Kimberley Le Court delivered a standout performance in stage five of the Tour de France Femmes, winning the longest stage of the race and taking the yellow jersey. The Mauritian cyclist celebrated across the finish line in Guéret, narrowly holding off Demi Vollering, who nearly caught her in the final stretch.
This victory marks a major milestone for Le Court. She showed skill and determination over the 165.8km route and emerged as the fastest finisher from a seven-rider breakaway group. Her effort not only secured the stage win but also pushed her to the top of the general classification.
Le Court now leads France’s Pauline Ferrand-Prévot by 18 seconds. Marianne Vos, who began the day in the yellow jersey, finished 33 seconds behind and dropped to sixth place. With four stages remaining, the leaderboard remains tight and the race wide open.
The day brought setbacks as well. Olympic road race champion Kristen Faulkner crashed in the neutralised zone before the official start. It was her third consecutive fall, forcing her to withdraw from the race.
Stage five challenged the peloton with a hilly course that demanded both stamina and strategy. The decisive moment came when seven riders broke away late in the stage. Le Court stayed calm, controlled the pace, and timed her sprint perfectly. Vollering finished a wheel behind in second, while Anna van der Breggen took third.
The result has set the stage for a fierce battle as the race enters its most demanding terrain. Thursday’s stage six is the first true mountain test, covering 123.7km from Clermont-Ferrand to Ambert. The hilly profile is expected to shake up the standings.
Le Court’s victory drew praise from cycling fans, many of whom admired her bold decision to sit up and celebrate before the line. Though it risked losing the lead, her confidence paid off and made the win even more memorable. She now emerges as a strong contender for the overall title, with Ferrand-Prévot and Vollering still close behind.
After five stages, Le Court leads the general classification with a total time of 15 hours, 7 minutes, and 14 seconds. Ferrand-Prévot trails by 18 seconds, Vollering by 23 seconds, and Katarzyna Niewiadoma-Phinney by 24 seconds. Vos, now 37 seconds back, faces a tough road if she hopes to reclaim the top spot.
As the competition moves into the mountains, endurance and team support will become even more critical. Fans expect dramatic performances as the front-runners battle for the yellow jersey in the final days of the race.
In short, Kimberley Le Court claimed a thrilling win in stage five and captured the yellow jersey, signaling her rise in this year’s Tour de France Femmes. With the race heating up, stage six could prove decisive in shaping the final outcome.
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