Kim Le Court outruns competitors on Tour Femmes stage five, claiming the yellow jersey from Marianne Vos
Tour de France Femmes 2025: Kim Le Court-Pienaar Claims Stage Five Victory and Reclaims Yellow Jersey
Kim Le Court-Pienaar (AG Insurance-Soudal) has claimed a thrilling stage five victory at the Tour de France Femmes 2025, securing a photo-finish sprint ahead of Demi Vollering and Anna van der Breggen. With this win, Le Court-Pienaar has reclaimed the yellow jersey, becoming the new overall leader.
The 165.8km stage from Chasseneuil-du-Poitou to Guéret featured an almost imperceptible uphill line over the first two-thirds and three classified climbs. The breakaway, which included Brodie Chapman (UAE Team ADQ) and several other riders, managed to gain a gap of four-and-a-half minutes from the peloton.
However, the climbs at the end of the stage caused the breakaway to fragment, with Chapman attacking on the Côte du Peyroux and dropping Jackson and Barale. A quintet formed, including Chapman, Maeva Squiban, Shirin van Anrooij, Silke Smulders, and Dilyxine Miermont.
In the final moments, Le Court-Pienaar executed a successful sprint in a small group, securing the stage win. Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (Visma-Lease a Bike) finished fifth, but her time loss allowed Le Court-Pienaar to take the overall lead.
After stage five, the general classification standings are as follows:
- Kim Le Court-Pienaar (AG Insurance-Soudal) – 15:07'14"
- Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (Visma-Lease a Bike) – +18 seconds
- Demi Vollering (FDJ-Suez) – +23 seconds
- Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney (Canyon-SRAM-ZondaCrypto) – +24 seconds
- Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime) – +27 seconds
Marianne Vos, who had been in yellow, slipped to 8th overall after finishing 33 seconds behind in the stage. Lotte Kopecky shepherded Lorena Wiebes, the stage win hopeful and green jersey holder, back into the peloton after she was dropped on a climb.
Le Court paid tribute to team-mate Sarah Gigante for her work in the final few kilometres. The AG Insurance-Soudal rider was part of an elite lead group that included Vollering and Ferrand-Prévot.
The top ten of the General Classification after stage five is as follows:
- Kim Le Court
- Pauline Ferrand-Prevot
- Demi Vollering
- Kasia Niewiadoma
- Anna van der Breggen
- Marianne Vos
- Pauliena Rooijakkers
- Sarah Gigante
- Puck Pieterse
- Cédrine Kerbaol
Le Court had a three-part plan for the stage: staying safe in the early part, taking the bonus sprint, and trying to take the stage victory if in a small group. Today's stage was the longest of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift.
Eight riders, including Kristen Faulkner (EF Education-Oatly) and Karlijn Swinkels (UAE Team ADQ), were forced to retire due to numerous crashes. Despite the challenges, the Tour de France Femmes 2025 continues to captivate audiences with its exciting races and fierce competition.
- Despite numerous crashes that forced eight riders, including Kristen Faulkner and Karlijn Swinkels, to retire, the Tour de France Femmes 2025 continues to captivate audiences with its exciting races and fierce competition.
- With Kim Le Court-Pienaar securing the stage victory and reclaiming the yellow jersey, sports enthusiasts are eagerly anticipating the next stages of the Tour de France Femmes 2025.
