Key events

2h agoRacing on stage six
3h agoPreamble

68km to go: Commentators discuss Niewiadoma's sprint attempt from the previous day, which Vollering ultimately denied right at the line. Given the Polish rider's broad appeal, many hoped she would succeed.

Perhaps Niewiadoma could have shadowed Vollering more tightly to edge her out, similar to the 2017 Milan-Sanremo duel between Michal Kwiatkowski and Peter Sagan.

(This image dates from 2019, as none from two years earlier could be located.)

69km to go: Adegeest leads aggressively at the front, generating substantial power with Aalerud and Noskova following closely.

70km to go: For a stag or hen celebration idea, consider canoeing along the Ardeche. I tried it once ahead of a friend David's wedding, and it proved enjoyable.

72km to go: Faulkner's break is neutralized.

Kasia Niewiadoma shared with Matt Stephens that she invested significant preparation time in this event. She expressed satisfaction with the schedule and her coach's guidance, noting a positive mindset supports strong performance.

She added that Canyon/SRAM teammates show full dedication, which motivates everyone when all give their utmost effort.

73km to go: Kristen Faulkner from EF Education-Oatly launched an attack from the main group, aiming to connect with the leaders ahead.

77km to go: The day's main ascent approaches: riders tackle a lengthy uncategorised climb now, followed by a sharp drop before the Col de Lalouvesc, rated category two at 8.6km with 5 percent average gradient.

78km to go: Conditions are milder today yet still warm, with an official reading of 27.5C though higher on the tarmac.

79km to go: At the intermediate sprint, Aalerud claimed 25 points, Adegeest 20 and Noskova 17. Behind in the peloton, Noemi Ruegg secured fourth for 15 points while green jersey holder Lorena Wiebes took fifth and 13 points.

80km to go: The advantage stands at 1 minute 27 seconds.

Femke de Vries of Visma-Lease A Bike noted earlier to TNT Sports that today promises further interest and could suit a breakaway. She remains uncertain whether the move will be permitted.

She and Pauline now share leadership duties with both targeting the overall classification.

Although the climbs lack steepness, technical descents offer chances to attempt moves. The team sees potential on Ventoux tomorrow, so some may stay measured today ahead of that challenge.

83km to go: Noskova collects useful QOM points, gaining two more on the Cote de Praneuf while Adegeest earns one.

84km to go: A slip led to typing Marlene instead of Marlen Reusser, prompting an Only Fools and Horses image to bridge until full live coverage starts.

85km to go: The break's lead shrinks to 2 minutes as the peloton nears the top of the Cote de Praneuf.

Pieterse told TNT Sports she aims to claim the stage and accumulate points en route. Each day in the hills brings fresh opportunity.

When asked if the stage was reconnoitred, she replied no.

FDJ United-Suez directeur sportif Stephen Delcourt spoke with TNT Sports about Vollering's victory the day before.

He described stage wins as special, noting the previous one came in 2022. The team execution pleased him greatly.

Yesterday's plan mirrored a classic like Liege-Bastogne-Liege. Riders often remark that plans do not equate to video game cycling, though yesterday's worked seamlessly.

Today brings new challenges without the yellow jersey, shifting pressure to Movistar. Vollering stays relaxed yet aggressive by nature. Another chance may arise, but expectations remain moderate as the race unfolds.

Celebrations stayed modest with just one glass, saving the main toast for Sunday evening.

94km to go: The break holds 2 minutes 20 seconds. Three further categorised climbs remain before the bonus point at 9.2km from the finish.

The upcoming ascents include: Cote de Praneuf (Cat 4, 1.2km, 6.5 percent, 85.5km left), Col de Lalouvesc (Cat 2, 8.6km, 5 percent, 47.8km left) and Cote de Boucieu-le-Roi (Cat 3, 3.8km, 5.7 percent, 15.9km left).

99km to go: The break's margin is now 2 minutes. Early control from chasing teams has eased, suggesting they accept the gap.

102km to go: Noskova earned 3 QOM points at the Cote d'Aurec summit, Adegeest 2 and Aalerud 1.

Noskova sits second in the QOM standings, trailing Pieterse by a solid 23 points after the latter's earlier climb win.

104km to go: Aalerud is closest on GC among the break trio, 8 minutes 38 seconds back and potentially too near to allow freedom. Adegeest trails by 35 minutes 6 seconds and Noskova by 36 minutes 7 seconds, placing them safely out of contention.

Tomorrow's Mont Ventoux promises intense GC action. Reusser and rivals may tolerate this escape while conserving energy, as the gap has reached 1 minute.

106km to go: Adegeest, a former speed skater, captured the UCI eSports World Championships in both 2022 and 2023.

Eleven riders have been dropped, two minutes behind the race front, facing a long day ahead.

107km to go: The break nears the Cote d'Aurec summit holding a 50-second lead and will claim all available QOM points.

Correction: Although the official Tour de France Femmes site lists Adegeest's birthday as 6 August, records indicate it is actually 7 August.

108km to go: Loes Adegeest turns 30 today and finds herself in the break, seeking a stage victory as a birthday gift or at least some spotlight time. Why not?

110km to go: Eleonora Ciabocco from Picnic-PostNL has withdrawn. All three abandonments today are Italian riders.

113km to go: Next comes the Cote d'Aurec, measuring 3.3km at 6.1 percent average gradient.

The leaders' advantage drops to 40 seconds.

118km to go: The leading three hold 55 seconds while dropped riders sit 30 seconds behind the peloton.

122km to go: Noskova not only rejoined the bunch but attacked alongside Loes Adegeest of Lidl-Trek and Katrine Aalerud of Uno-X Mobility.

128km to go: Nine riders trail by 25 seconds: Koster, Ciabocco, Eraso Lasa, Vigilia, Coston, Rijnbeek, Kool, Clay and Griffin.

Noskova had been among them but returned to the main group in a strong effort.

130km to go: Pieterse featured on the first climb to take the top two QOM points. Sara Casasola, her Fenix-Premier Tech teammate, claimed the remaining point, which benefits Pieterse further.

Current points classification top 10:

1) Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime) 131pts

2) Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime) 68pts

3) Demi Vollering (FDJ United-Suez) 65pts

4) Noemi Ruegg (EF Education-Oatly) 62pts

5) Sigrid Haugset (Uno-X Mobility) 55pts

6) Marlen Reusser (Movistar) 52pts

7) Kim Le Court (AG Insurance-Soudal) 52pts

8) Carlotta Cipressi (Human Powered Health) 42pts

9) Marianne Vos (Visma-Lease A Bike) 42pts

10) Dominika Wlodarczyk (UAE Team L'Imad) 40pts

133km to go: The peloton approaches the summit of the Cote de Perigneux.

The Cote de la Prunerie, another category-four climb, follows almost straight away at 2.9km long with 4.9 percent average gradient.

QOM standings after Pieterse's strong stage-five performance netting 19 points:

1) Puck Pieterse (Fenix Premier-Tech) 37pts

2) Nikola Noskova (Cofidis) 14pts

3) Sigrid Haugset (Uno-X Mobility) 11pts

4) Maeva Squiban (UAE Team L'Imad) 9pts

5) Oceane Mahe (Ma Petite Entreprise) 8pts

6) Anouska Koster (Uno-X Mobility) 7pts

7) Liane Lippert (Movistar) 7pts

8) Ema Comte (Cofidis) 6pts

9) Demi Vollering (FDJ United-Suez) 5pts

10) Idoia Eraso Lasa (Laboral Kutxa-Fundacion Euskadi) 5pts

General classification top 10:

1) Reusser (Movistar) 15hr 41min 18sec (Bonus: 12sec)

2) Vollering (FDJ United-Suez) +12sec (Bonus: 18sec)

3) Niewiadoma (Canyon/SRAM) +1min 17sec (Bonus: 4sec)

4) Niedermaier (Canyon/SRAM) +2min 40sec

5) Wlodarczyk (UAE L'Imad) +2min 54sec (Bonus: 2sec)

6) Longo Borghini (UAE L'Imad) +2min 58sec

7) Holmgren (Lidl Trek) +3min 05sec

8) De Vries (Visma-Lease A Bike) +3min 11sec

9) Kerbaol (EF Education Oatly) +3min 41sec

10) Blaisi Cairol (UAE L'Imad) +3min 51sec

137km to go: Will Puck Pieterse target QOM points aggressively again? Expectation is high. Classifications after stage five follow.

137.5km to go: Dropped riders now number six.

138km to go: Nelson is reeled in. Yet teammates Eleonora Ciabocco and Lene Robyn Clay have been dropped, as has Mia Griffin of Picnic-PostNL. Perhaps breakfast was skipped or unevenly shared at the team hotel.

139km to go: Josie Nelson of Picnic-PostNL, from Lichfield in Staffordshire, launched a solo attack nearing the first climb.

141km to go: The peloton remains united.

For reference, Jeremy Whittle's article on alleged chest padding for aerodynamic gains during Tuesday's time trial is available.

143km to go: The TdF Femmes website feed reports 134 starters. The live tracker shows 133 in the bunch with no visible dropped riders, so the total hovers around 130.

144km to go: Spectators along the route are invited to send an email and photo. Those not trackside may still email.

145km to go: The opening climb is the Cote de Perigneux, a 1.4km category-four effort averaging 6.2 percent gradient.

Note: It is not cheeky in any sense.

Barbara Malcotti of Human Powered Health and Monica Trinca Colonel of Liv-Alula-Jayco have withdrawn as of stage six, leaving 134 starters today.

The official withdrawals page is accessible separately.

Racing on stage six

Neutralised rollout finished, flag dropped and racing begins.

Although AFL airs on television, TNT Sports live coverage starts at 2.30pm UK time.

Stage five delivered excitement. Jeremy Whittle's report is worth reading.

Preamble

Mont Ventoux draws nearer as one of cycling's toughest ascents awaits the peloton on Friday. Yet today's 153km from Montbrison to Tournon-sur-Rhone offers more than a mere link stage to the Giant of Provence.

Six categorised climbs deliver 2600m of climbing through striking, dry French terrain ending beside the Rhone in the Ardeche department.

Yesterday's stage saw Demi Vollering, Marlen Reusser and Kasia Niewiadoma break clear for a gripping contest, coming hard on the heels of Tuesday's time trial. A well-matched break may be granted leeway today, granting GC contenders some recovery before tomorrow's test.

In the Tour de France Femmes, forecasts remain uncertain. The day should still entertain.

Neutralised start: 13.35 CET/12.35 BST