Demi Vollering won a sprint finish to take stage five of the Tour de France Femmes on Wednesday, beating two of her main rivals. Switzerland's Marlen Reusser finished second to retain the overall lead.
Poland's Katarzyna Niewiadoma-Phinney looked set to win with 300 metres remaining, but Vollering chased her down and hit the front close to the line.
“I knew Kasia would go early, because she always does,” Vollering said. “I knew Marlen would gamble, so I let her gamble a bit to try and make her work, but she didn't. I gave it everything until the final sprint and I needed every single metre in the last finish straight.”
Reigning champion Pauline Ferrand-Prevot struggled on the final climbs and is now five minutes behind Reusser, having already lost time to Vollering in Tuesday's time trial.
Reusser, who took yellow on Tuesday, leads Vollering by 12 seconds, with Niewiadoma-Phinney third overall, one minute 17 seconds back.