'I was asleep. I don't know what I did', Reusser keeps yellow but sprint lapse leaves Vollering just 12 seconds back

'I was asleep. I don't know what I did', Reusser keeps yellow but sprint lapse leaves Vollering just 12 seconds back

Vollering cut her deficit to 12 seconds with an aggressive victory, while Reusser retained yellow but blamed herself for losing momentum in the decisive sprint.

By Peter Stuart · · 3 min read

Demi Vollering (FDJ United-Suez) said she was “done” with cautious racing before attacking her way to victory on Stage 5 of the Tour de France Femmes, while race leader Marlen Reusser (Movistar Team) admitted she had been “asleep” in the decisive sprint.

Speaking in post-stage press conferences recorded by Velora, the two riders reflected on contrasting finishes to Wednesday’s 140km stage from Mâcon to Belleville-en-Beaujolais. Vollering beat Reusser after catching an early move from Katarzyna Niewiadoma-Phinney (Canyon//SRAM) on the finishing straight.

The trio had separated from the other general classification contenders on Mont Brouilly. The result left Vollering 12 seconds behind Reusser and Niewiadoma-Phinney third at 1:17, strengthening the impression that the podium race has become a three-rider contest.

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

Vollering said she had become impatient during the more restrained opening stages and went into the team meeting before Stage 5 ready to force the issue.

“I’m just done, let’s just race,” she recalled saying. “Because like stage 2 and stage 3 was sometimes a bit boring,” she added.

“We could do how we planned today. I love this most, to just go full for it. Then no regrets afterwards. It’s why we love racing, just to try and go for wins.”

Her aggression was backed by a complete FDJ United-Suez performance, with every teammate contributing to the victory. Vollering’s fourth Tour stage win was her first with the French team.

Reusser takes yellow towards Mont Ventoux

Reusser was satisfied that she could follow Vollering and Niewiadoma-Phinney over the short, steep climbs, but she was critical of her sprint. Niewiadoma-Phinney attacked first, Vollering responded and Reusser briefly touched her brakes as the riders converged.

“My momentum was gone. I was asleep. I don't know what I did,” Reusser said. “I’m really annoyed with myself. I don’t say that I would have won, but I just did the opposite of winning.”

That mistake did not alter her position in yellow. Reusser said she had felt capable of such a performance before the stage, although she resisted treating it as evidence of how she will fare on Friday’s summit finish at Mont Ventoux.

Vollering was similarly cautious despite gaining substantial time on Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (Team Visma | Lease a Bike Women), who finished 2:35 behind the leading group and is now almost five minutes off yellow. Vollering said Ventoux presents a longer and different effort, leaving room for the general classification to change.

“I would like to dream of yellow, of course, but we’re not there yet,” Vollering said. “I need to be focused and tackle every day as a one-day stage race.”

Before the Tour, Reusser rode Ventoux and felt strong gusts on its exposed upper slopes. Even though the descent scared her on deep-section rims, she said the longer climb might be a better fit for her than Stage 5’s repeated punchy ascents.

Stage 6 takes the peloton 153.4km from Montbrison to Tournon-sur-Rhône on Thursday. Reusser will start with 12 seconds to defend before the race reaches Mont Ventoux.

Cover image credit: Gaetan Flamme

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Peter

Peter Stuart

Editor

Peter is the editor of Velora and oversees Velora’s editorial strategy and content standards, bringing nearly 20 years of cycling journalism to the site. He was editor of Cyclingnews from 2022, introducing its digital membership strategy and expanding its content pillars. Before that he was digital editor at Cyclist, and then Rouleur. Before joining Cyclist in 2012, he completed freelance work for titles including The Times and The Telegraph. He has reported from Grand Tours and WorldTour races, and previously represented Great Britain as a rower.