Pauline Ferrand-Prévot Triumphs in Tour de France Femmes 2023

Pauline Ferrand-Prévot made history on Sunday by winning the Tour de France Femmes, becoming the first French cyclist to secure victory in this prestigious race since 1989. This win marks a significant moment for France, as no French rider had claimed the yellow jersey in nearly 35 years, a drought dating back to the victories of Bernard Hinault in the men’s edition and Jeannie Longo in the women’s.

Ferrand-Prévot, who previously enjoyed a successful career in mountain biking and was crowned Olympic champion in Paris, returned to road cycling this season with a clear objective: to win the Tour de France Femmes within three years. Remarkably, she achieved this goal in her first attempt.

In the final stage of the race, Ferrand-Prévot crossed the finish line adorned in the yellow jersey, visibly emotional as she celebrated ending France’s lengthy wait for a homegrown champion in cycling’s most iconic event. She finished the race with a commanding lead, completing the general classification three minutes and 42 seconds ahead of last year’s winner, Demi Vollering, who placed second. Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney, the defending champion, finished in third, trailing Ferrand-Prévot by four minutes and nine seconds.

The decisive moment of the race occurred during Stage 8, which included the challenging 18.6 km climb of the Col de la Madeleine. Ferrand-Prévot seized control of the race on this climb, showcasing her strength by gaining over three minutes on both Niewiadoma-Phinney and Vollering. Although she faced an early challenge from Sarah Gigante, who attempted to break away on the Col de la Madeleine, Ferrand-Prévot ultimately caught and passed her, with Gigante finishing second on that stage, a minute and 45 seconds behind.

With this strong performance, Ferrand-Prévot established a two-and-a-half minute lead over Gigante in the overall standings, heading into the final stage. Despite her substantial advantage, the concluding stage presented challenges for Ferrand-Prévot. She initially fell behind her competitors on the valley roads leading to the first climb, requiring her team to rally and protect her overall lead.

Demonstrating resilience, Ferrand-Prévot recovered and launched a solo attack with six kilometers remaining, successfully crossing the finish line alone to secure her historic victory. This triumph not only highlights her exceptional talent but also reignites national pride in French cycling, as fans celebrate a long-awaited success on the world stage.