Tour de France Femmes 2026 stage 5: Eight climbs on tap to shake up GC in Beaujolais – preview

• Stage 5: Mâcon - Belleville-en-Beaujolais
• Date: August 5, 2026
• Distance: 140km
• Elevation gain: 2900 metres
• Start time: 13:45 CET
• Finish time: 17:42 CET

The race moves into the Beaujolais region for a gruelling up-and-down on stage 5 from Mâcon to Belleville-en-Beaujolais. Eight classified climbs and several uncategorised ascents fill a 140km day that will be broadcast from start to finish.

It all adds up to 2,900 metres of elevation gain through the Jura, the second-most of the whole nine-day race, snaking through vineyards and forests.

The 9.6km second-category climb of the Côte de Cenves, averaging 4.4%, begins almost immediately after the start in Mâcon, followed by the unclassified Col de Boubon. The two fourth-category climbs of the Col de la Croix de l'Orme (2.1km at 5.5%) and Côte de Saint-Christophe (2.7km at 4.5%) lead to the intermediate sprint in Monsols – unlikely to feature green jersey Lorena Wiebes – on the lower slopes of another uncategorised climb over the Col de Crie.

Following the descent, the third-category Col de Fontmartin (3.6km at 5.7%) starts right away, and after that, a short but steep wall through the village of Émeringes interrupts the way to the next climb, the second-category Col de Gerbet, a steady 4.6km climb at 6.5%.

At the top of the climb, the route almost doubles back on itself from earlier on the stage, just after the Côte de Cenves, before a descent down five switchbacks leads directly into the Côte de Pruzilly (1.6km at 6.6%), named for the eponymous village at the top.

The next 28km are far from flat, including several small, uncategorised climbs, but compared to what came before and is still to come, they will be a welcome respite and an opportunity to regroup after 75km of quasi-continuous up-and-down.

The third-category Col de Durbize begins 34km from the finish. On paper, it averages 5.8% over 3.6km, but there is a short downhill in the middle bringing down the listed gradient and masking a much harder climb than it appears on paper. The first 1.4km climb is at 6.5%, and after the downhill, the last 1.4km to the top are on a 9% gradient, pitching up to a maximum of 16%.

A gradual downhill and a stretch of rolling to flat roads take whatever is left of the peloton to the bonus sprint in Saint-Lager, offering time bonifications at the foot of the final climb of the day, the second-category Mont Brouilly.

The 3km climb comes in fits and starts, getting up to 8% before flattening out again. The second half hardly ever dips below a 10% gradient and features two stretches of 11.5% and 14%. From the top of the climb, the finish is 10.7km away, mostly downhill.

The stage never climbs above 700 metres of altitude, but its sawtooth profile makes it a crucial day for the GC. The attrition of the many, many climbs will take its toll, and if a GC contender has an off-day, she could lose minutes if her rivals decide to take advantage of the situation.

Sigrid Haugset's solo victory on stage 3 will have inspired other riders to also try for a breakaway, but the long rolling section before the Col de Durbize and the two last climbs make it unlikely that anyone from an early break can make it all the way to the finish.

Instead, it will probably be the GC contenders testing each other on the Mont Brouilly, with a few punchers thrown in for good measure.

Marlen Reusser begins her time in the yellow jersey with one of the most challenging stages of the race, as she and her Movistar team will be hoping to fend off moves from the other big names at the top of the standings.

The Swiss racer said on Tuesday evening that she didn't expect reigning champion Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, who shed over two minutes in the time trial, to start her great fightback on these shorter climbs, which are less suited to her abilities.

Visma-Lease a Bike's strategy for regaining that lost time remains unclear, while a premier puncheur in 2025 Liège-Bastogne-Liège winner Kim Le Court-Pienaar also has just over two minutes to make up.

This course does pack more climbing and hills than the Walloon Monument into fewer kilometres, suggesting that the day is well suited to the Mauritian's capabilities.

A host of other top contenders lie closer to Reusser's yellow jersey, including this year's Liège champion Demi Vollering at just 14 seconds down. Another quartet – who are all more than capable on hills like these – are within 1:20 of the lead, so watch out for Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney, Elisa Longo Borghini, Paula Blasi, and Anna van der Breggen, too.

Climbs

Image 1 of 4

• Côte de Cenves (cat. 2, 9.6km at 4.4%), km. 12.6
• Col de la Croix de l'Orme (cat. 4, 2.1 km at 5.5%), km. 28.4
• Côte de Saint-Christophe (cat. 4, 2.7 km at 4.5%), km. 33.7
• Col de Fontmartin (cat. 3, 3.6km at 5.7%), km. 54.1
• Col de Gerbet (cat. 2, 4.6km at 6.5%), km. 68.7
• Côte de Pruzilly (cat. 4, 1.6km at 6.6%), km. 75.3
• Col de Durbize (cat. 3, 3.6km at 5.8%), km. 109.7
• Mont Brouilly (cat. 2, 3km at 7.7%), km. 129.4

Sprints

• Monsols (Deux-Grosnes), km. 41.2 - points only to first 15 riders
• Saint Lager, km. 125.8 - time bonus only (6, 4 and 2 seconds)