Mont Brouilly leaves the Tour de France Femmes podium race looking like a three-rider contest

Mont Brouilly leaves the Tour de France Femmes podium race looking like a three-rider contest

The first major climbing selection gave the race a clear leading tier, but Mont Ventoux still stands between Wednesday’s evidence and a settled podium.

By Tim Bonville-Ginn · · 4 min read

Marlen Reusser (Movistar Team) and Demi Vollering (FDJ United-Suez), joined by Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney (Canyon//SRAM), emerged from Stage 5 as the overwhelming favourites to fill the Tour de France Femmes podium.

The finishing order remains open, with four stages still to race. Yet Wednesday’s 140km stage to Belleville-en-Beaujolais offered the clearest evidence so far that these three riders sit above the rest of the general classification field.

Vollering and Niewiadoma-Phinney went clear on the final climb of the day, Mont Brouilly, but yellow jersey Reusser closed the small gap on the descent. They had about 20 seconds on chasers Antonia Niedermaier (Canyon//SRAM) and Isabella Holmgren (Lidl-Trek), with Dominika Włodarczyk just behind. Those three came together over the top but finished 45 seconds down at the finish.

Results

Aug 5

Velora
PosRiderTeamTime
🥇
Demi Vollering
FDJ UNITED-SUEZ3:53:54
🥈
Marlen Reusser
MOVISTAR TEAM+0:00
🥉
Katarzyna Niewiadoma-Phinney
CANYON//SRAM+0:00
4
Dominika Wlodarczyk
UAE Team L’IMAD+0:45
5
Isabella Holmgren
LIDL - TREK+0:45
6
Antonia Niedermaier
CANYON//SRAM+0:45
7
Nienke Vinke
TEAM SD WORX - PROTIME+1:12
8
Femke de Vries
TEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE+1:12
9
Thalita de Jong
HUMAN POWERED HEALTH+1:12
10
Niamh Fisher Black
LIDL - TREK+1:15
11
Puck Pieterse
FENIX-PREMIER TECH+1:43
12
Kim le Court de Billot Pienaar
AG INSURANCE - SOUDAL TEAM+1:43
13
Juliette Berthet
FDJ UNITED-SUEZ+1:43
14
Elisa Longo Borghini
UAE Team L’IMAD+1:43
15
Paula Blasi Cairol
UAE Team L’IMAD+2:27
16
Amanda Spratt
LIDL - TREK+2:27
17
Cedrine Kerbaol
EF EDUCATION - OATLY+2:35
18
Anna van der Breggen
TEAM SD WORX - PROTIME+2:35
19
Pauline Ferrand Prevot
TEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE+2:35
20
Justine Ghekiere
AG INSURANCE - SOUDAL TEAM+2:39
21
Celia le Mouel
MA PETITE ENTREPRISE+3:20
22
Magdeleine Vallieres Mill
EF EDUCATION - OATLY+3:27
23
Maeva Squiban
UAE Team L’IMAD+5:36
24
Mavi Garcia Canellas
UAE Team L’IMAD+5:36
25
Emilie Morier
ST MICHEL - PREFERENCE HOME - AUBER93+6:15
26
Nina Buijsman
HUMAN POWERED HEALTH+6:15
27
Oceane Mahe
MA PETITE ENTREPRISE+6:15
28
Karolina Perekitko
MAYENNE MONBANA MY PIE+6:15
29
Katrine Aalerud
UNO-X MOBILITY+6:15
30
Nadia Gontova
LIV-ALULA-JAYCO+6:15
31
Laura Asencio
MA PETITE ENTREPRISE+6:15
32
Kristen Faulkner
EF EDUCATION - OATLY+6:15
33
Debora Silvestri
LABORAL KUTXA - FUNDACION EUSKADI+6:15
34
Evita Muzic
FDJ UNITED-SUEZ+6:15
35
Titia Ryo
HUMAN POWERED HEALTH+6:15
36
Noemi Ruegg
EF EDUCATION - OATLY+6:15
37
Celia Gery
FDJ UNITED-SUEZ+6:15
38
Franziska Koch
FDJ UNITED-SUEZ+6:15
39
Sarah van Dam
TEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE+6:15
40
Liane Lippert
MOVISTAR TEAM+6:15
41
Mischa Bredewold
TEAM SD WORX - PROTIME+6:15
42
Sara Casasola
FENIX-PREMIER TECH+6:15
43
Sigrid Haugset
UNO-X MOBILITY+8:02
44
Riejanne Markus
LIDL - TREK+10:02
45
Zoe Jane Backstedt
CANYON//SRAM+10:02
46
Maria Rosa Kloeser
CANYON//SRAM+10:02
47
Lore de Schepper
AG INSURANCE - SOUDAL TEAM+10:02
48
Alice Towers
EF EDUCATION - OATLY+10:02
49
Gaia Masetti
Team Picnic PostNL+10:25
50
Julie Bego
COFIDIS WOMEN TEAM+10:39
51
Paula Patino Bedoya
LABORAL KUTXA - FUNDACION EUSKADI+10:39
52
Solene Muller
ST MICHEL - PREFERENCE HOME - AUBER93+12:13
53
Lucinda Brand
LIDL - TREK+12:13
54
Ana Vitoria Gouvea Vieira Almeida Magalhaes
MOVISTAR TEAM+14:22
55
Paula Ostiz
MOVISTAR TEAM+14:22
56
Lily Williams
HUMAN POWERED HEALTH+14:22
57
Mireia Benito Pellicer
AG INSURANCE - SOUDAL TEAM+14:22
58
Silke Smulders
LIV-ALULA-JAYCO+14:22
59
Elisa Balsamo
LIDL - TREK+16:58
60
Agnieszka Skalniak Sojka
CANYON//SRAM+16:58
61
Amber Kraak
FDJ UNITED-SUEZ+18:33
62
Henrietta Christie
EF EDUCATION - OATLY+20:10
63
Soraya Paladin
CANYON//SRAM+20:10
64
Lotte Kopecky
TEAM SD WORX - PROTIME+20:10
65
Shari Bossuyt
AG INSURANCE - SOUDAL TEAM+20:10
66
Urska Zigart
AG INSURANCE - SOUDAL TEAM+21:00
67
Marie le Net
FDJ UNITED-SUEZ+24:57
68
Victorie Guilman
COFIDIS WOMEN TEAM+24:57
69
Marion Bunel
TEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE+24:57
70
Quinty Schoens
VOLKERWESSELS CYCLING TEAM+24:57
71
Sophie von Berswordt
VOLKERWESSELS CYCLING TEAM+24:57
72
Sandrine Tas
LOTTO INTERMARCHE LADIES+24:57
73
Lieke Nooijen
TEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE+24:57
74
Clemence Latimier
MA PETITE ENTREPRISE+24:57
75
Letizia Paternoster
LIV-ALULA-JAYCO+24:57
76
Eline Jansen
VOLKERWESSELS CYCLING TEAM+24:57
77
Nina Berton
EF EDUCATION - OATLY+24:57
78
Marit Raaijmakers
HUMAN POWERED HEALTH+24:57
79
Marianne Vos
TEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE+24:57
80
Carlotta Cipressi
HUMAN POWERED HEALTH+24:57
81
Natalie Quinn
MAYENNE MONBANA MY PIE+24:57
82
Ruby Roseman Gannon
LIV-ALULA-JAYCO+24:57
83
Fiona Mangan
MAYENNE MONBANA MY PIE+24:57
84
Jeanne Korevaar
LIV-ALULA-JAYCO+24:57
85
Constance Valentin
MAYENNE MONBANA MY PIE+24:57
86
Sara Martin Martin
MOVISTAR TEAM+24:57
87
Mackenzie Coupland
LIV-ALULA-JAYCO+24:57
88
Noemie Abgrall
MA PETITE ENTREPRISE+24:57
89
Ema Comte
COFIDIS WOMEN TEAM+24:57
90
Marte Berg Edseth
UNO-X MOBILITY+24:57
91
Loes Adegeest
LIDL - TREK+24:57
92
Naia Amondarain Gaztanaga
LABORAL KUTXA - FUNDACION EUSKADI+24:57
93
Elena Cecchini
TEAM SD WORX - PROTIME+24:57
94
Silvia Persico
UAE Team L’IMAD+24:57
95
Valentina Cavallar
TEAM SD WORX - PROTIME+24:57
96
Lorena Wiebes
TEAM SD WORX - PROTIME+24:57
97
Linda Riedmann
LOTTO INTERMARCHE LADIES+24:57
98
Yara Kastelijn
FENIX-PREMIER TECH+24:57
99
Usoa Ostolaza Zabala
LABORAL KUTXA - FUNDACION EUSKADI+24:57
100
Josie Nelson
Team Picnic PostNL+24:57
101
Francesca Barale
MOVISTAR TEAM+24:57
102
Pfeiffer Georgi
Team Picnic PostNL+24:57
103
Yuliia Biriukova
LABORAL KUTXA - FUNDACION EUSKADI+28:21
104
Arianna Fidanza
LABORAL KUTXA - FUNDACION EUSKADI+28:21
105
Letizia Borghesi
AG INSURANCE - SOUDAL TEAM+28:21
106
Daniek Hengeveld
TEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE+28:21
107
Idoia Eraso Lasa
LABORAL KUTXA - FUNDACION EUSKADI+28:21
108
Monica Trinca Colonel
LIV-ALULA-JAYCO+28:21
109
Lene Robyn Clay
Team Picnic PostNL+28:21
110
Barbara Malcotti
HUMAN POWERED HEALTH+28:21
111
Lotte Claes
FENIX-PREMIER TECH+28:21
112
Millie Couzens
FENIX-PREMIER TECH+28:21
113
Alice Coutinho
MAYENNE MONBANA MY PIE+28:21
114
Amalie Dideriksen
COFIDIS WOMEN TEAM+28:21
115
Nikola Noskova
COFIDIS WOMEN TEAM+28:21
116
Malwina Mul
COFIDIS WOMEN TEAM+28:21
117
Arlenis Sierra Canadilla
MOVISTAR TEAM+30:08
118
Anouska Koster
UNO-X MOBILITY+30:08
119
Heidi Franz
ST MICHEL - PREFERENCE HOME - AUBER93+30:08
120
Romina Hinojosa Cruz
LOTTO INTERMARCHE LADIES+30:08
121
Mia Griffin
Team Picnic PostNL+30:08
122
Lucie Fityus
Team Picnic PostNL+30:08
123
Malou Eisen
VOLKERWESSELS CYCLING TEAM+30:08
124
Kiara Lylyk
MAYENNE MONBANA MY PIE+30:08
125
Anneke Dijkstra
VOLKERWESSELS CYCLING TEAM+30:08
126
Maud Rijnbeek
VOLKERWESSELS CYCLING TEAM+30:08
127
Alessia Vigilia
UNO-X MOBILITY+30:08
128
Marine Allione
MAYENNE MONBANA MY PIE+30:08
129
Alicia Gonzalez Blanco
ST MICHEL - PREFERENCE HOME - AUBER93+30:08
130
Caroline Wreszin
ST MICHEL - PREFERENCE HOME - AUBER93+30:08
131
Charlotte Kool
FENIX-PREMIER TECH+30:08
132
Morgane Coston
MA PETITE ENTREPRISE+30:08
133
Chiara Consonni
CANYON//SRAM+30:08
134
Eleonora Ciabocco
Team Picnic PostNL+30:08
135
Alison Jackson
ST MICHEL - PREFERENCE HOME - AUBER93+30:08

“Today’s victory has been very cool because every single rider in my team has played a part in it,” Vollering told the Tour de France website. “Those are the wins that I value the most: the ones where everybody contributes with their hard work, meaning that we win together. The way I managed to win that sprint has also been beautiful. I thought I wasn’t going to make it, but I did - and it has been a big relief.”

The stage win came down to the leading trio, with Niewiadoma-Phinney not backing her sprint and instead using her usual tactic of trying to steal a march with around 400 metres to go. This time, it looked as though she might have pulled it off, but Vollering and Reusser closed so rapidly that both flew past her in the final metres.

“I knew Kasia [Niewiadoma-Phinney] would go early,” said Vollering. “Because she always does, and I knew Marlen [Reusser] would gamble, so I let her gamble to make her work - yet she didn’t. So I just had to try my best, because otherwise Kasia would win unopposed. I gave my 100% to the line and needed every single metre in the final straight, but I managed to pull it off. I’m very happy with this win.”

The bonus seconds then had to be calculated. Vollering took 10 seconds on the line and four at the bonus sprint in Saint-Lager, just before the final climb. Reusser took six seconds at both the finish and the bonus sprint. That reduced the European road champion's deficit to the yellow jersey by two seconds, leaving Vollering 12 seconds behind Reusser in the GC as the race passed its halfway point.

“Marlen Reusser looks bright for now,” Vollering continued. “The only good thing is that I have already won the Tour, and Kasia too - Marlen is the only one who hasn’t won the Tour yet, so she is the one who has to work harder. I am sure it’s going to be a tough battle, because Marlen isn’t easy to beat. But I’ll try my best to do it!”

Niewiadoma-Phinney moved into third at 1:17, with teammate Antonia Niedermaier (Canyon//SRAM) more than a minute farther back in fourth. That buffer matters as much as the Polish rider’s gap to yellow: she has room behind her after proving able to follow the two leading favourites on the race’s first major climbing day.

Mont Ventoux remains the defining test

The gaps are now rather large in the GC, especially to some riders who were expected to perform better than they are. Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team L'IMAD) conceded 1:43, while teammate Paula Blasi lost 2:27. Anna van der Breggen (Team SD Worx-Protime) and reigning champion Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (Visma-Lease a Bike) both finished 2:35 behind the leaders.

Those losses severely weaken their podium prospects and give their teams reason to rethink leaders and strategy going forward. UAE can create opportunities for Dominika Włodarczyk, who finished fourth in this race last year, while SD Worx-Protime and Visma-Lease a Bike have Nienke Vinke and Femke de Vries available for protected roles or more aggressive tactics. All three of those riders have shown well so far in the race as well as Holmgren.

Thursday’s lumpy Stage 6 could produce more gaps, although its profile also gives a breakaway a plausible route to victory with GC riders looking ahead to bigger tests. The main remaining challenge comes on Friday, when Stage 7 finishes on Mont Ventoux after an ascent of about 21km at roughly 8%.

Ventoux should show whether the Mont Brouilly selection reflects the current hierarchy. Stage 8 offers a final chance for the sprinters while the GC riders take time to try and recover the best they can, before Sunday’s finale around Nice and the Col d’Eze provides the final test.

Stage 5 left the podium unresolved and established which riders everyone else must now dislodge.

Cover photo credit: A.S.O./Billy Ceusters

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Tim Bonville-Ginn

Pro cycling contributor

Tim Bonville-Ginn is a freelance writer who has worked in cycling for well over a decade with his articles being featured across publications such as Cyclingnews, Cycling Weekly, Cyclist, Rouleur, Eurosport, Road cc, Domestique, and more.

As well as writing, Tim has worked as a social media and press manager for professional teams Human Powered Health, Global 6, and Saint Piran across Europe as well as commentating on races such as the African Continental Championships, Tour de Feminin and multiple rounds of the British road and circuit series for Golazo and Monument Cycling.

Expertise:Racing