Pauline Ferrand-Prévot Wins Women’s Tour de France in Historic Debut

French cyclist Pauline Ferrand-Prévot clinched victory in the Women's Tour de France, concluding the event on Sunday with a thrilling ninth stage that commenced in Praz-sur-Arly and wrapped up 124 kilometers later in Châtel, close to the Swiss border. At 33 years old, this was Ferrand-Prévot's first time participating in the prestigious Tour. Having claimed the iconic yellow jersey in the penultimate stage on Saturday, she maintained her lead and crossed the finish line on Sunday with a decisive advantage over her competitors. Racing for VismaLease a Bike, Ferrand-Prévot has predominantly focused on cyclocross and mountain biking disciplines, where she notably secured Olympic gold last year. Her skill set was evident as she triumphed at the Paris-Roubaix earlier this year, a race that perfectly suits her versatility across various biking terrains. Remarkably, she had not competed in a race for two months prior to this event, with her last lengthy stage race being the Giro d’Italia in 2015. In the final stage, Australian Sarah Gigante and New Zealander Niamh Fisher-Black followed closely behind Ferrand-Prévot, securing second and third places respectively. Gigante also finished second in the overall standings, with Dutch cyclist Demi Vollering trailing as another top contender who had previously taken second place in 2024 and clinched the title in 2023. This year’s Tour de France for women was notably competitive and open, showcasing a blend of fierce rivalry and exceptional athleticism among the participants. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2