Pauline Ferrand-Prevot becomes first French rider to clinch Tour de France Femmes title

CHATEL – Olympic champion Pauline Ferrand-Prevot became the first Frenchwoman to win the Tour de France Femmes on Aug 3, pushing through three punishing climbs to clinch the final stage ahead of 2023 champion Demi Vollering, who finished second overall.

The 33-year-old of team Visma-Lease a Bike held steady through the 124.1km ride from Praz-sur-Arly to Chatel, before launching a decisive attack in the last 7km, and fell to the ground in tears after crossing the finish line.

“I’m so, so happy,” Ferrand-Prevot told reporters. “I was a bit scared with the pressure of this jersey... I had to stick to the front and just stay there.”

Vollering stayed in a group with Ferrand-Prevot for the majority of the ninth stage, but could not break away to make up her deficit of more than three minutes coming into the last day.

The Dutch rider finished second in the race for the second year in a row, losing out on the yellow jersey by 3min 42sec. Defending champion Katarzyna Niewiadoma-Phinney of Poland finished third overall.

Ferrand-Prevot, who won gold in women’s cross-country mountain biking at the 2024 Paris Games, had taken the yellow jersey from Kimberley le Court on Aug 2.

The Frenchwoman said she had achieved “the goal of her life as an athlete” after sealing victory in the mountains on the border with Switzerland.

“I came back on the road after my Olympic title, and I said I will try to win the Tour de France in the next three years,” Ferrand-Prevot said.

“So here I am, the first one! It was an amazing season with my team.”

She adds to her numerous world titles in several cycling disciplines, including mountain biking, cyclo-cross and road racing. She becomes the first French rider to win the modern women’s Tour de France in its fourth edition.

“At the summit! Pauline Ferrand-Prevot is making Tour de France history,” French President Emmanuel Macron posted on social media.

“She turns effort into a resounding victory, difficulty into national pride. Bravo, champion!”

France’s Jeannie Longo was also a champion 36 years ago but that in the race’s former guise, the Tour de France Feminin.

Bernard Hinault was the last Frenchman to win the men’s Tour de France in 1985 when he claimed his fifth title.

Australia’s Sarah Gigante, who was second overall coming into the final stage, tried to get ahead of Ferrand-Prevot during the climb to Col de Joux Plane, known as one of cycling’s toughest summits in the Alps, but the Frenchwoman stayed on her wheels.

Gigante fell behind as Ferrand-Prevot caught up with Anna van der Breggen, who had taken an early lead, on the way to Col du Corbier, the final major climb of the 1,165km race.

The exhausted leading group was unable to keep up when Ferrand-Prevot launched her final attack and crossed the finish line 20 seconds before Vollering to huge applause from the crowd in Chatel.

Lorena Wiebes, who has led the points classification since Stage 3, cemented her position to deny Dutch compatriot Marianne Vos a third green jersey. REUTERS, AFP