Ferrand‑Prevot wins Tour de France Femmes after a commanding performance that marked a milestone for French cycling. She became the first French rider to win the women’s Tour de France since 1989. Her victory came after she clinched the overall title in style on the final Alpine stage.
The 33‑year‑old sealed her triumph with a solo attack in stage nine from Praz‑sur‑Arly to Châtel. She broke clear with around 6 kilometres remaining, and charged ahead to win the stage and the general classification. Ferrand‑Prevot finished the race 3 minutes 42 seconds ahead of second‑place Demi Vollering, and 4 minutes 9 seconds ahead of defending champion Kasia Niewiadoma‑Phinney.
She took control of the race on the penultimate stage atop the mighty Col de la Madeleine. There she attacked with strength, gained over two and a half minutes over rivals, and cemented her hold on the yellow jersey. The time gap proved decisive, making her favorite status solid ahead of the final day.
Supporters celebrated her bold climb on the Madeleine and her decisive final stage in the Alps. Ferrand‑Prevot transitioned from Olympic bike champion to road legend within a year. Her team, Visma–Lease a Bike, supported her throughout, and she rewarded them with her biggest ever success.
Ferrand‑Prevot wins Tour de France Femmes by fulfilling a bold goal she set: to win within three seasons of switching back to road racing. She had won Olympic gold in mountain biking, but returned to road cycling in 2025 with the clear aim of capturing the yellow jersey. She achieved that aim in just one season, becoming a national hero.
Her path to victory included a standout win on Stage 8 at Col de la Madeleine. Before that, stage seven saw racer Maeva Squiban win in impressive fashion, and Kim Le Court earlier held the yellow jersey before crashing and falling off pace on the climb. That opened the door for Ferrand‑Prevot and shifted momentum in her favour.
Ferrand‑Prevot’s win ends a long wait for France. No French rider had won the Tour de France Femmes in its current era. Her victory also brings renewed pride to French cycling, after decades without a home champion in the women’s race.
On stage nine, Ferrand‑Prevot held strong despite nerves early on. She lost contact in an early descent, and required team support to return to the front. She recovered and then attacked decisively on the final climb, creating enough distance to safely cross the line and confirm her historic win.
Her rivals, including Vollering and Niewiadoma‑Phinney, stayed competitive throughout, but could not match her strength in the mountains. Sarah Gigante had pushed hard earlier and occupied second place overall before dropping to sixth after losing time on the descent. That shift solidified the final podium order.
The win crowns a legendary season for Ferrand‑Prevot. She triumphed at Paris‑Roubaix Femmes earlier in April, returned from an Olympic cycling peak, and delivered on her personal deadline. She joins a rare class of cyclists who have won in multiple disciplines and shown dominance across terrain.
This Tour edition featured nine stages and more than 1,168 kilometres of racing. It included demanding Alpine climbs like the Madeleine and Joux‑Plane, and tough hilly stages earlier on. Ferrand‑Prevot’s performance stood out for its consistency and tactical precision.
In summary, Ferrand‑Prevot wins Tour de France Femmes in dramatic fashion and secures her place in cycling history. Her dominance in the Alps, her final stage victory, and her overall margin underscore her strength. With four other French women contending for stages and Suarez’s win in Paris‑Roubaix, France ends the race in triumphant style.
About The Author
