Cyclists in a road race climb as a support car and camera motorcycle follow behind.

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
🥇
NL flagDemi Vollering
FDJ UNITED-SUEZ3:53:54
🥈
CH flagMarlen Reusser
MOVISTAR TEAM+0:00
🥉
PL flagKatarzyna Niewiadoma-Phinney
CANYON//SRAM+0:00
4
PL flagDominika Wlodarczyk
UAE Team L’IMAD+0:45
5
CA flagIsabella Holmgren
LIDL - TREK+0:45
6
DE flagAntonia Niedermaier
CANYON//SRAM+0:45
7
NL flagNienke Vinke
TEAM SD WORX - PROTIME+1:12
8
NL flagFemke de Vries
TEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE+1:12
9
NL flagThalita de Jong
HUMAN POWERED HEALTH+1:12
10
NZ flagNiamh Fisher Black
LIDL - TREK+1:15
11
NL flagPuck Pieterse
FENIX-PREMIER TECH+1:43
12
Kim le Court de Billot Pienaar
AG INSURANCE - SOUDAL TEAM+1:43
13
FR flagJuliette Berthet
FDJ UNITED-SUEZ+1:43
14
IT flagElisa Longo Borghini
UAE Team L’IMAD+1:43
15
ES flagPaula Blasi Cairol
UAE Team L’IMAD+2:27
16
AU flagAmanda Spratt
LIDL - TREK+2:27
17
FR flagCedrine Kerbaol
EF EDUCATION - OATLY+2:35
18
NL flagAnna van der Breggen
TEAM SD WORX - PROTIME+2:35
19
FR flagPauline Ferrand Prevot
TEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE+2:35
20
BE flagJustine Ghekiere
AG INSURANCE - SOUDAL TEAM+2:39
21
FR flagCelia le Mouel
MA PETITE ENTREPRISE+3:20
22
CA flagMagdeleine Vallieres Mill
EF EDUCATION - OATLY+3:27
23
FR flagMaeva Squiban
UAE Team L’IMAD+5:36
24
ES flagMavi Garcia Canellas
UAE Team L’IMAD+5:36
25
FR flagEmilie Morier
ST MICHEL - PREFERENCE HOME - AUBER93+6:15
26
NL flagNina Buijsman
HUMAN POWERED HEALTH+6:15
27
FR flagOceane Mahe
MA PETITE ENTREPRISE+6:15
28
PL flagKarolina Perekitko
MAYENNE MONBANA MY PIE+6:15
29
NO flagKatrine Aalerud
UNO-X MOBILITY+6:15
30
CA flagNadia Gontova
LIV-ALULA-JAYCO+6:15
31
FR flagLaura Asencio
MA PETITE ENTREPRISE+6:15
32
US flagKristen Faulkner
EF EDUCATION - OATLY+6:15
33
IT flagDebora Silvestri
LABORAL KUTXA - FUNDACION EUSKADI+6:15
34
FR flagEvita Muzic
FDJ UNITED-SUEZ+6:15
35
FR flagTitia Ryo
HUMAN POWERED HEALTH+6:15
36
CH flagNoemi Ruegg
EF EDUCATION - OATLY+6:15
37
FR flagCelia Gery
FDJ UNITED-SUEZ+6:15
38
DE flagFranziska Koch
FDJ UNITED-SUEZ+6:15
39
CA flagSarah van Dam
TEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE+6:15
40
DE flagLiane Lippert
MOVISTAR TEAM+6:15
41
NL flagMischa Bredewold
TEAM SD WORX - PROTIME+6:15
42
IT flagSara Casasola
FENIX-PREMIER TECH+6:15
43
NO flagSigrid Haugset
UNO-X MOBILITY+8:02
44
NL flagRiejanne Markus
LIDL - TREK+10:02
45
GB flagZoe Jane Backstedt
CANYON//SRAM+10:02
46
DE flagMaria Rosa Kloeser
CANYON//SRAM+10:02
47
BE flagLore de Schepper
AG INSURANCE - SOUDAL TEAM+10:02
48
GB flagAlice Towers
EF EDUCATION - OATLY+10:02
49
IT flagGaia Masetti
Team Picnic PostNL+10:25
50
FR flagJulie Bego
COFIDIS WOMEN TEAM+10:39
51
CO flagPaula Patino Bedoya
LABORAL KUTXA - FUNDACION EUSKADI+10:39
52
FR flagSolene Muller
ST MICHEL - PREFERENCE HOME - AUBER93+12:13
53
NL flagLucinda Brand
LIDL - TREK+12:13
54
BR flagAna Vitoria Gouvea Vieira Almeida Magalhaes
MOVISTAR TEAM+14:22
55
ES flagPaula Ostiz
MOVISTAR TEAM+14:22
56
US flagLily Williams
HUMAN POWERED HEALTH+14:22
57
ES flagMireia Benito Pellicer
AG INSURANCE - SOUDAL TEAM+14:22
58
NL flagSilke Smulders
LIV-ALULA-JAYCO+14:22
59
IT flagElisa Balsamo
LIDL - TREK+16:58
60
PL flagAgnieszka Skalniak Sojka
CANYON//SRAM+16:58
61
NL flagAmber Kraak
FDJ UNITED-SUEZ+18:33
62
NZ flagHenrietta Christie
EF EDUCATION - OATLY+20:10
63
IT flagSoraya Paladin
CANYON//SRAM+20:10
64
BE flagLotte Kopecky
TEAM SD WORX - PROTIME+20:10
65
BE flagShari Bossuyt
AG INSURANCE - SOUDAL TEAM+20:10
66
SI flagUrska Zigart
AG INSURANCE - SOUDAL TEAM+21:00
67
FR flagMarie le Net
FDJ UNITED-SUEZ+24:57
68
FR flagVictorie Guilman
COFIDIS WOMEN TEAM+24:57
69
FR flagMarion Bunel
TEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE+24:57
70
NL flagQuinty Schoens
VOLKERWESSELS CYCLING TEAM+24:57
71
NL flagSophie von Berswordt
VOLKERWESSELS CYCLING TEAM+24:57
72
BE flagSandrine Tas
LOTTO INTERMARCHE LADIES+24:57
73
NL flagLieke Nooijen
TEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE+24:57
74
FR flagClemence Latimier
MA PETITE ENTREPRISE+24:57
75
IT flagLetizia Paternoster
LIV-ALULA-JAYCO+24:57
76
NL flagEline Jansen
VOLKERWESSELS CYCLING TEAM+24:57
77
LU flagNina Berton
EF EDUCATION - OATLY+24:57
78
NL flagMarit Raaijmakers
HUMAN POWERED HEALTH+24:57
79
NL flagMarianne Vos
TEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE+24:57
80
IT flagCarlotta Cipressi
HUMAN POWERED HEALTH+24:57
81
US flagNatalie Quinn
MAYENNE MONBANA MY PIE+24:57
82
AU flagRuby Roseman Gannon
LIV-ALULA-JAYCO+24:57
83
IE flagFiona Mangan
MAYENNE MONBANA MY PIE+24:57
84
NL flagJeanne Korevaar
LIV-ALULA-JAYCO+24:57
85
FR flagConstance Valentin
MAYENNE MONBANA MY PIE+24:57
86
ES flagSara Martin Martin
MOVISTAR TEAM+24:57
87
AU flagMackenzie Coupland
LIV-ALULA-JAYCO+24:57
88
FR flagNoemie Abgrall
MA PETITE ENTREPRISE+24:57
89
FR flagEma Comte
COFIDIS WOMEN TEAM+24:57
90
NO flagMarte Berg Edseth
UNO-X MOBILITY+24:57
91
NL flagLoes Adegeest
LIDL - TREK+24:57
92
ES flagNaia Amondarain Gaztanaga
LABORAL KUTXA - FUNDACION EUSKADI+24:57
93
IT flagElena Cecchini
TEAM SD WORX - PROTIME+24:57
94
IT flagSilvia Persico
UAE Team L’IMAD+24:57
95
AT flagValentina Cavallar
TEAM SD WORX - PROTIME+24:57
96
NL flagLorena Wiebes
TEAM SD WORX - PROTIME+24:57
97
DE flagLinda Riedmann
LOTTO INTERMARCHE LADIES+24:57
98
NL flagYara Kastelijn
FENIX-PREMIER TECH+24:57
99
ES flagUsoa Ostolaza Zabala
LABORAL KUTXA - FUNDACION EUSKADI+24:57
100
GB flagJosie Nelson
Team Picnic PostNL+24:57
101
IT flagFrancesca Barale
MOVISTAR TEAM+24:57
102
GB flagPfeiffer Georgi
Team Picnic PostNL+24:57
103
UA flagYuliia Biriukova
LABORAL KUTXA - FUNDACION EUSKADI+28:21
104
IT flagArianna Fidanza
LABORAL KUTXA - FUNDACION EUSKADI+28:21
105
IT flagLetizia Borghesi
AG INSURANCE - SOUDAL TEAM+28:21
106
NL flagDaniek Hengeveld
TEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE+28:21
107
ES flagIdoia Eraso Lasa
LABORAL KUTXA - FUNDACION EUSKADI+28:21
108
IT flagMonica Trinca Colonel
LIV-ALULA-JAYCO+28:21
109
GB flagLene Robyn Clay
Team Picnic PostNL+28:21
110
IT flagBarbara Malcotti
HUMAN POWERED HEALTH+28:21
111
BE flagLotte Claes
FENIX-PREMIER TECH+28:21
112
GB flagMillie Couzens
FENIX-PREMIER TECH+28:21
113
FR flagAlice Coutinho
MAYENNE MONBANA MY PIE+28:21
114
DK flagAmalie Dideriksen
COFIDIS WOMEN TEAM+28:21
115
CZ flagNikola Noskova
COFIDIS WOMEN TEAM+28:21
116
PL flagMalwina Mul
COFIDIS WOMEN TEAM+28:21
117
CU flagArlenis Sierra Canadilla
MOVISTAR TEAM+30:08
118
NL flagAnouska Koster
UNO-X MOBILITY+30:08
119
US flagHeidi Franz
ST MICHEL - PREFERENCE HOME - AUBER93+30:08
120
MX flagRomina Hinojosa Cruz
LOTTO INTERMARCHE LADIES+30:08
121
IE flagMia Griffin
Team Picnic PostNL+30:08
122
AU flagLucie Fityus
Team Picnic PostNL+30:08
123
NL flagMalou Eisen
VOLKERWESSELS CYCLING TEAM+30:08
124
CA flagKiara Lylyk
MAYENNE MONBANA MY PIE+30:08
125
NL flagAnneke Dijkstra
VOLKERWESSELS CYCLING TEAM+30:08
126
NL flagMaud Rijnbeek
VOLKERWESSELS CYCLING TEAM+30:08
127
IT flagAlessia Vigilia
UNO-X MOBILITY+30:08
128
FR flagMarine Allione
MAYENNE MONBANA MY PIE+30:08
129
ES flagAlicia Gonzalez Blanco
ST MICHEL - PREFERENCE HOME - AUBER93+30:08
130
US flagCaroline Wreszin
ST MICHEL - PREFERENCE HOME - AUBER93+30:08
131
NL flagCharlotte Kool
FENIX-PREMIER TECH+30:08
132
FR flagMorgane Coston
MA PETITE ENTREPRISE+30:08
133
IT flagChiara Consonni
CANYON//SRAM+30:08
134
IT flagEleonora Ciabocco
Team Picnic PostNL+30:08
135
CA flagAlison 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.

Tim Bonville-Ginn headshot

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