Leading cyclist Ferrand-Prévot tops Tour de France mountainous stretch in dramatic fashion
Pauline Ferrand-Prévot Wins 2025 Tour de France Femmes on Debut
Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, a former Olympic mountain bike champion, has made history by winning the 2025 Tour de France Femmes on her debut. The French rider, who is currently riding for Visma, dominated the race with a commanding lead of 3 minutes and 42 seconds over other top competitors.
Ferrand-Prévot's victory marks the end of a long wait for a French winner in the race, being the first home champion since Jeannie Longo in 1989. This is also the first time a French rider has won the modern women's Tour de France in its fourth edition.
The 2025 race saw Ferrand-Prévot showcase her superior climbing strength, tactical intelligence, and consistency. She distanced her rivals on key mountainous stages, including the queen stage at Col de la Madeleine. Sarah Gigante, a strong second-place challenger, and 2023 champion Demi Vollering were among those left trailing in her wake.
On the final stage, Ferrand-Prévot attacked from 10km out and never looked back. She crossed the finish line with a lead of 2 minutes and 37 seconds over Gigante, who finished in second place.
Ferrand-Prévot, who had taken a break from road cycling to focus on mountain biking, expressed her satisfaction with her decision to return. "I just tried to go as fast as possible. If I came back to road cycling it was in an effort to win this race so I made the right choice," she said.
Gigante, who finished 2 minutes and 37 seconds behind Ferrand-Prévot, acknowledged her opponent's performance. "I was dreaming of winning the race but Pauline was too strong today," she said.
The 2025 Tour de France Femmes was not without drama. Kim Le Court-Pienaar, a teammate of Gigante, sacrificed her own ride to support her fellow Australian. This selfless act did not go unnoticed and highlighted the camaraderie and teamwork that is so integral to the sport.
Sources:
[1] FRANCE 24 with AFP and AP [2] BBC Sport [3] Cycling News [4] VeloNews
In the men's Tour de France, it has been 36 years since a Frenchman last won the race, with Bernard Hinault taking the title in 1985. It remains to be seen if Ferrand-Prévot's victory will inspire a new generation of French cyclists to follow in her footsteps.
Sports enthusiasts worldwide celebrated Pauline Ferrand-Prévot's dominance in the 2025 Tour de France Femmes, demonstrating her excellence in the sport. Her victory, achieved on her debut, marks a significant milestone in women's cycling and a potential turning point for French cyclists in future races.
