Reusser Defends Yellow in the Beaujolais: Climbing Strength and Nerves Required

Macon – 05.08.2026: The Tour de France Femmes leaves Burgundy and heads into a stage that offers the riders little opportunity for recovery. The fifth stage covers 140 kilometres from Macon to Belleville-en-Beaujolais. The official start is scheduled for 13:45; no result was available at the time of publication.

Eight classified climbs and around 2,900 metres of elevation gain make the day an initial serious test following the individual time trial in Dijon. The road rises almost immediately after the start. The peloton could split early on the Cote de Cenves and the Col de Gerbet. Further short, uneven ramps will then require the teams to manage their efforts carefully.

The key sections come in the final third. The Col de Durbize is 3.6 kilometres long and averages a 5.8 percent gradient. On Mont Brouilly, three kilometres at an average of 7.7 percent await. Both climbs offer explosive riders an opportunity to attack. From the summit of Mont Brouilly, 10.6 mostly downhill kilometres remain to the finish. Anyone who breaks away there must defend their advantage on the descent with determination and technical confidence.

Marlen Reusser wears the yellow jersey in the general classification. The Swiss rider won the 21-kilometre individual time trial between Gevrey-Chambertin and Dijon on 4 August, finishing four seconds ahead of Lieke Nooijen. Demi Vollering lost 17 seconds to Reusser and starts the fifth stage second overall, 14 seconds behind.

The hilly terrain should suit Vollering better than the steady effort of racing against the clock. Her FDJ United-SUEZ team can try to put Reusser under pressure on the numerous climbs and wear down her support riders early. Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney, Elisa Longo Borghini, Paula Blasi and Anna van der Breggen are also still close enough to the yellow jersey after the time trial to attempt tactical attacks.

For Reusser, the challenge is to control the race without having to respond personally to every move. Movistar must protect her for as long as possible on the narrow, rolling roads while also keeping an eye on dangerous breakaway riders. A larger breakaway group could contest the stage win, while the general classification contenders battle for seconds behind them.

The ride through the Beaujolais therefore favours several possible race scenarios: a victory from a breakaway group, a late attack on Mont Brouilly, or a decision among a small leading group in Belleville-en-Beaujolais. A traditional bunch sprint is hardly expected given the profile. The final mountain classification point is only 10.6 kilometres from the finish.