Encounter Kim Le Court-Pienaar, the trailblazer of Tour de France Femmes history
In a remarkable achievement for African cycling, Kim Le Court-Pienaar has made history by becoming the first African woman to win a stage at the Tour de France Femmes.
Born and raised on the small island nation of Mauritius, Le Court-Pienaar's journey to cycling stardom was not without its challenges. Her first proper bike was given to her when she was just 12 years old, and she spent the next decade honing her skills across various cycling disciplines, competing in races across Africa and Europe.
Despite these early setbacks, Le Court-Pienaar's determination to succeed saw her persistently contacting every women's WorldTour team, seeking an opportunity. Her professional cycling career only began 18 months ago, when she signed with AG Insurance–Soudal.
Before her historic win at the Tour de France Femmes, Le Court-Pienaar had already made waves in the cycling world. She became the first African to win a Cycling Monument (Liège-Bastogne-Liège Femmes) and won a stage at the Giro d'Italia Women.
Le Court's victory in stage five of the Tour de France Femmes was a testament to her grit and resilience. After a grueling final 30km, she claimed the stage win and donned the yellow jersey, becoming the first African woman to lead the Tour de France Femmes.
Le Court's achievements have been celebrated not only for her personal accomplishments but also as a symbol of hope and representation for Mauritius and the African continent. She has shown that an athlete from a small, less recognized cycling nation can compete and succeed on the world’s biggest stages.
Throughout her career, Le Court has faced numerous obstacles, but her goal remains the same: to keep growing African cycling for women and men. This unconventional path—marked by late blooming, cross-discipline experience, and cultural breakthrough—culminated in her becoming the first African woman to win a stage at the Tour de France and wear the yellow jersey.
Le Court's journey has been marked by early and diverse cycling experience across multiple disciplines over about a decade, breaking barriers as Mauritius’s first elite-level professional cyclist, persistent self-advocacy to join a top-level professional team, historic victories in key races changing perceptions for African women in cycling, and emotional and symbolic breakthroughs on globally significant stages such as Liège-Bastogne-Liège Femmes and Tour de France Femmes.
The Prime Minister of Mauritius has celebrated Le Court's jersey win at the Tour de France Femmes as a remarkable achievement, and her impact on the sport is undeniable. Le Court's success serves as an inspiration to cyclists everywhere, proving that with determination and hard work, anyone can achieve their dreams.
sports: Kim Le Court-Pienaar's impressive victories in historic races like the Tour de France Femmes and Liège-Bastogne-Liège Femmes have made her a beacon of inspiration in the world of sports.
road racing: Prior to her win at the Tour de France Femmes, Le Court-Pienaar had also won a stage at the Giro d'Italia Women, showcasing her prowess in road racing.
