Kim Le Court-Pienaar expresses relief that she avoided public humiliation and secures a stage victory, ensuring another run astray in the Tour de France Femmes as she wears the Yellow Jersey

Kim Le Court-Pienaar expresses relief that she avoided public humiliation and secures a stage victory, ensuring another run astray in the Tour de France Femmes as she wears the Yellow Jersey

Kim Le Court-Pienaar Takes the Lead in Tour de France Femmes 2025, Opening Up About Menstrual Challenges

Kim Le Court-Pienaar, a South African cyclist, has made history as the first African leader of the Tour de France Femmes. On stage 5, she not only took the race lead from Marianne Vos but also discussed the physical impact of menstruation on female athletes competing at the highest level.

Le Court-Pienaar led an elite group of seven riders into Guéret, France, and won the stage with a narrow margin over Demi Vollering. However, her performance was not without its challenges. She openly discussed facing menstrual challenges during the race, stating that her "legs didn’t feel too good" during one stage because it was "that time of the month" for her, and that her body was "more tired than usual."

Despite this, she fought through the fatigue with her team’s support and did not give up. This candid acknowledgment highlights a common but often overlooked challenge female athletes endure during demanding races.

Le Court-Pienaar received 16 bonus seconds on stage 5 and now leads Pauline Ferrand-Prévot by 18 seconds. However, she has not yet usurped some of her rivals as the top favourite to win the Tour. She expressed that she doesn't know how she'll do against the pure climbers in the upcoming mountains.

Despite the challenges, Le Court-Pienaar is enjoying her time in yellow and plans to go as long as possible. She vowed not to repeat her mistake of almost sitting up too early to celebrate on future stages. After her win, she expressed happiness about her stage win but also expressed concern about almost embarrassing herself.

A gaggle of other contenders, including Vollering and Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney, remain within 30 seconds of the race lead. The Tour de France Femmes is far from over, and Le Court-Pienaar will have to continue to fight through any challenges that come her way to maintain her lead.

[1] Source: Cycling Weekly, Women's Tour de France Femmes 2025: Kim Le Court-Pienaar leads after stage 5, 2025-06-10. https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/racing/womens-tour-de-france-femmes-2025-kim-le-court-pienaar-leads-after-stage-5-385972

Road cycling is a challenging sport that requires dedication, yet it presents unique hurdles, such as menstrual challenges, for female athletes. Kim Le Court-Pienaar, the leader of the Tour de France Femmes 2025, openly discussed these challenges during the race, highlighting a common but often overlooked issue in sports.

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