Kimberley Le Court has etched her name in the annals of cycling history by becoming the first African rider to win a stage at the Tour de France Femmes. Her triumph on Stage 5 not only marked a significant milestone but also saw her claim the coveted yellow jersey from the legendary Marianne Vos.

The Race to Victory

The 29-year-old Mauritian champion showcased her prowess on the 165.8km hilly route, the longest stage of the fourth edition of the Tour de France Femmes. Le Court was part of a seven-rider breakaway that distanced itself from the peloton towards the end of the grueling stage. Demonstrating exceptional speed and stamina, she crossed the finish line in Gueret, just ahead of the fast-closing Demi Vollering of the Netherlands.

The Celebration and the Risks

Le Court's victory was not without its dramatic moments. As she approached the finish line, she sat up to celebrate, a move that could have cost her the win. However, she managed to hold off Vollering by a mere wheel's length, securing her place in the history books.

The Impact on the General Classification

With this victory, Le Court now leads the general classification by 18 seconds over Pauline Ferrand-Prevot of France. Meanwhile, Marianne Vos, who finished in a group 33 seconds behind, has dropped to sixth place.

The Road Ahead

The Tour de France Femmes continues with four stages remaining, including the first mountain stage on Thursday. This 123.7km route between Clermont-Ferrand and Ambert promises to be a challenging test for all riders.

Stage 5 Results

1. Kimberley le Court (Mau/AG Insurance-Soudal) - 3hrs 54mins 7secs
2. Demi Vollering (Ned/FDJ-Suez) - Same time
3. Anna van der Breggen (Ned/SD Worx-Protime)
4. Katarzyna Niewiadoma-phinney (Pol/Canyon-SRAM-ZondaCrypto)
5. Pauline Ferrand prevot (Fra/Visma-Lease a Bike)
6. Sarah Gigante (Aus/AG Insurance-Soudal)
7. Pauliena Rooijakkers (Ned/Fenix-Deceuninck)
8. Marianne Vos (Ned/Visma-Lease a Bike) - +33secs
9. Evita Muzic (Fra/FDJ-Suez) - Same time
10. Elise Chabbey (Sui/FDJ-Suez)

General Classification After Stage 5

1. Kimberley le Court (Mau/AG Insurance-Soudal) - 15hrs 7mins 14secs
2. Pauline Ferrand-Prevot (Fra/Visma-Lease a Bike) - +18secs
3. Demi Vollering (Ned/FDJ-Suez) - +23secs
4. Katarzyna Niewiadoma-Phinney (Pol/Canyon-Sram-ZondaCrypto) - +24secs
5. Anna van der Breggen (Ned/SD Worx-Protime) - +27secs
6. Marianne Vos (Ned/Visma-Lease a Bike) - +37secs
7. Pauliena Rooijakkers (Ned/Fenix-Deceuninck) - +45secs
8. Sarah Gigante (Aus/AG Insurance-Soudal) - +55secs
9. Puck Pieterse (Ned/Fenix-Deceuninck) - +1min 4secs
10. Cedrine Kerbaol (Fra/EF Education-Oatly) - +1min 16secs

Related Topics

• Cycling
• Women's Sports
• Sports History
• Grand Tours
• African Athletes