LE COURT-PIENAAR CLAIMS SECOND TOUR DE FRANCE FEMMES AVEC ZWIFT VICTORY IN STUNNING COMEBACK FROM MECHANICAL
Mauritius national champion Kimberley Le Court-Pienaar (AG Insurance-Soudal) continued to make history as she claimed her second Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift victory, pipping Cedrine Kerbaol (EF Education Oatly) and Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Premier Tech).
The 30-year-old, who won Stage 5 of the 2025 edition and became the first African rider to wear the yellow jersey, had suffered a mechanical earlier on in the stage before putting in a stunning comeback to claim victory.
With the blockbuster showdown on Mont Ventoux looming on Friday, there was hope for a much more settled day and an opportunity for the breakaway to take advantage.
It was another relentless day of climbing for the peloton as the riders faced a hilly 153.4km with six categorised climbs on the cards.
The initial three-rider breakaway assembled with 129km to go, consisting of Loes Adegeest (Lidl-Trek), Nikola Noskova (Cofidis) and Katrine Aalerud (Uno-X Mobility) and were allowed to grow their gap to 2’00” at times.
However, they were kept within reach of the peloton, who eventually reined them in with 53.9km to go.
Image credit: Getty Images
There were early signs of the end of another GC hopeful’s ambitions as Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime), who podiumed during the 2026 editions of the Giro d’Italia Women and La Vuelta Femenina, was forced to pay the price as she was distanced multiple times before being dropped before her team-mate Lorena Wiebes and fellow sprint powerhouse Elisa Balsamo (Lidl-Trek) with 52.7km.
Elsewhere, Le Court-Pienaar suffered a hit to her stage hunting and GC ambitions when she was distanced on the descent of an uncategorised climb following a mechanical and bike change. An impressive performance by her AG Insurance-Soudal team saw the Mauritius road race champion return to a heavily reduced peloton before the Col De Lalouvesc (cat. 2) summit.
Pieterse strengthened her hold on the polka dot climbers’ jersey with a strong performance in the hills and was the first to chase France national champion Celia Gery (FDJ United-Suez) when she attacked with 34km to go.
Dreaming of a stage win on home roads, Gery and Pieterse were joined by Cedrine Kerbaol before Liane Lippert (Movistar), Sarah van Dam (Visma-Lease a Bike) and Elisa Longo-Borghini (UAE Team L’Imad) joined the efforts.
'I was really dead' - Le Court-Pienaar was 'close to giving up' en route to Stage 6 win
Video credit: TNT Sports
With just over 15km to go, Le Court-Pienaar hopped on the back of Riejanne Markus’ (Lidl-Trek) wheel to bridge across to the head of the race to pip Longo-Borghini to the maximum six bonus seconds on offer with 9km to go.
From there, as the stage win looked to be going to the breakaway, there were a flurry of different attacks as first Le Court-Pienaar looked to go solo with 5km, before Markus also attacked with 2.4km to go.
Another attack by Markus saw Le Court-Pienaar launch a counterattack of her own with 200m to go, holding off Pieterse and Kerbaol to claim another memorable victory and move up to ninth in the general classification.
Marlen Reusser (Movistar) retained the yellow jersey ahead of the Ventoux showdown, 12” ahead of Demi Vollering (FDJ United-Suez), whilst Longo Borghini moved up to fourth following her breakaway exploits.
Le Court-Pienaar overcomes mechanical issue to take stunning Stage 6 win
Video credit: TNT Sports
18:06
18:06
REACTION: REUSSER 'A BIT SAD' TEAM-MATE LIPPERT FELL SHORT IN FINAL SPRINT
Reusser 'a bit sad' team-mate Lippert fell short in final sprint
Video credit: TNT Sports
17:29
17:29
A LOOK AHEAD TO STAGE 7
If you thought that was good, get ready for fireworks on Stage 7 of the 2026 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift.
Just 12" separates Marlen Reusser (Movistar) and Demi Vollering (FDJ United-Suez), but Mont Ventoux promises upsets and surprises across the whole GC.
Who will not only survive but relish the challenge?
Profile for Stage 7 of the 2026 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift
Image credit: From Official Website
17:23
17:23
GENERAL CLASSIFICATION AFTER STAGE 6
A few changes in the top 10, but the podium remains unchanged.
1. Marlen Reusser (Movistar) 19:43:34
2. Demi Vollering (FDJ United-Suez) +12”
3. Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney (Canyon-SRAM) +1’17”
4. Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team L’Imad) +2’28”
5. Antonia Niedermaier (Canyon-SRAM) +2’40”
6. Dominika Wloadarczyk (UAE Team L’Imad) +2’54”
7. Isabella Holmgren (Lidl-Trek) + 3’05”
8. Cedrine Kerbaol (EF Education-Oatly) +3’07”
9. Kim Le Court-Pienaar (AG Insurance-Soudal) +3’26”
10. Paula Blasi (UAE Team L’Imad) +3’51”
Image credit: Getty Images
17:20
17:20
WATCH: LE COURT OVERCOMES MECHANICAL ISSUE TO TAKE STUNNING STAGE 6 WIN
Another milestone in African cycling after her heroics last year.
She did not get the yellow jersey but she got her second Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift stage win to move into the top 10.
Le Court-Pienaar overcomes mechanical issue to take stunning Stage 6 win
Video credit: TNT Sports
17:18
17:18
LET US HEAR FROM OUR STAGE 6 WINNER LE COURT-PIENAAR:
The race was crazy. I had a mechanical on the downhill before the last climb and I had to change bikes. I was really far but my team was amazing and they brought me back slowly but surely back to the bunch and I got back on top of the last climb which was a really big effort.
I tried to stay patient, I tried to recover from this big effort. Riejanne Markus and I tried to bridge to the breakaway and we got to the front and they were not really cooperating but I was happy to still try.
I got a gap in the last few kilometres and Elisa closed me down, but then Riejanne Markus made an attack from the back, I knew it was going to happen because that's the only way she can win the race like this. I had to close the gap myself, I was really, really dead, I was on my limit. I can't believe I still had the legs to sprint, it was really hard, it was really close, I couldn't give up. I will never give up after this big effort my team did.
The team needed it. I've been really struggling since the TT day. I think this really makes our tour. Of course, we've got GC ambitions but winning a stage in the Tour de France is really special. People don't really remember top 10, top five riders in the Tour but they do remember stage winners.
16:57
16:57
TOP 10 RESULTS:
1. Kim Le Court (AG Insurance-Soudal) 4:01:48
2. Cedrine Kerbaol (EF Education-Oatly) "
3. Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Premier Tech) "
4. Sarah van Dam (Visma-Lease a Bike) "
5. Celia Gery (FDJ United-Suez) "
6. Liane Lippert (Movistar) "
7. Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team L'Imad) +2"
8. Riejanne Markus (Lidl-Trek) +5"
9. Dominika Wlodarczyk (UAE Team L'Imad) +28"
10. Noemi Ruegg (EF Education-Oatly) "
Image credit: Getty Images
16:52
16:52
LE COURT-PIENAAR WINS STAGE 6 OF THE 2026 TOUR DE FRANCE FEMMES AVEC ZWIFT!
What a way to win your second ever stage win in the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift!
She had a huge chase after suffering that mechanical on a descent earlier on before she made her way into the breakaway of eight.
The Mauritian national road race champion leads out the final sprint and battles it out side-by-side with Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Premier Tech), whilst Cedrine Kerbaol pips Pieterse on the line for second.
16:49
16:49
1.1KM TO GO: SOME ODD TACTICS FROM EF AS MARKUS ATTACKS AGAIN
As she spots the flamme rogue, Riejanne Markus once again launches a move but she's followed by Kim Le Court.
Questionably, Kirsten Faulkner (EF Education-Oatly) is working at the front of the yellow jersey group despite having Cedrine Kerbaol in the breakaway.
16:46
16:46
2.4KM TO GO: MARKUS LAUNCHES LONG
She knows she is unlikely to win in a sprint so launches long but she's given little space by the engine of Longo Borghini.
Who is this stage win going to?
The yellow jersey group sits 24" behind.
16:42
16:42
5KM TO GO: ADVANTAGE BREAKAWAY
But there's a few nervy moments as a Shimano neutral service car attempts to pass on the narrow descent and comes narrowly close to clipping one of the breakaway riders.
Kim Le Court (AG Insurance-Soudal) attempts to go alone and is able to open a small gap, but the chasers lead by Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team L'Imad) will close it down.
16:40
16:40
9.1KM TO GO: LE COURT AND LONGO-BORGHINI PICK UP BONUS SECONDS
As expected, as Le Court and Markus join up with the head of the race, Le Court goes straight to the front and with a bonus sprint ahead, it's Elisa Longo-Borghini (UAE Team L'Imad) and Le Court (AG Insurance-Soudal) who battle it out.
Le Court takes the maximum 6" on offer, whilst Longo-Borghini settles for 4" and Puck Pieterse takes 2".
The breakaway's advantage has reduced to 30" as Demi Vollering (FDJ United-Suez) opts to move to the front of the peloton to push the pace on this descent.
16:36
16:36
10.7KM TO GO: GAP GROWS TO 45"
For the first time, the gap between the breakaway and the yellow jersey grows to 45" on the descent, whilst the two chasers of Le Court and Markus are just 16" behind.
Will today's stage winner come from this group?
16:33
16:33
15.6KM TO GO: PUCK TAKES MAXIMUM QOM POINTS, KERBAOL ATTACKS
Whilst Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Premier Tech) was largely uncontested as she picked up another three points in the polka dot jersey, Cedrine Kerbaol (EF Education-Oatly) believes it's the right time to launch her move over the top.
She was expected to go long but maybe not from 15km to go.
Elsewhere, there's an attack from the yellow jersey group as Kim Le Court (AG Insurance-Soudal) joins Riejanne Markus (Lidl-Trek) off the front of that group.
16:29
16:29
17KM TO GO: NIEDERMAIER (CANYON-SRAM) CONTROLLING THINGS IN THE PELOTON
The Maillot Blanc is working at the front of the reduced peloton to keep a steady tempo for the rest of the bunch.
The German currently sits fourth in GC, 2'40" behind Reusser, whilst her teammate Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney sits 1'17 behind in third.
As the breakaway near the summit, the gap remains at a steady 30".
16:23
16:23
WATCH: CELIA GERY PUTS HOME ADVANTAGE TO GOOD USE
Was this the winning move?
16:20
16:20
19.6KM TO GO: BREAKAWAY HITS BASE OF FINAL CLIMB
It's a 3.9km climb averaging at 5.6% before a descent to the end.
The breakaway's advantage remains at around the 30" mark, but there are hints of moves from those sitting in the peloton, with Niamh Fisher-Black (Lidl-Trek) testing a move before easing off the pace.
16:13
16:13
25.6KM TO GO: BREAKAWAY WORKING WELL TOGETHER
Our breakaway of six riders are working together to keep this move away, however, they're being kept within reach by the peloton as they head towards the final categorised climb of the afternoon, with a 30" advantage.
16:07
16:07
30.9KM TO GO: SMALL GROUP FORMS AT THE HEAD OF THE RACE
Gery has completely decimated things with that attack and Marlen Reusser (Movistar) is seemingly responsible for bringing this one back.
The French national champion is joined by Pieterse and Kerbaol, whilst she also has the engine of Elisa Longo-Borghini (UAE Team L'IMad), Liane Lippert (Movistar) and Sarah Van Dam (Visma-Lease a Bike).
They have a lead of 20" ahead of the chasing peloton.
16:04
16:04
34KM TO GO: CELIA GERY (FDJ UNITED-SUEZ) ATTACKS
And just as I say that, the French national champion attacks and grows a small gap on the chasing peloton.
Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Premier-Tech) is the first rider to give chase, with Cedrine Kerbaol (EF Education-Oatly) also joining.
Gery would be dreaming of a stag win on home roads, which she will know like the back of her hand.
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