As it happened: Bauernfeind wins Tour de France Femmes stage 5, Vollering receives time penalty

Hello and welcome to Cyclingnews' live coverage of stage 5 of the Tour de France Femmes!

Today's stage should be one for the sprinters on a 126.1km route starting in Onet-le-Château and finishing in Albi. 

The riders are completing sign-ons and the team presentation on a hot and sunny afternoon in Onet-le-Château. 

Some unfortunate news before the start today, as Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx) won't start the fifth stage due to illness. 

We're around half an hour away from the neutralised start at 14:00 CEST. 

Here's the new mountains classification leader, Anouska Koster (Uno-X), kitted out in the full polka-dot fit before the stage. 

It's an ice-vest kind of day for Evita Muzic (FDJ-SUEZ) and the rest of the Tour de France Femmes peloton. 

AG Insurance-Soudal QuickStep are next up on stage with Ashleigh Moolman still in the green jersey as points classification leader, Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx), is in the yellow jersey as the race leader. 

SD Worx are next up with their remaining six riders as Wiebes has abandoned. This may change their tactics today and force them into attacking one of the three categorised climbs on the route by launching Marlen Reusser, Demi Vollering or Kopecky on the attack. 

Take a look at today's parcours. It was pencilled in as a flat day for the sprinters, but with SD Worx losing Wiebes it may push them to blow the race apart on one of the climbs. If it does go to a sprint, Marianne Vos (Jumbo-Visma) and Charlotte Kool (DSM-Firmenich) would be the favourites. 

Stage 5 of the 2023 Tour de France Femmes is underway! Racing proper will begin at 14:20 CEST when the flag is dropped.

A look back at the neutralised roll out. 

We've had 140 riders taking the start today after three more riders have pulled out: Wiebes, Jenny Rissveds (Coop-Hitec Products) and Mie Bjørndal Ottestad (Uno-X). 

126.1KM TO GO

Flag dropped and racing is underway on stage 5 of the Tour de France Femmes. 

Muzic and Gabrielle Pilote Fortin (Cofidis) have struggled early with a fast start. The peloton has been strung out throughout the opening 5km, but remained all together. 

SD Worx are among the teams attacking early in the stage which is causing splits in the peloton. Koster has missed out on the first split for now, as has Kerbaol. 

115KM TO GO

The group containing the white jersey, Kerbaol, is close to reaching the leading group. 

Kaja Rysz (Lifeplus Wahoo) has also abandoned the race. 

Fourth day in the yellow jersey for Kopecky. 

There's a big group of around 11 riders trying to form a breakaway, with 10 more in pursuit and then the main peloton behind them. Very aggressive start to the fifth stage. 

105KM TO GO

List of riders in the break:
- Paula Patiño (Movistar)
- Mischa Bredewold (SD Worx)
- Amber Kraak (Jumbo-Visma)
- Olivia Baril (UAE ADQ)
- Loes Adegeest (FDJ-SUEZ)
- Justine Ghekiere (AG insurance-Soudal QuickStep)
- Claire Steels (Israel-Premier Tech Roland)
- Hannah Ludwig (Uno-X)
- Clara Koppenburg (Cofidis)
- Ella Wyllie (Lifeplus Wahoo)
- Clara Emond (Arkéa)
They have an advantage of around 45 seconds on the peloton. 

Fenix-Deceuninck tried to bridge across, but were unable to do so. They've been the best team at attacking and getting into breaks so far this Tour de France Femmes, so it's surprising to see them miss out. 

Here's Veronica Ewers (EF Education-TIBCO-SVB) in one of the early attacks of the day. 

Fenix-Deceuninck and EF Education-TIBCO-SVB are unhappy with the composition of the break having missed out, and are both pacing to try and reel the attackers back in. Gap down to just 30 seconds now. 

90KM TO GO

New gap of just 25 seconds for the breakaway. 

Pilote Fortin has unfortunately joined the list of abandonments today. She was dropped early on in the stage and was sat 10 minutes behind the peloton before stepping off the bike. 

Muzic (FDJ-SUEZ) has also abandoned the race. 

80KM TO GO

Ceratizit-WNT are actually taking up the mantle in the peloton behind, with Canyon SRAM also up towards the front. 

Here's Bredewold on the attack earlier to get into the break. She's likely been given more freedom to get into moves after the unfortunate abandonment of Wiebes. 

Adegeest is pressing on in the break on a descent section. 

Elisa Balsamo (Lidl-Trek) is in a sizeable group 4:06 down on the break and 3:30 behind the peloton. 

Fenix-Deceuninck are still taking up the majority of work in the peloton. 

70KM TO GO

We're on a small uphill section of uncategorised climbing, with Ceratizit-WNT now pacing on the front for Kerbaol's hold of the white jersey. Second place in that competition is Ella Wyllie (Lifeplus Wahoo) who has made it into the break and started the day 2:45 behind the young French rider. 

A look back at the formation of the day's breakaway on what has been a very difficult opening 50km of racing. 

Coryn Labecki (Jumbo-Visma) has been down in a crash. It's the second time she's been down in this Tour. 

The gap to the breakaway is starting to go out as Ceratizit-WNT have run out of riders they are willing to burn in the chase. The 11 out in front now have a 46 second lead. 

Back wheel change for Vollering at the back of the peloton. She's on her way back to the peloton now. 

Very tight in the convoy of cars as the SD Worx car is forced to go off the road. They've been given a big telling off by a commissaire on the back of a motorbike for drafting Vollering for a long time all the way back to the peloton.  

60KM TO GO

Vollering spent a lot of time behind the team car and SD Worx will have to be careful not to take it too far as there are possible time penalties and points docking available alongside fines for being shielded from the wind for too long. 

Lizzie Deignan (Lidl-Trek) is back on her bike after looking like she came off momentarily on this descent. 

Patiño and Koppenburg leading the break through the shadows. Their gap has come down significantly to just under 20 seconds now. 

Riders are on the run into the first categorised climb of the day: the Côte de Najac (2.1km at 7.4%). 

Attacks are starting from Soraya Paladin (Canyon SRAM) in the group. Kastelijn latches onto her back wheel in pursuit of the QOM points. 

The break is caught on the climb. Koster is struggling after a long day out in the break yesterday. 

Steels is still setting the pace as one of the strongest climbers that made the day's break. 

50KM TO GO

Vos is not at the head of the race. This climb is turning out to be much too difficult for the majority of sprinters in the peloton. GC favourites staying attentive at the front. 

Kastelijn is on the front and rolls away to take the QOM points atop the crest of the Côte de Najac. She's now level with Koster on 19 points, with five more points on offer throughout this final 50km. 

This is an incredibly select group now leading the race, with the effects of yesterday's brutal 177km stage really on show in all the groups on the road. 

FDJ-SUEZ are working on the front of the peloton ahead of our next categorised climb, the Côte de Laguépie (1.5km at 9%). It's a fast and technical run into the foot of it and riders are hitting speeds of 70km/h. 

Kopecky comes through to the front in yellow. Kerbaol is looking good in the white jersey right alongside the race leader. 

Cavalli is just testing her cyclocross skills off the side of the road. 

There's lots of looking around as the leading group swells and fans across the road on this climb. Spratt is looking interested at the front of the group with Reusser, Kopecky and Lippert close behind. 

40KM TO GO

Kastelijn attacks the group in pursuit of even more QOM points. She takes three more points and moves back into the lead of the mountains classification and will wear the polka-dots once again tomorrow. 

Look out for a late Marlen Reusser (SD Worx) attack over the top of either the upcoming bonus sprint, or the final categorised climb. 

First attack comes from Riejanne Markus (Jumbo-Vimsa). Kopecky is back at the team car getting bidons and a musette. Paladin and Steels are the first to respond to Markus' move. 

Reusser has got on the front and pulled back that attempted move in quick-time. All back together at the front. 

Ricarda Bauernfeind (Canyon SRAM) attacks as the peloton close in on the bonus sprint. Steels bridges straight to her wheel and the duo have somewhat of a gap. 

35KM TO GO

Ghekiere is pacing in the peloton behind for Moolman. 

Bauernfeind distances Steels on the climb. The 23-year-old German has been one of the revelations of the season and finished an impressive fifth at the Vuelta. 

Moolman wins the sprint behind for the remaining two bonus seconds ahead of Lippert and Vollering. The South African has looked punchier than ever throughout this Tour. 

30KM TO GO

Bauernfeind is kicking on over this descent all alone at the front of the race. Steels is between her and the peloton. This finally gives the riders a chance for some recovery before they hit the intermediate sprint and then the final climb of the day, the Côte de Monestiés. 

Bauernfeind has 1:00 over the peloton which is an advantage she's extended throughout this descent. Movistar have moved to the front of the peloton with Lippert, to keep Van Vleuten safe. 

Here's Kastelijn leading the peloton over one of the categorised climbs of the day. It's been another successful day for Fenix-Deceuninck as the Dutch rider has accumulated enough QOM points to retake the polka-dot jersey. 

There's a lot of looking around in the peloton as no one wants to take up the mantle of chasing Bauernfeind. Kopecky takes the remaining points at the intermediate sprint to extend her lead in the green jersey competition. 

24KM TO GO

Reusser is now on the front in the peloton behind for SD Worx. 

Full encouragement from the Canyon SRAM team car for Bauernfeind by Magnus Backstedt. 

Kastelijn mops up another QOM point on the final climb and more than confirms her retaking of the polka-dot jersey. 

Adegeest attacks out of the peloton, before a big counter comes by Reusser. 

Reusser gives up her effort before Spratt (Lidl-Trek) has a go with Movistar playing it nicely at the moment and keeping cool with Lippert and Van Vleuten. 

20KM TO GO

Bauernfeind still has a 1:27 advantage over the chase behind. 

Reusser retakes front position in the peloton, with Lippert marking her every move and letting SD Worx do all the work in chasing the lone leader. 

Here's a look at Bauernfeind on her solo adventure at the head of the race. She's still got a long way to go on exposed flat roads, but she does have a 1:16 advantage. 

15KM TO GO

It's Reusser vs Bauernfeind for the moment, with Movistar sat in second wheel and not committing any help to the chase. 

Neutral service has been pulled out of the gap and Reusser continues her demolition of Bauernfeind's advantage. Gap down to 44 seconds for the leader on the road. 

10KM TO GO

The gap is coming down under Reusser's pressure. Fastest riders still in this group include Kopecky, Lippert, De Wilde and Adegeest to name a few if it does come back to a reduced group sprint. 

The peloton will be able to see the young German, but will they have enough gas to reel her in. 

Reusser getting to work for Kopecky. It's no surprise to see one of the finest TT riders in the world melting a lone leader's advantage in just a few kilometres. 

If Reusser runs out of steam, will SD Worx make Vollering pace? 

Bauernfeind is holding on for now with the gap stabilising around the 37 second mark. 

5KM TO GO

They've still not managed to pull Bauernfeind back in! She's got 35 seconds. 

Mechanical for Malcotti at a terrible moment in this leading group. 

Reusser has nipped off the front, but she's got Lippert for company in her wheel. Two former stage winners at the Tour de France Femmes trying to prevent a new winner at the front of the race. 

3KM TO GO

Wyllie attacks the remainder of the chasing group as Lippert takes a pull with Reusser. They're trying their best to catch Bauernfeind who now has 26 seconds. 

Lippert is giving everything to catch her German compatriot. Reusser has done a tremendous amount of work in these final 15 kilometres so who knows what her sprint will be like should they catch Bauernfeind. 

FDJ-SUEZ are pulling in the peloton behind. 

2KM TO GO

Bauernfeind still has 25 seconds as she searches for the flamme rouge. 

Reusser is sitting on Lippert and not taking a pull. It's looking good for Canyon SRAM at the front of the race. 

1KM TO GO

Bauernfeind goes under the flamme rouge and it looks like she's going to do it!

Reusser and Lippert are freewheeling behind and not working together. 

Here comes the young German to the line. 

STAGE FINISH

Ricarda Bauernfeind wins stage 5 of the 2023 Tour de France Femmes! 

What a solo move and what an effort by the 23-year-old to hang on for Canyon SRAM's first Tour de France victory. Reusser outsprints Lippert in the battle for second and third. 

She still cannot believe it past the finish line as she celebrates with her teammates after an incredible day for Canyon SRAM. Chapeau Ricarda Bauernfeind. Another incredible stage at the Tour de France Femmes, drama all the way to the line. 

Here's what Ricarda Bauernfeind had to say after becoming the youngest stage winner at the Tour de France Femmes:

"To be honest, I still cannot believe it. It's just incredible. I had the support from my teammates, from the cars behind and all the partners yeah, everyone helped me and supported us and it was just an incredible team ride I would say."

"We had to chase the first group because we missed it and my teammates did such a fantastic job and then it was up to me and I tried to attack and it work out."

"I think its also for the team, we waited for the win the whole year and now I did it, or we did it. It's fantastic."

Kopecky would've been disappointed as she won the reduced-bunch sprint behind for fourth, but she does hold onto the yellow jersey for at least another day with a 49 second lead ahead of Moolman who moved into second.

Moolman's position change came as a result of Vollering receiving a time penalty after her drafting incident at the back of the peloton following a puncture and back wheel change. 

Here's the full results of another cracking stage at the Tour de France Femmes via FirstCycling. 

Another great day for Fenix-Deceuninck sees Yara Kastelijn retake the lead in the mountains classification. She'll be back in the polka-dot jersey tomorrow. 

The big GC news of the day was Demi Vollering (SD Worx) receiving a time penalty after drafting behind her team car following a mid-stage puncture. Here's her reaction to the incident:

“I have no clue why I get this penalty,” Vollering said when Cyclingnews’ Women’s Editor Kirsten Frattini asked her about the 20-second time penalty.

“For the first part I went behind the car, then I assumed Danny was in his place in the caravan and I went directly around, also because there was no place at first. He was on the left side and I could not pass when there are two lines of cars next to each other. I dare not to pass because it’s so dangerous.

"I never knew that this was forbidden, to come after a mechanical. The last part I did all by myself so I don't understand, because later Danny came more to the front for a bottle and I took two bottles. Then I jumped together with Christine Majerus back to the bunch. I need to discuss this with Danny because I don’t see everything.”

As a result of the penalty, Vollering dropped from second to seventh, but more importantly she now sits 12 seconds behind key rival Annemiek van Vleuten (Movistar). 

Make sure you read Laura Weislo's full race report which summarises all the day's action from a hectic fifth stage at the Tour de France Femmes alongside a gallery of the racing. 

Tour de France Femmes: Bauernfeind solos to victory on stage 5 in Albi

Take a look at the profile for tomorrow's stage which, I know it's been said a few times in this race, should be a day for the sprinters. There's four categorised climbs, but none longer than 3km, and the last of them comes around 40km from the finish line. Look to see DSM-Firmenich and Jumbo-Visma try to control the day for Charlotte Kool and Marianne Vos respectively, while SD Worx may try and make it as hard as possible for Kopecky to sprint or attack. 

Absolute elation for Bauernfeind and her teammates after the stage victory. 

Make sure to read the full story on Vollering's penalty below and look out for more news on SD Worx receiving fines and any more ramifications from the incident which should've been an innocuous bike change, but has ended up costing them vital time on GC. 

Demi Vollering hit with 20-second penalty after slipstreaming SD Worx car at Tour de France Femmes

That wraps things up for Cyclingnews' live coverage of stage 5 of the 2023 Tour de France Femmes. It was another incredibly exciting day with drama all the way to the line as Ricarda Bauernfeind (Canyon SRAM) held off the chasing bunch behind to win the biggest race of her career in only her neo-pro season.

Check back tomorrow for live coverage of the sixth stage and in the meantime make sure to read all the great news and content being produced by our team on the ground in France.