French cycling sensation Pauline Ferrand-Prévot produced a stunning solo performance on Saturday to seize the overall lead in the Women’s Tour de France, thrilling her home fans and setting up a historic potential victory with one stage remaining.
The 33-year-old Visma rider attacked from 10 kilometers out on the penultimate stage, storming ahead of her rivals as roaring crowds lined the steep slopes of La Madeleine. Her daring move not only secured the stage win but also catapulted her into the yellow jersey with a commanding 2-minute 37-second advantage over Australia’s Sarah Gigante.
“I just tried to go as fast as possible,” said a jubilant Ferrand-Prévot after crossing the finish line alone. “If I came back to road cycling, it was in an effort to win this race, so I made the right choice. I wanted to have as big a gap as possible. It’s not over yet, but I’m very happy with what we did today.”
Gigante of AG finished second on the stage, 1 minute 45 seconds behind, while LTK’s Niamh Fisher-Black crossed in third at 2 minutes 15 seconds. Overnight leader Kim Le Court-Pienaar sacrificed her own chances to assist her teammate Gigante in the mountainous terrain, but it was Ferrand-Prévot’s day to shine.
The French rider’s dominant performance comes with added significance. Last year’s Women’s Tour de France saw the smallest winning margin in the combined history of the men’s and women’s events, but Ferrand-Prévot now looks poised for a far more decisive triumph, barring mishaps on Sunday’s final mountainous stage.
The victory adds to an already remarkable year for Ferrand-Prévot, who is the reigning Olympic mountain bike champion and claimed the prestigious Paris-Roubaix title in April. Her success on Saturday not only underscores her versatility across cycling disciplines but also brings French cycling fans a step closer to witnessing a long-awaited home triumph in a Grand Tour.
No Frenchman has won the 21-day men’s Tour de France since Bernard Hinault lifted his fifth title in 1985. Should Ferrand-Prévot maintain her lead through Sunday’s finale, she will become the first French rider to capture the modern Women’s Tour de France in its fourth edition, cementing her place in history.
Sarah Gigante, though disappointed not to claim the yellow jersey, was gracious in defeat. “I was dreaming of winning this race,” the Australian said. “But Pauline was magnificent.”
As the peloton prepares for one last grueling mountain stage, all eyes will be on Ferrand-Prévot to see if she can convert her brilliant attack into overall victory. France, starved of a Tour de France champion for decades, is now just one day away from celebrating a historic home success.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members
