Mauritian rider Kim Le Court triumphed in the sixth stage of the Tour de France Femmes on Thursday, August 6, 2026, overcoming an early crash and mechanical problems to win a sprint finish. The 30-year-old was part of an eight-rider breakaway that completed the hilly 153 km route from Montbrison to Tournon-sur-Rhône in southeastern France. Le Court edged out France's Cedrine Kerbaol and the Netherlands' Puck Pieterse to claim the stage victory.

Despite her early fall and a bike change just 15 km from the finish, Le Court, alongside Dutch rider Riejanne Markus, caught the other breakaway riders before the final climb 10 km from the finish and proved strongest in the sprint. This marks Le Court's second stage win in the Grande Boucle, following her victory last year in Guéret.

Swiss rider Marlen Reusser retained the leader's yellow jersey and remains in overall control heading into Friday's queen stage, which finishes atop Mont Ventoux in the French Alps. Reusser holds a 12-second lead over Dutch rider Demi Vollering and a 1 minute 17 second advantage over Poland's Kasia Niewiadoma. The favorites finished 28 seconds behind the breakaway group.

Reflecting on the stage, Le Court said, "It was a truly crazy stage. The team did such a great job positioning me at the front of the race that I couldn't give up the fight."

Friday's stage seven will conclude at the summit of Mont Ventoux via the Bedoin climb, a 15.7 km ascent with an average gradient of 8.8 percent.

Sources

France 24 English