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As it happened: Tour de France Femmes stage 4 time trial sparks big time gaps and creates a new GC battle
As it happened: An 85km solo attack is rewarded with the stage victory and the leader’s yellow jersey
As it happened: Attacks in the Beaujolais hills shake up the GC as 2025 Tour winner falls out of contention
‘I had to try’ – Demi Vollering’s late roll of the dice pays off as the Tour de France Femmes hits the hills on stage 5
News
By
Kirsten Frattini
Published
‘Marlen has not won a Tour yet, and she will have to work for it as well’ FDJ United-Suez contender to fight all the way for her second yellow jersey
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It was an all-out bike race that offered breakaways, attacks, and a reshuffling of the front selection, ending with Demi Vollering (FDJ United-Suez) powering to a hard-fought victory on stage 5 into Belleville-en-Beaujolais.
The Dutch all-rounder admitted that this win didn’t come down only to her strength, but to her tactical game and her will to give it everything all the way to the line in a three-up sprint ahead of Marlen Reusser (Movistar) and Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM).
“I knew Kasia would go early, because she always does. I knew Marlen would gamble, so I let her gamble a bit to try and make her work, but she didn’t,” Vollering said in a post-race interview.
“I was like, ‘OK, if you don’t do anything then Kasia is going to win.’ So, I had to try, and maybe Marlen would come over me, but at least I tried. I gave it everything until the final sprint, and I needed every single metre in the finishing straight. I managed to do it, so I’m very happy about that.”
A masterclass from FDJ United-SUEZ over the penultimate climb, Col de Durbize, saw major contenders Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (Visma-Lease a Bike), Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime), Cédrine Kerbaol (EF Education-Oatly), Elisa Longo Borghini, and Paula Blasi (both UAE Team L’IMAD) distanced with 30km remaining.
The winning breakaway then emerged with Vollering, Reusser and Niewiadoma-Phinney going clear over the final climb, Mont Brouilly, just shy of 10 kilometres from the finish line in Belleville-en-Beaujolais.
Vollering attributed the victory to a team effort, with everyone playing a crucial role in the day’s success.
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“Today, it was just a really cool race. The whole team, every single rider of the team was part of it, and I enjoy those victories the most. When everyone puts their hard work into it, it’s even more special and beautiful because you do it all together,” Vollering said.
“I think also, the way I managed to win that sprint. I thought that I was not going to make it anymore and I somehow made it. I think it was a relief after the finish line.”
After smashing the individual time trial the previous day and moving into the race lead, Reusser holds onto the yellow jersey by 12 seconds ahead of Vollering. Niewiadoma-Phinney has moved up to third overall, now 1:17 back.
Vollering noted that both she and Niewiadoma-Phinney have already won the Tour de France Femmes, in 2023 and 2024, respectively, and that as the battle for the yellow jersey continues, Reusser is going to need to fight for a debut win come Sunday in Nice.
“Yes, for sure. It looks very bright now. The only good thing is that I’ve already won a Tour, and Kasia has as well. Marlen has not won a Tour yet, and she will have to work for it as well,” Vollering said.
“I’m sure it will be a hard battle, because she is not the rider who you can beat easily, because she is very strong. Of course, I will try to do that.”
Support our unrivalled coverage of the Tour de France Femmes and women’s cycling by subscribing to Cyclingnews. In return, you get unlimited access to high-quality journalism, with breaking news, race analysis, and expert insight from inside the women’s peloton. Plus, the Cyclingnews app lets you follow the action wherever you go! Join today
Kirsten Frattini has been the Editor of Cyclingnews since December 2025, overseeing editorial operations and output across the brand and delivering quality, engaging content.
She manages global budgets, racing & events, production scheduling, and contributor commissions, collaborating across content sections and teams in the UK, Europe, North America, and Australia to ensure audience and subscription growth across the brand.
Kirsten has a background in Kinesiology and Health Science. She has been involved in cycling from the community and grassroots level to professional cycling’s biggest races, reporting on the WorldTour, Spring Classics, Tours de France, World Championships and Olympic Games.
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1
Volta a Portugal – UAE Team Emirates XRG 1-2 prologue time trial in team’s race debut
-
2
ASO announces fan restrictions on some sections of Tour de France Femmes queen stage to Mont Ventoux due to wildfire risk
-
3
‘I fell asleep. But I’m still in yellow’ – Tour de France Femmes leader Marlen Reusser narrowly misses second stage win on a massive day through the Jura
-
4
‘Hopefully, we will celebrate big on Sunday’ – Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney bullish despite missing out on Tour de France Femmes victory on stage 5
-
5
‘I had to try’ – Demi Vollering’s late roll of the dice pays off as the Tour de France Femmes hits the hills on stage 5
‘I had to try’ – Demi Vollering’s late roll of the dice pays off as the Tour de France Femmes hits the hills on stage 5
News
By
Kirsten Frattini
Published
‘Marlen has not won a Tour yet, and she will have to work for it as well’ FDJ United-Suez contender to fight all the way for her second yellow jersey
-
Facebook
-
X
-
Pinterest
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Email
Follow us
It was an all-out bike race that offered breakaways, attacks, and a reshuffling of the front selection, ending with Demi Vollering (FDJ United-Suez) powering to a hard-fought victory on stage 5 into Belleville-en-Beaujolais.
The Dutch all-rounder admitted that this win didn’t come down only to her strength, but to her tactical game and her will to give it everything all the way to the line in a three-up sprint ahead of Marlen Reusser (Movistar) and Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM).
“I knew Kasia would go early, because she always does. I knew Marlen would gamble, so I let her gamble a bit to try and make her work, but she didn’t,” Vollering said in a post-race interview.
“I was like, ‘OK, if you don’t do anything then Kasia is going to win.’ So, I had to try, and maybe Marlen would come over me, but at least I tried. I gave it everything until the final sprint, and I needed every single metre in the finishing straight. I managed to do it, so I’m very happy about that.”
A masterclass from FDJ United-SUEZ over the penultimate climb, Col de Durbize, saw major contenders Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (Visma-Lease a Bike), Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime), Cédrine Kerbaol (EF Education-Oatly), Elisa Longo Borghini, and Paula Blasi (both UAE Team L’IMAD) distanced with 30km remaining.
The winning breakaway then emerged with Vollering, Reusser and Niewiadoma-Phinney going clear over the final climb, Mont Brouilly, just shy of 10 kilometres from the finish line in Belleville-en-Beaujolais.
Vollering attributed the victory to a team effort, with everyone playing a crucial role in the day’s success.
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
“Today, it was just a really cool race. The whole team, every single rider of the team was part of it, and I enjoy those victories the most. When everyone puts their hard work into it, it’s even more special and beautiful because you do it all together,” Vollering said.
“I think also, the way I managed to win that sprint. I thought that I was not going to make it anymore and I somehow made it. I think it was a relief after the finish line.”
After smashing the individual time trial the previous day and moving into the race lead, Reusser holds onto the yellow jersey by 12 seconds ahead of Vollering. Niewiadoma-Phinney has moved up to third overall, now 1:17 back.
Vollering noted that both she and Niewiadoma-Phinney have already won the Tour de France Femmes, in 2023 and 2024, respectively, and that as the battle for the yellow jersey continues, Reusser is going to need to fight for a debut win come Sunday in Nice.
“Yes, for sure. It looks very bright now. The only good thing is that I’ve already won a Tour, and Kasia has as well. Marlen has not won a Tour yet, and she will have to work for it as well,” Vollering said.
“I’m sure it will be a hard battle, because she is not the rider who you can beat easily, because she is very strong. Of course, I will try to do that.”
Support our unrivalled coverage of the Tour de France Femmes and women’s cycling by subscribing to Cyclingnews. In return, you get unlimited access to high-quality journalism, with breaking news, race analysis, and expert insight from inside the women’s peloton. Plus, the Cyclingnews app lets you follow the action wherever you go! Join today
Kirsten Frattini has been the Editor of Cyclingnews since December 2025, overseeing editorial operations and output across the brand and delivering quality, engaging content.
She manages global budgets, racing & events, production scheduling, and contributor commissions, collaborating across content sections and teams in the UK, Europe, North America, and Australia to ensure audience and subscription growth across the brand.
Kirsten has a background in Kinesiology and Health Science. She has been involved in cycling from the community and grassroots level to professional cycling’s biggest races, reporting on the WorldTour, Spring Classics, Tours de France, World Championships and Olympic Games.
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-
1
Volta a Portugal – UAE Team Emirates XRG 1-2 prologue time trial in team’s race debut
-
2
ASO announces fan restrictions on some sections of Tour de France Femmes queen stage to Mont Ventoux due to wildfire risk
-
3
‘I fell asleep. But I’m still in yellow’ – Tour de France Femmes leader Marlen Reusser narrowly misses second stage win on a massive day through the Jura
-
4
‘Hopefully, we will celebrate big on Sunday’ – Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney bullish despite missing out on Tour de France Femmes victory on stage 5
-
5
‘I had to try’ – Demi Vollering’s late roll of the dice pays off as the Tour de France Femmes hits the hills on stage 5
‘I had to try’ – Demi Vollering’s late roll of the dice pays off as the Tour de France Femmes hits the hills on stage 5
News
By
Kirsten Frattini
Published
‘Marlen has not won a Tour yet, and she will have to work for it as well’ FDJ United-Suez contender to fight all the way for her second yellow jersey
-
Facebook
-
X
-
Pinterest
-
Email
Follow us
It was an all-out bike race that offered breakaways, attacks, and a reshuffling of the front selection, ending with Demi Vollering (FDJ United-Suez) powering to a hard-fought victory on stage 5 into Belleville-en-Beaujolais.
The Dutch all-rounder admitted that this win didn’t come down only to her strength, but to her tactical game and her will to give it everything all the way to the line in a three-up sprint ahead of Marlen Reusser (Movistar) and Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM).
“I knew Kasia would go early, because she always does. I knew Marlen would gamble, so I let her gamble a bit to try and make her work, but she didn’t,” Vollering said in a post-race interview.
“I was like, ‘OK, if you don’t do anything then Kasia is going to win.’ So, I had to try, and maybe Marlen would come over me, but at least I tried. I gave it everything until the final sprint, and I needed every single metre in the finishing straight. I managed to do it, so I’m very happy about that.”
A masterclass from FDJ United-SUEZ over the penultimate climb, Col de Durbize, saw major contenders Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (Visma-Lease a Bike), Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime), Cédrine Kerbaol (EF Education-Oatly), Elisa Longo Borghini, and Paula Blasi (both UAE Team L’IMAD) distanced with 30km remaining.
The winning breakaway then emerged with Vollering, Reusser and Niewiadoma-Phinney going clear over the final climb, Mont Brouilly, just shy of 10 kilometres from the finish line in Belleville-en-Beaujolais.
Vollering attributed the victory to a team effort, with everyone playing a crucial role in the day’s success.
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
“Today, it was just a really cool race. The whole team, every single rider of the team was part of it, and I enjoy those victories the most. When everyone puts their hard work into it, it’s even more special and beautiful because you do it all together,” Vollering said.
“I think also, the way I managed to win that sprint. I thought that I was not going to make it anymore and I somehow made it. I think it was a relief after the finish line.”
After smashing the individual time trial the previous day and moving into the race lead, Reusser holds onto the yellow jersey by 12 seconds ahead of Vollering. Niewiadoma-Phinney has moved up to third overall, now 1:17 back.
Vollering noted that both she and Niewiadoma-Phinney have already won the Tour de France Femmes, in 2023 and 2024, respectively, and that as the battle for the yellow jersey continues, Reusser is going to need to fight for a debut win come Sunday in Nice.
“Yes, for sure. It looks very bright now. The only good thing is that I’ve already won a Tour, and Kasia has as well. Marlen has not won a Tour yet, and she will have to work for it as well,” Vollering said.
“I’m sure it will be a hard battle, because she is not the rider who you can beat easily, because she is very strong. Of course, I will try to do that.”
Support our unrivalled coverage of the Tour de France Femmes and women’s cycling by subscribing to Cyclingnews. In return, you get unlimited access to high-quality journalism, with breaking news, race analysis, and expert insight from inside the women’s peloton. Plus, the Cyclingnews app lets you follow the action wherever you go! Join today
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