Women's Tour de France, Stage 5: Kim LeCourt wins and takes the yellow jersey

Mauritian Kim Le Court won the fifth stage of the women's Tour de France on Wednesday, July 21, in Guéret (Creuse), winning a sprint ahead of Dutch riders Demi Vollering and Anna van der Breggen.

The leader of the AG Insurance-Soudal team, who became the first rider from the African continent to win a stage of the Tour de France, took the opportunity to snatch the yellow jersey from the Dutchwoman Marianne Vos, 8th in Guéret.

Full name Kimberley Le Court De Billot-Pienaar, the 29-year-old former mountain biker reclaims the overall lead she held after Sunday's second stage. She now leads Frenchwoman Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, 18 seconds behind in second place, and Vollering, the 2023 winner and this year's favorite, in third place, 23 seconds behind.

The reigning champion of the Tour de France, Poland's Katarzyna Niewiadoma, also responded by taking fourth place in the stage to place herself in the same position overall, 24 seconds behind the yellow jersey.

In a finale featuring three climbs including the Le Maupuy hill (2.8 km to 5.4 km) seven kilometers from the finish line, a group of seven riders including all the favorites for the final victory became isolated before battling for victory.

1. Kim Le Court (MRI/AGS) the 165.8 km in 3 h 54:07.

(average: 42.5 km/h)

2. Demi Vollering (NED/FDJ – SUEZ) at 0.

3. Anna van der Breggen (NED/DLT) 0.

4. Katarzyna Niewiadoma (POL/CSR) 0.

5. Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (FRA/TVL) 0.

6. Sarah Gigante (AUS/AGS) 0.

7. Pauliena Rooijakkers (NED/FED) 0.

8. Marianne Vos (NED/TVL) 33.

9. Évita Muzic (FRA/FDJ – SUEZ) 33.

10. Elise Chabbey (SUI/FDJ – SUEZ) 33.

1. Kim Le Court (MRI/AGS) 3:07:14 p.m.

2. Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (FRA/TVL) at 18.

3. Demi Vollering (NED/FDJ – SUEZ) 23.

4. Katarzyna Niewiadoma (POL/CSR) 24.

5. Anna van der Breggen (NED/DLT) 27.

6. Marianne Vos (NED/TVL) 37.

7. Pauliena Rooijakkers (NED/FED) 45.

8. Sarah Gigante (AUS/AGS) 55.

9. Puck Pieterse (NED/FED) 1:04.

10. Cédrine Kerbaol (FRA/EFC) 1:16.

After leaving Clermont, the first few kilometers, although slightly steep, should not cause any real selection. On the other hand, two climbs are likely to weigh heavily: the Col du Béal (10.2 km at 5.6%), immediately followed by the Col du Chansert (6.3 km at 5.5%). To conclude this stage, which totals 2,350 meters of elevation gain, the Côte de Valcivières (4.5 km at 5.3%), whose summit is 13 km from the finish, should offer a final opportunity for the climbers to widen the gap.

"The race, which started from the immense Place de Jaude, the heart of Clermont-Ferrand, will not leave the Puy-de-Dôme. Via fairly flat roads, it will reach Courpière where the serious stuff will begin. Through a wild landscape of volcanic rocks, there will be no respite to reach Ambert," explains Marion Rousse, the race director.