Kim Le Court-Pienaar Triumphs in Dramatic Sprint to Win Tour de France Femmes Stage 6

The 6th stage of the 2026 Tour de France Femmes, held in Tournon-sur-Rhône on August 6, witnessed a thrilling conclusion as Kim Le Court-Pienaar of Mauritius claimed victory in a sprint finish. After overcoming mechanical difficulties that left her 40 seconds behind, Le Court-Pienaar powered back into contention with 10 kilometers remaining and surged ahead to win the stage, crossing the line in 4 hours, 1 minute, and 48 seconds.

French rider Cédrine Kerbaol of EF Education-Oatly finished just behind, taking second place, while Dutch cyclist Puck Pieterse of Fenix Premier Tech secured third. French cyclist Célia Gery delivered a remarkable performance, finishing 5th and earning the prize for combativeness after leading multiple attacks throughout the race. Gery expressed deep exhaustion after the race but was heartened by the public’s support, noting, "I gave everything I had left."

In the overall general classification, Swiss rider Marlen Reusser (Movistar Team) maintained her hold on the yellow jersey with a total time of 19 hours, 43 minutes, and 34 seconds. She leads by 12 seconds over Demi Vollering (FDJ United-Suez) and by 1 minute and 17 seconds over Katarzyna Niewiadoma-Phinney (Canyon-Sram).

The stage, featuring six climbs including the challenging Col de Lalouvesc, tested riders’ endurance and climbing skills. So far, 16 riders have abandoned the race. With the peloton now focusing on the upcoming stage featuring the iconic Mont Ventoux ascent, competitors prepare for a grueling 156.8-kilometer route with 3,500 meters of elevation gain.

Kim Le Court-Pienaar’s victory highlights her resilience, as she managed to regain the leading group after mechanical setbacks and out-sprinted her rivals in the final 300 meters. Meanwhile, the French riders Cédrine Kerbaol and Célia Gery showed strong competitiveness and fighting spirit on home soil. The overall battle remains tight, setting up an exciting second half of the Tour de France Femmes.