122km to go: And we\u2019re off! The riders set off as the race flag is dropped and the attacks come rapidly.<\/p>\n
Share<\/a>Valentina Cavallar and Mie Bj\u00f8rndal Ottestad withdraw from the race<\/p>\n Ark\u00e9a-B&B Hotels have announced that their rider Valentina Cavallar will not start stage six of the Tour de France Femmes<\/a> due to illness. Additionally, Uno X-Mobility said Mie Bj\u00f8rndal Ottestad would not be starting today. That means that Uno X-Mobility now only have three riders left in the race: Susanne Andersen, Linda Zanetti and Teuntje Beekhuis.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a008.24 EDT<\/p>\n Today\u2019s rollout has begun<\/p>\n Stage six of the Tour de France Femmes 2025 is under way. The peloton have rolled out from Clermont-Ferrand. There\u2019s a 9.7 km neutralised section before the racing begins.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Here is the route profile of stage six:<\/p>\n Allow Instagram content?<\/p>\n This article includes content provided by Instagram. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. To view this content, click ‘Allow and continue’.<\/p>\n Share<\/a> Sarah Gigante has an infectious energy that shines through whether she is saluting after blowing away her rivals on the toughest of mountain stages, or celebrating every day as much as her successes on social media. The Australian cyclist even keeps her smile beaming while reflecting on a recent health concern that threatened to bring her promising career to a standstill. But hidden just beneath the surface is a killer instinct to \u201cmake others hurt\u201d, as well as a steely determination to overcome challenges on and off the bike that have helped lift Gigante into the cycling form of her life.<\/p>\n Sarah Gigante celebrates winning the fourth stage of the Giro d\u2019Italia Donne. Photograph: Massimo Paolone\/LaPresse\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n The 24-year-old is still coming to terms with the thrill and pride taken from finishing on the podium at the Giro d\u2019Italia Donne when she was third overall behind winner Elisa Longo Borghini. Gigante finished 1min 11sec behind the Italian home favourite and defending champion, with Switzerland\u2019s Marien Reusser in between, but claimed a pair of spectacular stage wins when soloing away on mountain-top finishes and cemented her place as the best climber in the race with the Queen of the Mountains jersey.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.52 EDT<\/p>\n In case you missed this yesterday, here is Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime) working on her impressive football skills before stage five:<\/p>\n Allow Instagram content?<\/p>\n This article includes content provided by Instagram. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. To view this content, click ‘Allow and continue’.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n And who\u2019s wearing which jersey:<\/p>\n Yellow jersey \u2013 Kim Le Court Pienaar (AG Insurance-Soudal), 15hrs 7mins 14secs<\/p>\n Green jersey \u2013 Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime), 208pts<\/p>\n Polka dot jersey \u2013 Elise Chabbey (FDJ-Suez), 11pts<\/p>\n White jersey \u2013 Julie Bego (Cofidis), 15hrs 9mins 24secs<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Here\u2019s a reminder of the top ten on GC after stage five:<\/p>\n Kim Le Court Pienaar (AG Insurance-Soudal), 15hrs 7mins 14secs<\/p>\n Pauline Ferrand-Pr\u00e9vot (Visma-Lease a Bike), +18secs<\/p>\n Demi Vollering (FDJ-Suez), +23secs<\/p>\n Katarzyna Niewiadoma Phinney (Canyon\/SRAM), +24secs<\/p>\n Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx Protime), +27secs<\/p>\n Marianne Vos (Visma-Lease a Bike), +37secs<\/p>\n Pauliena Rooijakkers (Fenix-Deceuninck), +45secs<\/p>\n Sarah Gigante (AG Insurance-Soudal), +55secs<\/p>\n Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Deceuninck), +1min 4secs<\/p>\n C\u00e9drine Kerbaol (EF Education-Oatly), +1min 16secs<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Stage six: Clermont-Ferrand to Ambert, 124km<\/p>\n Here\u2019s a look at today\u2019s stage, Thursday 31 July: Clermont-Ferrand to Ambert, 123.7km, with the race director of the Tour de France Femmes<\/a>, Marion Rousse:<\/p>\n The stage, which starts in the huge Place de Jaude in the heart of Clermont-Ferrand, will be run entirely in the department of Puy-de-D\u00f4me. Beginning on fairly flat roads, it will head to Courpi\u00e8re, where things will get serious. The ascent of the Col du B\u00e9al (10.2km at 5.6%) will be quickly followed by those of the Col de Chansert (6.3km at 5.5%) and the C\u00f4te de Valcivieres. Running through a wild landscape of volcanic rock, there will be no respite at all on the road to Ambert.<\/p>\n![\"Martin](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1753965068_364_Martin_Pegan.png\")
Martin Pegan<\/p>\n