News
Pauline Ferrand-Prévot Wins Tour de France Femmes, Ending France’s 36-Year Wait
Aug
First French Winner Since 1989 Ends Historic Drought
Pauline Ferrand-Prévot made history on Sunday by winning the Tour de France Femmes. She is the first French rider to win the race since Jeannie Longo in 1989.
France had not seen a Tour de France champion in any category since Bernard Hinault won the men’s title in 1985. Ferrand-Prévot’s triumph marks the end of a 36-year wait for the nation.
From Mountain Biking to the Yellow Jersey
After retiring from mountain biking—where she became Olympic champion in Paris—Ferrand-Prévot returned to road cycling with a clear goal: win the Tour de France Femmes within three years. She only needed one.
On Sunday, she crossed the finish line solo, wearing the yellow jersey and overcome with emotion.
Final Results and Standings
In the general classification, Ferrand-Prévot finished:
- 3 minutes and 42 seconds ahead of 2023 winner Demi Vollering
- 4 minutes and 9 seconds ahead of defending champion Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney
She claimed the yellow jersey during Stage 8 by attacking on the Col de la Madeleine, an 18.6 km climb. She rode away from her rivals and gained over three minutes on the stage.
A Strong Challenge from Sarah Gigante
Sarah Gigante was her closest challenger during the mountain stage. The Australian rider attacked early on the Madeleine. Although Ferrand-Prévot caught and passed her, Gigante limited her time loss and finished second on the day, 1 minute and 45 seconds behind.
This left Ferrand-Prévot with a 2.5-minute lead going into the final stage.
Final Stage Drama and Victory
The last day wasn’t easy. Ferrand-Prévot fell behind early on the valley roads. Her team had to work hard to bring her back to the front. She recovered well, then launched a solo attack with 6 kilometers to go, winning both the stage and overall title.
Gigante was dropped during the final climb and lost her podium position.
Copy Right By Hornnastee
