Tour De France Femmes: Ferrand-prévot Closes On Home Glory After Dazzling Win

The Olympic upland motorcycle golden medallist Pauline-Ferrand Prévot took a commanding wide lead successful nan Tour de France Femmes aft an bonzer solo triumph astatine nan acme of nan Col de la Madeleine.

The 33-year-old from Reims crushed nan hopes of nan defending champion Kasia Niewiadoma and 2023 victor Demi Vollering connected nan steep, constrictive roadworthy to nan 2,000m upland top, successful nan Haute Savoie region.

The pivotal infinitesimal came 12 kilometres from nan apical of nan Madeleine erstwhile nan Australian climber Sarah Gigante pulled clear of nan favourites, pinch Pauliena Rooijakkers and Ferrand-Prévot successful pursuit.

But nan French rider benefited from her Visma-Lease-a-bike team’s tactics, of having Marion Bunol successful nan early break, waiting up to gait her up nan climb.

The overnight leader Kim Le Court, Niewiadoma and Vollering were each trim adrift, arsenic they had small aliases nary consequence to Ferrand-Prévot’s climbing speed.

Ferrand-Prévot is now successful rod position to go nan first French cyclist to triumph nan Tour de France since Bernard Hinault successful 1985. But location is still much climbing to come.

Sunday’s shape to Chatel whitethorn not see arsenic overmuch elevation arsenic nan decorativeness connected nan Madeleine, but nan double whammy of nan tortuous Col de Joux Plane and nan last cruelty of nan Col du Corbier will create further gaps.

Jeremy Whittle’s afloat study to follow