German cyclist Antonia Niedermaier vaulted into fourth place in the general classification at the Tour de France Femmes following a grueling fifth stage that briefly saw her leading the race virtually. The 23-year-old from Rosenheim crossed the finish line in Belleville-en-Beaujolais as sixth, finishing 45 seconds behind the primary group of overall contenders after a demanding 140-kilometer route featuring eight categorized climbs through the vineyards north of Lyon.
Netherlands star Demi Vollering claimed the stage victory on Thursday, outpacing overall race leader Marlen Reusser of Switzerland and Poland’s Kasia Niewiadoma. Reusser successfully defended her yellow jersey, holding a 12-second advantage over Vollering at the top of the standings. Niedermaier sits 2:40 minutes back from the lead, keeping a spot on the final podium within realistic reach while also claiming the white jersey as the race’s best young rider.
The Breakaway and Virtual Yellow
Niedermaier, who secured a strong second-place finish overall at the Giro d’Italia earlier in the season, launched into a 19-rider breakaway roughly 85 kilometers from the finish line. The move included fellow German champion Franziska Koch and former Tour stage winner Liane Lippert. The breakaway’s lead stretched to nearly two minutes at its peak, placing Niedermaier in the virtual race lead for the yellow jersey.
The chase intensified within the main peloton as the teams driving for Reusser and Vollering increased the tempo. That collective pressure reeled in the escapees roughly 22 kilometers before the finish line, setting up the decisive climbs and the sprint finish for the favorites.
Contenders Struggle on the Slopes
While Niedermaier advanced in the standings, defending champion Pauline Ferrand-Prévot suffered another significant setback. The French rider and Paris Olympic mountain bike gold medalist slipped away from the group of favorites on the penultimate climb. Ferrand-Prévot previously lost more than two minutes during Tuesday’s individual time trial.
The race continues over rolling terrain on the sixth stage, covering 153.4 kilometers between Montbrison and Tournon-sur-Rhône. Friday’s route features the much-anticipated ascent up Mont Ventoux before the women’s Tour concludes on Sunday in Nice.
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