The Dutch champion beats Reusser and Niewiadoma-Phinney in a three-way sprint after a selective stage in the Beaujolais hills.
Demi Vollering ( FDJ United-SUEZ ) won the fifth stage of the Tour de France Femmes , outsprinting Marlen Reusser ( Movistar ) and Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney ( Canyon-SRAM ) at the end of a three-way breakaway that formed on the ramps of Mont Brouilly . Reusser retained the yellow jersey, but all three riders gained valuable ground on their general classification rivals in a stage that reshaped the balance of the race.
FDJ United-SUEZ worked hard to contain the breakaway that formed just over 80 km from the finish, in a very tough stage. The team then launched their leader up the Col de Durbize, a climb completed 30.4 km from the finish. Vollering made the decisive push on the hardest section of the climb , an acceleration that caused the leading group to jump: Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (Visma-Lease a Bike), Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime), Cédrine Kerbaol (EF Education-Oatly), and the two UAE Team L'IMAD riders, Elisa Longo Borghini and Paula Blasi , fell from the pack.
Teamwork was also crucial: Vollering 's two teammates in the day's breakaway, Franziska Koch and Juliette Berthet , made a crucial contribution to extending her lead over the chasing group as the race approached the final climb. On Mont Brouilly, the Dutch champion made several attacks, outpacing everyone except the tenacious Niewiadoma-Phinney, who managed to hold off her at the last minute.
Reusser, who had been a second behind at the top, once again demonstrated her timekeeping prowess by closing the gap on the descent to the finish line and reuniting the leading trio. In the finale, Niewiadoma-Phinney attempted a lunge out of the final bend, gaining a few meters, but Vollering caught her right on the finish line, thus sealing the stage victory in Belleville-en-Beaujolais.
In the general classification, the leading trio has widened their lead over Antonia Niedermaier and Dominika Wlodarczyk , who remain in contention for a spot on the final podium. For fantasy managers, keeping an eye on the team dynamics between FDJ United-SUEZ and Movistar will be crucial in the upcoming stages, with Vollering and Reusser set to go all-out all the way to Paris.
Sports journalist and cycling enthusiast, following professional cycling for over 10 years. Collaborates with FantaCycling to bring you the best analysis and news from the world of cycling.
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The Dutch champion beats Reusser and Niewiadoma-Phinney in a three-way sprint after a selective stage in the Beaujolais hills.
The Swiss, returning after the fracture to her scapula suffered at the Vuelta Femenina, was hit by a motorbike of the neutral service on the Col de Durbize, but managed to get up and continue without serious injuries.
The British rider outsprinted Ciccone and Mas on the uphill finish at Valle del Sol, also taking the race leader's jersey
