French cyclist Pauline Ferrand-Prévot has established a substantial lead in the Tour de France Femmes, displaying a remarkable performance during the penultimate stage held at Saint-Francois-Longchamp. The 33-year-old’s solo attack on the final ascent has placed her ahead of Australia’s Sarah Gigante by 2 minutes and 37 seconds, while last year’s champion, Demi Vollering of the Netherlands, trails by 3 minutes and 18 seconds as the event approaches its final day.
This year marks the fourth edition of the women’s Tour de France, which follows the recent completion of the men’s Tour de France No. 112. Last year, the women’s race finished with an unprecedentedly close margin, as Katarzyna Niewiadoma clinched victory just four seconds ahead of Vollering. However, Ferrand-Prévot’s current momentum suggests that a more comfortable victory is within her reach, assuming no setbacks occur.
The accomplished cyclist, who captured a gold medal in mountain biking at the previous year’s Paris Olympics and won the prestigious Paris-Roubaix earlier in April, entered Saturday’s stage trailing the Mauritian rider Kim Le Court by 26 seconds. The challenging 69-mile trek featured significant climbs, including the renowned ascent of Col de Madeleine, where Ferrand-Prévot made a decisive move 5.5 miles from the summit. She swiftly caught up to Niamh Fisher-Black and Yara Kastelijn, ultimately finishing the stage unchallenged.
In the aftermath of this stage, Gigante finished 1:45 behind Ferrand-Prévot, while Fisher-Black completed the stage 2:15 later in third place, with Vollering finishing fourth.
The final stage on Sunday promises to bring more excitement as the cyclists traverse a mountainous route from Praz-sur-Arly to Chatel. This 77-mile challenge is designed to test their endurance, featuring three major climbs that will keep spectators on the edge of their seats, contrasting the traditional celebratory parades typically seen in the men’s race finish in Paris.
Ferrand-Prévot’s inspiring performance can be seen as a testament to women’s cycling, showcasing the increasing competitiveness and excitement of the sport. The final stage ahead is expected to be a thrilling conclusion to what has been an impressive showcase of athleticism.