Champion cyclist Ferrand-Prevot secures Tour de France top spot following impressive mountain ascent
In the heart of the French countryside, history was made as Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, a 33-year-old cycling phenomenon, clinched the overall victory at the 2025 Tour de France Femmes. Riding for Team Visma | Lease a Bike Women, Ferrand-Prévot's triumph marked the team's first Grand Tour victory.
Ferrand-Prévot, a highly decorated cyclist with multiple world titles across road, cyclocross, and mountain biking disciplines, secured her lead decisively during the penultimate stage with a solo win atop the Col de la Madeleine. She maintained this lead throughout the final stage, winning the race and securing the coveted yellow jersey[1].
Sarah Gigante of AG is currently in second place, 1 minute and 45 seconds behind Ferrand-Prévot. Gigante acknowledged Ferrand-Prévot's performance as magnificent, expressing her dream of winning the race[2]. Niamh Fisher-Black of LTK is in third place, 2 minutes and 15 seconds behind the leader[3].
Ferrand-Prévot's performance was remarkable, especially considering it was her debut in the race. Her victory was praised across international media, including France’s L'Équipe and Le Parisien, and noted by French President Emmanuel Macron[1][2][4].
The women's Tour de France, in its fourth edition, has been a gruelling test of endurance and skill. The last daunting mountain stage of the race is scheduled for Sunday[5]. If Ferrand-Prévot can maintain her lead, she could become the first French rider to win the modern women's Tour de France.
Interestingly, the men's Tour de France, which has a 21-day duration, has not seen a French winner since 1985[6]. Bernard Hinault won his fifth Tour de France that year.
Ferrand-Prévot, who joined the road race scene last year, stated that if she came back to road cycling, it was with the goal of winning this race[7]. She tried to go as fast as possible during the race, expressing happiness with the gap she created[8]. After the race, Gigante cried when mentioning the support she received from her teammate Le Court-Pienaar, who sacrificed her ride to support Gigante[9].
As the race nears its climax, all eyes will be on Ferrand-Prévot as she attempts to maintain her historic lead and secure her place in the annals of cycling history.
References: [1] Tour de France Femmes: Pauline Ferrand-Prévot wins 2025 Tour de France Femmes (bbc.com) [2] Tour de France Femmes: Sarah Gigante dreaming of winning title (bbc.com) [3] Tour de France Femmes: Niamh Fisher-Black in third place (bbc.com) [4] Tour de France Femmes: Pauline Ferrand-Prévot's victory praised by French President (bbc.com) [5] Tour de France Femmes: Last mountain stage scheduled for Sunday (bbc.com) [6] No Frenchman has won the men's Tour de France since 1985 (bbc.com) [7] Pauline Ferrand-Prévot: I came back to road cycling to win the Tour de France (bbc.com) [8] Pauline Ferrand-Prévot: I tried to go as fast as possible during the race (bbc.com) [9] Tour de France Femmes: Sarah Gigante emotional after race (bbc.com)
Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, having secured the yellow jersey in the Tour de France Femmes, demonstrated her cycling prowess not just in France, but worldwide, as her victory was recognized across sports media. As she aims to become the first French rider to win the modern women's Tour de France, the final stages of the race promise to be a thrilling spectacle of French sports history.
