Kim Le Court claims dramatic stage six victory as Tour de France Femmes heads for Mont Ventoux
After a crash and a late mechanical, the Mauritian rider surged to win the hilly 153‑km stage from Montbrison to Tournon-sur-Rhône, while the general‑classification battle remains poised for a showdown on the Bedoin climb.
Kim Le Court, the 30‑year‑old Mauritian champion, turned a chaotic day into a win on stage six of the Tour de France Femmes. The 153‑kilometre route from Montbrison to Tournon-sur-Rhône featured rolling terrain that suited breakaways, and Le Court was part of an eight‑rider group that stayed ahead of the peloton to the finish.
Breakaway triumph
Despite an early fall and a mechanical problem that forced a bike change with 15 kilometres to go, Le Court re‑joined the escapees on the final climb, ten kilometres from the line. Together with Dutch rider Riejanne Markus she chased back to the six other leaders, then held her nerve in an uphill sprint. She edged out France’s Cedrine Kerbaol and the Netherlands’ Puck Pieterse to secure her second career stage win in the race.
"The team did such a great job positioning me at the front of the race that I couldn't give up the fight," Le Court said after crossing the line.
General‑classification picture
Race leader Marlen Reusser arrived safely in the main bunch, 28 seconds behind the breakaway, and will retain the yellow jersey for Friday’s decisive queen stage. The Swiss rider leads Demi Vollering by 12 seconds and holds a one‑minute‑17‑second advantage over Kasia Niewiadoma. All three will contest the summit finish on Mont Ventoux, a 15.7‑kilometre climb from Bedoin with an average gradient of 8.8 %.
The breakaway’s success on a stage that typically favours GC contenders was a tactical surprise, but it does not alter the overall standings. Reusser’s slender lead offers little margin for error against the two Dutch and Polish rivals, who are among the sport’s most accomplished stage racers.
Looking ahead
Le Court’s victory repeats her 2023 triumph in Guéret and underlines her reputation as a “punchy opportunist who thrives on chaotic days”. She described the race as "It was a truly crazy stage." The win provides a morale boost, yet the focus now shifts to the Bedoin ascent of Mont Ventoux, where the yellow‑jersey group will face a decisive test.
For now, Le Court can savour a hard‑won victory forged from adversity, while the GC contenders prepare for what is expected to be the defining afternoon of the tour.
