On Wednesday 30 July, the 2025 Tour de France Femmes presented its riders with the longest stage of the race between Chasseneuil-du-Poitou (Vienne) and Guéret (Creuse). Over more than 172 kilometres, including the fictitious stage, the peloton rode a flat course with a hilly finish, marked by three successive climbs in the last 35 kilometres. On this leg-breaking terrain, Kim Le Court-Pienaar (AG Insurance–Soudal) won the sprint ahead of Demi Vollering at the end of a mass sprint.
A step that is both symbolic and strategic for the team
From the very first kilometres, the stage took on a special significance for the FDJ-SUEZ team, which passed in front of its race headquarters in Jaunay-Marigny, a nod to the team’s 20th season in the women’s peloton.
In the first half of the rolling stage, there were numerous attacks, but no group managed to build up a significant lead. It was in the last 40 km, on the hills of Chabannes, Peyroux and Maupuy, that the race really took shape.
A tense finish and a top-two finish for Vollering
On the irregular slopes of Maupuy (2.8 km at 5.4%), several attempts to break away enlivened the front of the race. Demi, attentive and well supported by her teammates, remained at the front until the summit, before joining the final sprint in Guéret. In the final straight, Kim Le Court was the first to launch her sprint, finishing in first place on the podium. Demi took second place in the stage, in the same time, and remains in contention for the overall classification.
Elise Chabbey took advantage of this hilly stage to confirm her position as best climber, scoring a point on one of the classified climbs. She thus retains the lead in the mountain classification at the end of this 5th stage.
Juliette and Evita finished in a second group, 33 seconds behind the day’s winner. Amber, Ally and Marie also finished unscathed.
Stage classification:
- Kim Le Court (AG Insurance–Soudal) – 3h54’07”
- Demi Vollering (FDJ-SUEZ) – mt
- Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx–Protime) – mt
Overall standings after stage 5 :
- Kim Le Court – 15h07’14”
- Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (Visma–Lease a Bike) – à 18’’
- Demi Vollering (FDJ-SUEZ) – à 23’’
Tomorrow, the peloton will tackle a transitional stage to the Massif Central, between Clermont-Ferrand and Ambert, where the climbers could reappear.
Broadcast: from 3:35 p.m. on France 2 and Eurosport