Lorena Wiebes claimed her second stage victory in the 2025 Tour de France Femmes on the Avenue John Kennedy in Poitiers, once again outpacing her fellow Dutch rider Marianne Vos in a challenging sprint finish.
Wiebes, who also triumphed in the Milan-San Remo race and clinched the points classification in the Giro d’Italia this year, called 2025 her strongest season so far. Her career also includes five stage wins in the Giro between 2021 and 2025.
“I’ve been focusing on racing with a clear mindset, like I did in the Giro,” said Wiebes, representing Team SD Worx-Protime. “This season has been exceptional, even without considering the Tour de France results. The team hasn’t put too much pressure on us.”
### Stage Five Preview
The fifth stage, spanning from Chasseneuil-du-Poitou to Guéret, features terrain that could favor breakaway attempts late in the race. After roughly 130 kilometers of flatter sections, three categorized climbs await in the final 36 kilometers—two category four ascents and one category three.
The intermediate sprint, positioned at Dun-le-Palestel after 127 kilometers, might encourage some teams to keep the race under control until that point. Wiebes, who currently leads the points classification after back-to-back stage wins, mentioned she could join a breakaway to secure more points. However, overall leader Marianne Vos, wearing the yellow jersey, and her Visma-Lease A Bike squad may also influence the pace.
At 165.8 kilometers, this stage is the longest of this year’s event. With many riders already fatigued, the early battles to form a breakaway could be intense, though some teams may prefer a calmer day, allowing an uncontested group to stay ahead.
Given the competitive nature of the Tour de France Femmes, however, a full-speed race is expected.
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