MAURITIAN KIM Le Court became the first African to win a stage on the women’s Tour de France on Wednesday.
It was a case of double celebration for the 29-year-old who took the fifth stage honours in a sprint to reclaim the leader’s yellow jersey.
Le Court edged Dutch duo Demi Vollering and Anna van der Breggen after a hilly 166km ride, the longest of the Tour, from Chasseneuil-du-Poitou Futuroscope to Gueret.
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Overnight leader Marianne Vos lost yellow to the AG Insurance-Soudal team leader after finishing eighth, 33 seconds adrift, on the day.
After her podium finish on Tuesday, Lara Gillespie was 62nd, one place behind fellow Irish rider Mia Griffin, while Fiona Mangan was 107th.
Gillespie is now 95th in the general rankings, with Griffin 96th and Mangan 99th.
Le Court, who had a brief spell already at the top of the general classification after stage two, now leads France’s Pauline Ferrand-Prevot by 18 seconds.
Vollering, the Tour winner in 2023 and favourite for this edition, is third at 23s after recovering from a heavy fall on Monday.
Last year’s winner, Poland’s Katarzyna Niewiadoma, took fourth in the stage to sit well placed 24s off the overall lead.
Thursday’s sixth stage is a mountainous 123.7km ride from Clermont-Ferrand to Ambert featuring three ascents, including the category one climb up the Col du Beal, with the race finishing on Sunday.
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Le Court makes history for Africa at Tour de France
MAURITIAN KIM Le Court became the first African to win a stage on the women’s Tour de France on Wednesday.
It was a case of double celebration for the 29-year-old who took the fifth stage honours in a sprint to reclaim the leader’s yellow jersey.
Le Court edged Dutch duo Demi Vollering and Anna van der Breggen after a hilly 166km ride, the longest of the Tour, from Chasseneuil-du-Poitou Futuroscope to Gueret.
Overnight leader Marianne Vos lost yellow to the AG Insurance-Soudal team leader after finishing eighth, 33 seconds adrift, on the day.
After her podium finish on Tuesday, Lara Gillespie was 62nd, one place behind fellow Irish rider Mia Griffin, while Fiona Mangan was 107th.
Gillespie is now 95th in the general rankings, with Griffin 96th and Mangan 99th.
Le Court, who had a brief spell already at the top of the general classification after stage two, now leads France’s Pauline Ferrand-Prevot by 18 seconds.
Vollering, the Tour winner in 2023 and favourite for this edition, is third at 23s after recovering from a heavy fall on Monday.
Last year’s winner, Poland’s Katarzyna Niewiadoma, took fourth in the stage to sit well placed 24s off the overall lead.
Thursday’s sixth stage is a mountainous 123.7km ride from Clermont-Ferrand to Ambert featuring three ascents, including the category one climb up the Col du Beal, with the race finishing on Sunday.
You can view the results in full here.
– © AFP 2025
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african Cycling Fiona Mangan KIM Le Court lara gillespie Mia Griffin Tour de France trailblazer