Story perspectives

Vollering Wins Stage Five, Reusser Holds Yellow Lead

8/6/2026

Summary

Story summary

In France, Demi Vollering (FDJ United-Suez) won stage five in Belleville-en-Beaujolais.
Marlen Reusser (Movistar) retained the yellow jersey, staying 12 seconds ahead of Vollering and 1:17 ahead of Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney (Canyon-SRAM).
A 19-rider breakaway created a 1:50 lead before being caught with under 23 km remaining.
The stage result sets up a three-horse race between Reusser, Vollering and Niewiadoma-Phinney for the overall title before the Mont Ventoux finish.

History

Historical Context

ASO’s 2014 launch of La Course by Le Tour de France gave women a high-profile one-day race on the same roads as the men, prompting a 30 percent jump in televised viewership reported by the UCI. That breakthrough paved the way for the eight-day Tour de France Femmes, revived in 2022, whose 2024 breakaway battles echo the earlier investment surge.

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Story summary

In France, Demi Vollering (FDJ United-Suez) won stage five in Belleville-en-Beaujolais.
Marlen Reusser (Movistar) retained the yellow jersey, staying 12 seconds ahead of Vollering and 1:17 ahead of Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney (Canyon-SRAM).
A 19-rider breakaway created a 1:50 lead before being caught with under 23 km remaining.
The stage result sets up a three-horse race between Reusser, Vollering and Niewiadoma-Phinney for the overall title before the Mont Ventoux finish.

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