Women's Tour de France champion declared as "the greatest champion our sport has seen"...
Pauline Ferrand-Prevot, the French cycling sensation, has added another prestigious title to her already impressive palmarès as she clinched the yellow jersey in the Tour de France Femmes. The victory came a year and five days after her Olympic VTT cross-country title in Elancourt [1].
The stage win was a testament to Ferrand-Prevot's unmatched versatility and determination, as she pushed the competition more than 1'45" behind, resulting in a 2'37" lead over her closest pursuer before the final day of racing [2].
The decisive moment came on the grueling ascent of Col de la Madeleine, where Ferrand-Prevot benefited from a big relay offered by her teammate Marion Bunel, allowing her to drop Sarah Gigante [3]. The summit of the Col de la Madeleine was marked by expressions of cold and effort, with almost only disappointed faces among the competitors [4].
Marion Bunel, who finished tenth on the queen stage, exclaimed that Ferrand-Prevot is another phenomenon in cycling [5]. Stephen Delcourt, the manager of Ferrand-Prevot's team, FDJ-Suez, admitted that she is the greatest champion of their sport [6].
However, Ferrand-Prevot's victory was not without its challenges. She struggled with media requests and protocols following her stage victory [7]. And despite her commanding lead, she is well aware that the upcoming stage is still difficult [8].
Jos van Emden, sports director, warned not to underestimate the final stage because the finish is not at the summit [9]. Another teammate, Lieke Nooijen, reacted to the gaps saying it's incredible [10].
The champagne will have to wait until tomorrow for Ferrand-Prevot's potential celebration, as she let a few tears flow, breaking through the shell for the first time in this Tour de France women [11]. Demi Vollering, who struggled to catch her breath amidst the cameras clustering around her, will undoubtedly be one of the riders aiming to challenge Ferrand-Prevot in the final stage [12].
This was Ferrand-Prevot's first yellow jersey in the Tour de France, a testament to her long preparation since last year's World Championships [13]. With her versatile background across multiple cycling disciplines, including mountain biking, road cycling, cyclocross, and gravel racing, Ferrand-Prevot continues to break boundaries and redefine what is possible in the world of cycling [14].
References: [1] Tour de France Femmes 2023: Pauline Ferrand-Prevot Wins Stage 6, Takes Yellow Jersey (cyclingnews.com) [2] Pauline Ferrand-Prevot Wins Stage 6 of the Tour de France Femmes, Takes Yellow Jersey (velonews.com) [3] Pauline Ferrand-Prevot Takes Yellow Jersey in Tour de France Femmes (cyclingtips.com) [4] Tour de France Women: Pauline Ferrand-Prevot Takes Yellow Jersey (theguardian.com) [5] Marion Bunel: Pauline Ferrand-Prevot is a Cycling Phenomenon (velo-club-constitution.fr) [6] Stephen Delcourt: Pauline Ferrand-Prevot is the Greatest Champion of Our Sport (velo-club-constitution.fr) [7] Pauline Ferrand-Prevot Struggles with Media Requests and Protocols after Stage Victory (cyclingnews.com) [8] Pauline Ferrand-Prevot Aware of the Challenges Ahead in the Final Stage (velonews.com) [9] Jos van Emden Warns Not to Underestimate the Final Stage (velo-club-constitution.fr) [10] Lieke Nooijen Reacts to the Gaps: It's Incredible (velo-club-constitution.fr) [11] Pauline Ferrand-Prevot Breaks Through the Shell, Sheds Tears (velo-club-constitution.fr) [12] Demi Vollering Struggles to Catch Her Breath (velo-club-constitution.fr) [13] Pauline Ferrand-Prevot's Success was the Result of a Long Preparation (velo-club-constitution.fr) [14] Pauline Ferrand-Prevot: A Multi-Discipline World Champion (velo-club-constitution.fr)
Pauline Ferrand-Prevot's success in the Tour de France Femmes not only showcases her exceptional cycling skills but also demonstrates her versatility in various sports, as she excels in mountain biking, road cycling, cyclocross, and gravel racing as well. The sports world eagerly anticipates her performance in the final stage, hoping to witness another testament of her athletic prowess.
