Pauline Ferrand-Prévot Makes History as First Frenchwoman to Win Revived Tour de France Femmes

On August 3, 2025, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot of Team Visma-Lease a Bike made history by becoming the first Frenchwoman to win the Tour de France Femmes since its modern relaunch. Her decisive solo attack in the final stage secured both the stage victory and the overall title.

Ferrand-Prévot's triumph is a landmark achievement in women's cycling, highlighting her versatility and dominance across multiple disciplines. This victory not only adds to her impressive career but also signifies a resurgence in French cycling on the international stage.

The final stage, a 124.1-kilometer route from Praz-sur-Arly to Châtel, featured challenging climbs, including the Col de Joux Plane and Col du Corbier. With 6.5 kilometers remaining, Ferrand-Prévot launched a decisive solo attack, crossing the finish line 20 seconds ahead of Demi Vollering (FDJ-SUEZ). This performance secured her both the stage victory and the overall title.

The final general classification standings were:

1. Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (Visma-Lease a Bike): Overall winner.

2. Demi Vollering (FDJ-SUEZ): Second place, 3 minutes and 42 seconds behind.

3. Katarzyna Niewiadoma-Phinney (Canyon-SRAM zondacrypto): Third place.

Other classification winners included Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime) securing the green jersey in the points classification, Elise Chabbey (FDJ-SUEZ) claiming the polka dot jersey as Queen of the Mountains, and Nienke Vinke (Picnic PostNL) winning the white jersey for best young rider. FDJ-SUEZ took top honors in the team classification.

Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, 33, is a versatile cyclist with an illustrious career spanning multiple disciplines. She has secured world titles in cyclocross, mountain biking, and road racing. Notably, she won the Paris–Roubaix Femmes in 2025, becoming the first Frenchwoman to do so since 1997. Additionally, she earned a gold medal in mountain biking at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

The 2025 edition of the Tour de France Femmes, held from July 26 to August 3, was the fourth since its revival. The race spanned nine stages over 1,168.6 kilometers, featuring significant elevation gains exceeding 17,000 meters. The final two stages took place in the Alps, with the penultimate stage culminating at the Col de la Madeleine and the final stage concluding in Châtel.

In Stage 8 (August 2, 2025), Ferrand-Prévot delivered a dominant performance on the Col de la Madeleine, launching an attack 8 kilometers from the summit and finishing ahead of her closest rivals. This victory secured her the yellow jersey with a 2:37 lead over Sarah Gigante (AG Insurance-Soudal).

Ferrand-Prévot's victory marks the first time a Frenchwoman has won the Tour de France Femmes since its modern relaunch. The previous editions were won by Annemiek van Vleuten (2022), Demi Vollering (2023), and Katarzyna Niewiadoma (2024).

Ferrand-Prévot's triumph is a significant milestone for French cycling, inspiring a new generation of female cyclists in France. Her success underscores the growing prominence and competitiveness of women's cycling on the international stage.

Reflecting on her victory, Ferrand-Prévot expressed her joy, stating, "I'm so, so happy. I was a bit scared with the pressure of this jersey... I had to stick to the front and just stay there."

This historic achievement not only cements Ferrand-Prévot's legacy in the sport but also signals a bright future for women's cycling in France and beyond.