17.

"It was really hard and I was a bit scared as the gap was going down really fast so I really had to go full from the bottom," said Labous.

"I saw that I was maybe the strongest so I just decided to take my own pace and to just go as hard as I could.

"I will try maybe to go for another stage win but tomorrow I think maybe I’ll be a bit tired from today but I’m just so happy with the win I will first enjoy that one."

Stage seven saw riders take on an imperious climb to reach Passo Maniva and reach the highest finishing point of the entire tour with 1,400 meters of elevation gain.

There were a few high-profile riders that didn’t start today’s stage, including yesterday’s winner Marianne Vos of The Netherlands, Cuban Arlenis Sierra and Luxembourg's Christine Majerus.

Sierra was involved in a crash on stage five but Vos and Majerus cited the upcoming Tour de France Femmes on July 24 for their absence.

Labous found herself clear of the breakaway with around 20km remaining and did superbly to see out her lead and convert it to victory.

She was helped in part by Norwegian Amalie Lutro who was the first rider to break the co-operation of the breakaway after jumping in front in an attempt to go clear of the chasing pack.

The race is due to continue tomorrow with stage eight which will take riders from Rovereto to Aldeno over 104.7km.