Demi Vollering solos to victory on Beaujolais climb in Tour de France Femmes Stage 5

Demi Vollering won stage 5 of the Tour de France Femmes on Wednesday after a selective day from Mâcon to Belleville-en-Beaujolais turned into a three-rider fight among the main general classification contenders. The FDJ United-Suez rider finished the 140-km stage in 3:53:54, ahead of Marlen Reusser of Movistar Team and Katarzyna Niewiadoma-Phinney of Canyon//SRAM. Reusser, who took the yellow jersey in Tuesday’s time trial, kept the overall lead after matching Vollering on the final climbs. Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, the defending champion, lost contact earlier in the stage and fell out of the front-group battle. ### How did the stage break open in the Beaujolais? Stage 5 was billed by organizers as one of the hardest days of this year’s race, with 140 kilometres, eight classified climbs and roughly 2,900 to 3,006 metres of elevation gain between Mâcon and Belleville-en-Beaujolais. The official race report said 136 riders started, with Hannah Ludwig and Teuntje Beekhuis listed as non-starters. (letourfemmes.fr) The race changed with 31 kilometres left when Vollering attacked and forced a split that left Ferrand-Prévot behind, according to the Tour’s official stage report. On the final climb, Mont Brouilly, Vollering accelerated again and only Reusser and Niewiadoma-Phinney could stay with her. ### Why did Vollering win if Reusser still looked strong? (letourfemmes.fr) The finish came down to a sprint between the three riders who had survived the final selection. Vollering took the stage, with Reusser second and Niewiadoma-Phinney third, giving Vollering her fourth Tour de France Femmes stage victory, according to the official race report and Rouleur’s results page. (letourfemmes.fr) Rouleur’s live report said Niewiadoma-Phinney launched early, about 300 meters from the line, and appeared on course for the win before Vollering came back at the finish. That left Reusser in second on the stage but still in control of yellow. ### What happened to the yellow jersey battle? Marlen Reusser remained first overall after stage 5 in 15:41:18, with Vollering 12 seconds back and Niewiadoma-Phinney 1 minute 17 seconds down, the Tour’s official standings showed. (letourfemmes.fr) Antonia Niedermaier moved into fourth overall at 2:40 and took over the white jersey. (rouleur.cc) Tuesday’s stage 4 time trial had set up that fight. Reusser won the 21-km test from Gevrey-Chambertin to Dijon and took the yellow jersey there, with the official race report saying the Tour was moving into a new phase before the hillier stages and the Mont Ventoux summit finish. ### How badly did Ferrand-Prévot’s race change? (letourfemmes.fr) Pauline Ferrand-Prévot lost contact when Vollering’s acceleration split the contenders, and the official Tour report said the move put the Visma | Lease a Bike rider out of contention on the day. Rouleur’s stage page described Ferrand-Prévot’s general classification bid as having “fallen apart” on stage five. (letourfemmes.fr) The loss was significant because Ferrand-Prévot had already given up substantial time in stage 4’s time trial. Rouleur’s stage 4 results page said Reusser gained more than two minutes on last year’s winner in Dijon. ### What comes next in the race? Stage 6 is scheduled for Thursday between Montbrison and Tournon-sur-Rhône over 153 km, another hilly day before the race reaches Mont Ventoux on Friday. (letourfemmes.fr) The official Tour site lists stage 7 as a 144-km mountain stage finishing on Ventoux, with the race ending in Nice on Sunday, Aug. 9. (rouleur.cc)