Lorena Wiebes wins stage 3 in Angers after crash devastates final sprint group

In a whirlwind of shattered rhythms and mangled momentum, Lorena Wiebes powered to victory in a chaotic Stage 3 of the Tour de France Femmes, surviving a crash-strewn finale that scattered riders just kilometres from the finish in Angers.

The Dutch sprint queen, who now boasts 15 wins in 2025, edged out compatriot Marianne Vos in a dramatic dash for the line. Despite finishing second, Vos reclaimed the yellow jersey, overtaking Kim le Court, who had worn it after Stage 2.

The real drama, though, came in the final three kilometres. A heavy crash fractured the peloton, leaving many riders scrambling in disarray. While some fell, others were delayed, and only a select few charged ahead unscathed. Among those caught in the pile-up was defending champion Demi Vollering, but she managed to remount and complete the stage.

Crucially, because the incident occurred within the last five kilometres, riders impacted by the crash were credited with the same time as the leading group — a rule designed to prevent accidents from unfairly distorting the general classification.

Wiebes, now with four Tour de France Femmes stage victories to her name — two from 2022, one in 2023, and now one in 2025 — showed sheer grit in keeping Vos at bay. The victory adds yet another chapter to her commanding season.

“Everything exploded in those final kilometres,” one observer noted. “It wasn’t a sprint; it was survival of the fastest.”

New Zealander Ally Wollaston (FDJ-Suez) took third, with Megan Jastrab (USA) and Liane Lippert (Germany) rounding out the top five.

Stage 3 Results

1. Lorena Wiebes (Ned / SD Worx-Protime) – 3hr 41min 47sec
   
2. Marianne Vos (Ned / Visma-Lease a Bike) – Same time
   
3. Ally Wollaston (NZ / FDJ-Suez)
   
4. Megan Jastrab (USA / Picnic-PostNL)
   
5. Liane Lippert (Ger / Movistar)
   
6. Shari Bossuyt (Bel / AG Insurance-Soudal)
   
7. Eline Jansen (Ned / VolkerWessels)
   
8. Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney (Pol / Canyon-SRAM-ZondaCrypto)
   
9. Noemi Ruegg (Sui / EF Education-EasyPost)
   
10. Lucinda Brand (Ned / Lidl-Trek)
    

General Classification after Stage 3

1. Marianne Vos (Ned / Visma-Lease a Bike) – 8hr 19min 6sec
   
2. Kim le Court (Mau / AG Insurance-Soudal) – +6sec
   
3. Pauline Ferrand-Prevot (Fra / Visma-Lease a Bike) – +12sec
   
4. Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney (Pol / Canyon-SRAM-ZondaCrypto) – +16sec
   
5. Lorena Wiebes (Ned / SD Worx-Protime) – Same time
   
6. Demi Vollering (Ned / FDJ-Suez) – +19sec
   
7. Anna van der Breggen (Ned / SD Worx-Protime) – +21sec
   
8. Puck Pieterse (Ned / Fenix-Deceuninck) – Same time
   
9. Pauliena Rooijakkers (Ned / Fenix-Deceuninck) – +25sec
   
10. Niamh Fisher-Black (NZ / Lidl-Trek) – Same time
    

Six Dutch riders now sit within the top 10 of the general classification, a striking show of national depth and strength. Vos leads the pack with poise and purpose, but the competition is heating up — and no one can afford to look away.

Stage 4 will see the peloton tackle a 130.7km route from Saumur to Poitiers on Tuesday, where fresh tactics, rising fatigue, and lingering bruises from today’s wreck could flip the standings yet again.