Seasoned cyclist Ferrand-Prevot claims Tour de France Femmes lead after triumph in stage eight
Ferrand-Prevot Takes Commanding Lead in Tour de France Femmes
Pauline Ferrand-Prevot secured a solo victory in the mountainous stage eight of the 2025 Tour de France Femmes, extending her overall lead in the race. The 33-year-old French cyclist, aiming to become the first Frenchwoman to win the Tour de France Femmes, demonstrated her exceptional climbing abilities on the challenging 124.1km route from Praz-sur-Arly to Chatel.
Ferrand-Prevot's victory was a result of a decisive attack around 12km from the finish line. She dropped her breakaway companions, including Sarah Gigante, and soloed to the win. Her performance was historically strong, averaging 5.04 watts per kilogram of power output for nearly 65 minutes, one of the best recorded efforts in women’s cycling.
Gigante, who is 2:37 seconds behind Ferrand-Prevot in the general classification, expressed the challenge Ferrand-Prevot poses. "Pauline is a strong rider, and she showed that today," Gigante said after the race. "I gave it everything I had, but she was just too strong."
Ferrand-Prevot's victory was made possible with the support of her teammate Marion Bunel, who paced her on the Col de la Madeleine. The Frenchwoman crossed the line one minute 45 seconds ahead of Sarah Gigante, with Niamh Fisher-Black finishing in third place, two minutes 15 seconds behind Ferrand-Prevot.
Kimberley Le Court Pienaar, the general classification leader, crashed on the descent from the Col du Frene and dropped to 11th place. Le Court's effort to set the pace for teammate Gigante, combined with the relentless climbing, cost her dearly in the general classification.
Ferrand-Prevot claimed the yellow jersey on the eve of the finale, and her teammates will support her in the final stage. The final stage is a 124.1km mountain ride from Praz-sur-Arly to Chatel, and Ferrand-Prevot aims to secure her position as the first Frenchwoman to win the Tour de France Femmes on Sunday's final stage.
The race has seen a shift towards climbers who excel on long, steep ascents, challenging traditionally more powerful riders. Ferrand-Prevot's victory in the Tour de France Femmes is a testament to this shift and her exceptional climbing skills.
[1] BBC Sport [2] Cycling News [3] The Guardian [4] Cycling Weekly
- The Tour de France Femmes has seen a shift towards sports that require exceptional climbing skills, as demonstrated by Pauline Ferrand-Prevot's historic performance in the 2025 edition.
- Pauline Ferrand-Prevot's victory in the mountainous stage eight of the 2025 Tour de France Femmes solidifies her position as a formidable contender in the sport of cycling, aiming to become the first Frenchwoman to win the race.
