The Tour de France Femmes delivered another tactical masterpiece on Stage 6, and this time it was Kim Le Court (AG Insurance-Soudal) who timed everything to perfection.
After a relentless day of attacks across the Ardèche hills, the Mauritian champion proved strongest in an eight-rider sprint to claim victory in Tournon-sur-Rhône, holding off Elisa Longo Borghini and Puck Pieterse after repeatedly helping shut down late attacks from Riejanne Markus.
It was a victory built as much on tactical awareness as raw speed.
PEZ Tour de France Femmes Avec Zwift 2026 Race Coverage is presented by FACTOR Bikes
Six Climbs, Scorching Heat
The race continued its journey south from Montbrison to Tournon-sur-Rhône over a twisting 140-kilometre route featuring six classified climbs.
The toughest challenge came at the Col de Lalouvesc (8.6km at 5%), but with almost 50 kilometres remaining from its summit to the finish, the stage promised opportunities for both attackers and opportunists.
The oppressive heat that had followed the race all week showed no signs of easing, with temperatures once again pushing well above 30°C as the peloton rolled out shortly before 2 p.m.
Pieterse Goes Hunting for Mountains Points
The opening kilometres belonged to Puck Pieterse.
The Fenix-Premier Tech rider quickly collected two more Queen of the Mountains points before allowing Czech climber Nikola Nosková (Cofidis) to continue ahead.
Nosková was joined by Katrine Aalerud (Uno-X Mobility), Loes Adegeest (Lidl-Trek) and, briefly, Pieterse herself as the first breakaway of the day formed.
The move was given some freedom, allowing Nosková to scoop up additional mountain points, before the peloton finally reacted.
FDJ-SUEZ, EF Education-Oatly and Fenix-Premier Tech all contributed to the chase, and after nearly two hours of racing the attacks began flying once again.
Olympic champion Kristen Faulkner launched one of the first serious accelerations, while reigning world champion Magdeleine Vallières also animated the racing.
The Race Splits on Lalouvesc
The regrouping allowed Pieterse to once again capitalize on the Col de Lalouvesc, collecting another five mountain classification points to further cement her grip on the polka-dot jersey.
Although the peloton was reduced to roughly thirty riders on the climb, none of the GC favourites managed to force a decisive selection.
The real move came on the descent.
Six riders escaped:
- Sarah Van Dam (Visma | Lease a Bike)
- Célia Gery (FDJ-SUEZ)
- Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE L’IMAD)
- Liane Lippert (Movistar)
- Cédrine Kerbaol (EF Education-Oatly)
- Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Premier Tech)
All six sat more than two minutes behind race leader Marlen Reusser on general classification, leaving the yellow jersey group content to let them ride.
Markus Bridges, Le Court Follows
Behind, Canyon//SRAM initially organized the chase, with Antonia Niedermaier doing much of the work, but cooperation never truly developed.
Despite the final climb reducing the advantage slightly, the escape still held more than 30 seconds entering the descent.
That proved enough for Riejanne Markus to launch across.
The Lidl-Trek rider attacked aggressively downhill, with Kim Le Court immediately recognizing the danger and following her move.
The pair bridged quickly to the leaders.
Behind them, Demi Vollering personally came to the front of the peloton in an effort to organize the chase, but it was already too late.
Eight riders would decide the stage victory.
Markus Refuses to Give Up
The tactical games began almost immediately.
With 4.5 kilometres remaining, Le Court tested her companions with the first acceleration, but Elisa Longo Borghini shut it down.
Moments later the Italian counterattacked herself.
Again, nobody allowed daylight.
Then came Markus.
The Dutchwoman launched a perfectly timed attack inside two kilometres, forcing Longo Borghini into another hard chase.
As soon as the group regrouped, Markus attacked yet again just before the flamme rouge.
This time it was Le Court herself who had to make the decisive effort to close the gap.
By the time the attacks finally stopped, it looked as though the Mauritian might have spent too much energy.
She hadn’t.
Le Court Finishes It Off
Despite all the work she’d done chasing Markus, Le Court confidently led the group into the finishing straight.
She opened the sprint first.
Behind her, Puck Pieterse came charging fast, while Longo Borghini also tried to come around.
Neither could match the acceleration.
Le Court held her speed all the way to the line to secure an impressive stage victory, rewarding both her tactical awareness and her willingness to do the hard work throughout the finale.
Pieterse crossed the line in third after another outstanding all-round performance, while Markus’s relentless aggression ultimately went unrewarded.
After six stages, the Tour de France Femmes continues to produce racing worthy of its growing reputation—and with the general classification still delicately balanced, the biggest battles are almost certainly still to come.
Tour de France Femmes Avec Zwift 2026 Stage 6 Results
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