Make way for youth! The German Ricarda Bauernfeind created the surprise, Thursday, July 27, by winning the 5th stage of the Grande Boucle, between Onet-le-Château (Aveyron) and Albi. The Canyon-SRAM rider has become, at 23, the youngest stage winner on the Women’s Tour de France, in its modern version organized by ASO.
After four days outrageously dominated by the SD Worx formation, the Canyon-SRAM rider took advantage of the procrastination of the yellow jersey team, Lotte Kopecky, to offer her formation a first victory in the Tour de France.
The hilly roads of Aveyron and Tarn however announced an uncertain battle between the adventurers – crowned with success in Rodez with the victory of Yara Kastelijn on Wednesday – and the sprinters. The route included three short and steep climbs, the last of which was 24 kilometers from the finish. Placing her attack 38 kilometers from the goal, the German, an excellent climber, escaped from the yellow jersey group and was not caught again.
“We’ve been waiting for this win all year”
“I can’t believe it, this is great news for the team,” says Ricarda Bauernfeind at the microphone of France Télévisions. We first went hunting for the first breakaway. My teammates did an amazing job in the peloton! Then it was up to me, I attacked, and it worked. I am very happy, we have been waiting for this victory all year. »
True to its late start strategy, the SD Worx team this time missed the right wagon. If, in the last kilometers, Marlen Reusser went to the head of the yellow jersey group to up the tempo, the latter was still 22 seconds behind the winner of the day at the finish. In her wheel, Liane Lippert (Movistar) completes the podium of the day. Lotte Kopecky sprinted the group of favorites (41 seconds).
No change in the general classification is to be noted since the favorites all arrived at the same time. The Belgian therefore retains her yellow jersey for the fifth day in a row.
Wiebes and Muzic retire
It will now be necessary to wait for the deadlines of the weekend to see the candidates for the final victory explain themselves. With 12 seconds ahead of the Dutch Annemiek Van Vleuten, her compatriot Demi Vollering seems in good shape, as does Juliette Labous (DSM-Firmenich). 23rd Wednesday morning, the Frenchman is now in 10th place, still more than 30 seconds behind the other contenders.
Even before the start, a clap of thunder shook the training buses. Lorena Wiebes, winner of the 3rd stage in Montignac-Lascaux (Dordogne) and big favorite for victory of the day, was forced to forfeit due to stomach ailments. “Of course it’s a sporting loss for SD Worx, as there were still sprint opportunities,” commented its sporting director, Danny Stam. But health comes first. The Dutchman was second in the points standings, only beaten by her Belgian teammate Lotte Kopecky.
Behind in the first kilometers, Evita Muzic, the French runner of the FDJ-Suez team, gave up, also victim of persistent gastric pain. The Jurassienne had finished 8th in the general classification in 2022 and was still in 14th place at the start of this 5th stage.
