August 30, 2003 (Aubigny-sur-Nere, France) – Today's climbs damaged the peloton, but not as much as some expected. A solid group of forty riders got at the finish at the same time and finally New Zealand sprinter Sarah Ulmer (Internations 1) won the only “mountain” stage of the 2003 Trophee d'Or feminine, in front of Nobili Road Runner's Alison Wright, Berlin RG's Hanka Kupfernagel and RONA/Esker's Karen Bockel. Ulmer won her second stage in this six-stage race held in the centre of France.

But Australian Olivia Gollan (Team Australia) keeps her Golden leader's jersey, and her fellow Australian Alison Wright keeps her green points leader's jersey. Nobili Road Runner's Sigrid Corneo took the mountain jersey.

In spite of the tight control that the Aussies keep on the peloton every day to protect their leader Gollan, the race was on almost from the gun РCanadian Andrea Hannos (RONA/Esker) took initiated the hostilities before the race reached the 5-km mark. Even if their break was short-lived, Hannos, the French Virginie Moinard (France) and Elodie Touffet (Orl̩ans/Pays de la Loire) and Italian Silvia Valsecchi (Nobili Road Runner) set the tone for the day. As soon as they were reeled in, at kilometre 8, a group of six formed at the front and got away. There were Zlatica Gavlakova Bazola (Gervais Lilas), Canadian Erinne Willock (RONA/Esker), New Zealander Rosalind Reekie-May (Internations 1) Nobili Road Runners' Silvia Valsecchi and Sigrid Corneo, while Natalie Bates was Team Australia's observer in residence on the break.

After 10 kilometres the break had built a gap of one minute. Another 15 kilometres and the lead culminated at 2 minutes and 20 seconds. Toward kilometre 35 German Birgit Hollmann (Rostex Quantum) got out of the peloton and launched a counter-attack. At the same time Valsecchi was dropped by the break. Hollmann's move energized the peloton and the break's lead started to melt. The Golden jersey herself initiated the coup de gr̢ce that joined the break and the first peloton Рthe chase and the day's main climbs had thinned the main field to less than 40 women. The last 30 kilometres were completed at a quick pace. There were numerous attacks, but the Aussies closed the doors on the race. All efforts by RONA/Esker's Karen Bockel and Magali Le Floc'h, Nobili Road Runner's Zoulfia Zabirova and Rostex Quantum's Hollmann, were neutralised by Gollan's private guard. Ulmer, up to then discreetly well-positioned, burst in a fast sprint and got the better of Wright, Kupfernagel and Bockel.

“We had decided to make the race today and the girls raced very well, even though we didn't quite make it at the end”, said RONA/Esker's assistant manager Jim Williams. “We raced aggressively and were in all the breaks.” “When our lead topped the two-minute mark, I thought we could stay away, added young Erinne Willock. And then the peloton attacked, we quickly realised there was nothing we could do. But I had a lot of fun while it lasted!”

Stage 5 : Aubigny-sur-N̬re РAubigny-sur-N̬re
1. Sarah Ulmer (NZL, Internations 1) 96.4 km in 2h34'54″ (37.34
km/h)
2. Alison Wright (AUS, Nobili Road Runner) s.t.
3. Hanka Kupfernagel (GER, Berlin RG) s.t.
4. Karen Bockel (GER, RONA/Esker) s.t.
5. Olivia Gollan (AUS, Australia) s.t.
6. Sharon Vandromme (BEL, Belgie) s.t.
7. Magali Le Floc'h (FRA, RONA/Esker) s.t.
8. Volha Hayeva (BLR, Internations 3) s.t.
9. Rosalind Reekie May (NZL, Internations 1) s.t.
10. Heidi Van de Vijver (BEL, Belgie) s.t.
19. Catherine Marsal (FRA, RONA/Esker) s.t.
28. Erinne Willock (CAN, RONA/Esker) s.t.
36. Meshy Holt (CAN, RONA/Esker) 13″
65. Andrea Hannos (CAN, RONA/Esker) 10' 10″
84 starters, 78 classed