Women's Tour de France Stage 8 Winner: Pauline Ferrand-Prévot triumphs on Col de la Madeleine, claiming the queen stage and securing the overall lead
Pauline Ferrand-Prévot made history on Stage 8 of the 2025 Tour de France Femmes, becoming the first French rider to win the men's or women's Tour since Jeannie Longo in 1989. The sensational solo win secured her overall victory, one stage before the race concludes.
The stage began with an immediate uphill climb on the first-category Col de Plainpalais. A breakaway of 15 riders formed, including Évita Muzic, Élise Chabbey, and Niamh Fisher-Black. Lorena Wiebes set a high pace on the rest of the descent, but Ferrand-Prévot dropped her main rivals, including Pauliena Rooijakkers and Sarah Gigante, in the final kilometers of the stage.
Ferrand-Prévot's performance in this edition of the Tour de France Femmes was marked by exceptional strength and strategy, especially in the mountainous final stages. On Stage 9, she powered solo over challenging climbs, including a long 11.6km ascent, to put herself firmly in the lead and clinch the overall title.
Sarah Gigante also lost contact with the peloton during the descent but returned when the road flattened. She finished second on stage 8, moving up to second overall. Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney, the defending champion, had a puncture in the neutral zone, causing a delay at the start of the stage. She now finds herself in fourth place, 3:40 minutes behind Ferrand-Prévot.
Demi Vollering, the 2023 champion, is in third place, 3:18 minutes behind Ferrand-Prévot. Justine Ghekiere and Marion Bunel provided vital assistance to their leaders during the stage, while FDJ-Suez, Visma-Lease a Bike, and EF Education-Oatly helped to keep the pressure on in the valley.
The Tour de France Femmes concludes on Sunday with stage 9. Niamh Fisher-Black finished third on stage 8, and Évita Muzic was the virtual GC leader for a period during the stage. On the descent, Kim Le Court-Pienaar crashed and lost contact with the peloton, but later returned. Fisher-Black and Kastelijn were the last two riders in the breakaway at the end of the stage.
Ferrand-Prévot's win is seen as not only a personal triumph but also a significant milestone for women's cycling, contributing to the growing stature and recognition of the Tour de France Femmes after decades of unstable sponsorship and organizational challenges. Her victory is emblematic of both personal and broader sport progress.
[1] Tour de France Femmes - Stage 8 Results (2025) [2] Tour de France Femmes - Overall Standings (2025) [3] Pauline Ferrand-Prévot - Career Achievements (Official Website)
Sports enthusiasts worldwide are celebrating Pauline Ferrand-Prévot's historical victory in the 2025 Tour de France Femmes, marking a significant milestone for women's cycling. Her impressive performance on Stage 8, where she became the first French rider to win the Tour since 1989, has ignited conversations about the growing recognition of women's sports.
