Demi Vollering edges out Marlen Reusser in sprint to win Stage Five

In the 140-kilometre stage from Macon to Belleville-en-Beaujolais, Demi Vollering of FDJ United-Suez secured the win by out-sprinting Marlen Reusser of Movistar, after both riders responded to an early surge by Kasia Niewiadoma of Canyon-Sram. The three riders escaped on the category-two Mont Brouilly climb, which features sections as steep as 14%, and stayed clear for the final ten kilometres. Vollering crossed the line just ahead of Reusser, preserving Reusser’s overall lead following her time-trial victory in Dijon, where she finished 12 seconds ahead of Vollering.

Niewiadoma holds third place, a minute five seconds behind Reusser. Meanwhile, defending champion Pauline Ferrand-Prevot fell over two and a half minutes behind, dropping to 17th overall, and Anna van der Breggan of SD Worx-Protime also lost more than two and a half minutes, ending her yellow-jersey hopes.