Bauernfeind wins fifth stage of the Women's Tour

>> Click here for the detailed race report of stage 5

German cyclist Ricarda Bauernfeind has celebrated her biggest career success to date in the Tour de France Femmes. The 23-year-old climbing specialist surprisingly won the fifth stage over 126.1 kilometres to Albi and secured the second stage win for a German in this year's Tour of France.

The Ingolstadt native won by 22 seconds ahead of Marlen Reusser from Switzerland and Liane Lippert. "I can't believe it. It's incredible," said Bauernfeind on the Eurosport TV channel and praised the support from her team. Bauernfeind had launched an attack 36 kilometres before the finish and took the lead with a lead of one and a half minutes. Although the gap melted to 25 seconds two kilometres before the end, the strong Bauernfeind rode confidently to the finish as a soloist.

Kopecky stays in the yellow jersey

The German road cycling champion Lippert, who had won the second stage, remained in eighth place overall, one place ahead of Bauernfeind. Belgian Lotte Kopecky retains the yellow jersey with a 49-second lead. Dutch rider Lorena Wiebes, who had won the third stage, had to abandon the Tour due to stomach problems.

The second edition of the eight-stage women's cycling tour ends next Sunday with an individual time trial in Pau. This Friday's stage is a mostly flat 122.1 kilometres between Albi and Blagnac. The highlight on Saturday is the mountain finish on the Tourmalet.

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