Tour de France Femmes stage 5 preview: Breakaway, GC day or both?
After two days where a bunch sprint was almost inevitable, stage 5 brings more uncertainty about how things will unfold.
Starting in Chasseneuil-du-Poitou and finishing in Guéret, stage 5 is the longest stage of the Tour de France Femmes. There’s a fair bit of climbing too, with a punchy final and a bonus second sprint which will create a dynamic day's racing.
Start: 13:20 CET
Estimated arrival: 17:44
Stage distance: 165.8km
Elevation gain: 2,070m
The route of Tour de France Femmes stage 5
When we reach 82.9km we’ll be exactly half way through this year’s Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift. The riders won’t be thinking too much about that, though, as they’ll be about to start climbing.
After a fairly flat opening half, the road starts to drag uphill, first to an intermediate sprint at Dun-Le-Palestel, after 126.8km, then to what promises to be an explosive final. In the 39km between there and the finish line there are three short, punchy classified climbs and a bonus second sprint. But it’s more challenging than it sounds.
4km after the sprint is the Côte de Chabannes, before they hit the Côte du Peyroux 12km later. Both are fourth category climbs and none too taxing, but the closing 10km will be important not only for the stage win, but for the general classification.
The final third category Le Maupuy ramps up 10km from the line, with the bonus second sprint coming around 1,300m later. There are only three of these throughout the entire Tour and, on stage 2, the first of those drew out the GC riders.
This time they will be further tempted, not only are there six, four and two seconds available for the leading three, immediately afterwards the road ramps up to 14% gradient, and though it’s only for around 100m, it provides the perfect opportunity to gain more time over the top of the climb and on the descent to the finish.
After the start, expect a breakaway to build a decent gap, though not too much as a tailwind is forecast, so it could be tough to bring back. The peloton will want them at least in touching distance when they hit the first of those climbs where the race will explode.
The favourites of Tour de France Femmes stage 5
With such a dynamic final a whole host of riders could be successful on Wednesday. We could even see the same one-two as the last two stages with Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime) and Marianne Vos (Visma | Lease a Bike) fighting it out, but we think the bonus second sprint will change the way the final climb is ridden and the GC riders will come out to play.
After her crash on stage three, overall favourite Demi Vollering (FDJ-Suez) may not have the physical shape to instigate anything, but she will need to follow, and if she can follow she can win. If she’s feeling good, the steep gradient on the climb shouldn’t be too difficult for her and she can certainly descend well enough.
Last year saw Cédrine Kerbaol (EF Education-Oatly) become the first French woman to win a stage of the race in its current format, attacking to victory on a descent. She should easily be able to cope with the ascent and the descent will be her playground. She's kept herself very quiet so far this Tour, but has been in the top 30 every day and sits 13th overall.
Equally, Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Deceuninck) can descend like the proverbial brick. Winning Flèche Wallonne at the first time of trying earlier this year makes her a very special rider, not only does it mean she has the punch and stamina, perhaps more importantly it's a sign of her pure racing nous and timing, something the winner will need on stage 5.
When Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon//SRAM-zondacrypto) won the Tour last year, she was nowhere to be seen on the opening three stages, but this year has been completely different. Obviously the parcours has demanded all those hoping to compete for the yellow jersey have been there in those punchy stages, but the Polish champion seems hungrier and more alert than ever before. The climb won’t trouble her and she too can descend with the best of them.
