After two years back on the road, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot had been waiting for her moment to conquer the Tour de France. Having already demonstrated her exceptional form with a victory at Paris-Roubaix this spring, the French star arrived at the Tour fully prepared and delivered a performance of absolute dominance, realizing the ultimate dream in cycling.
A five-time XCO Mountain Bike World Champion, 2015 Road World Champion, Cyclo-cross World Champion, and Gravel World Champion, Ferrand-Prévot returned to the professional road scene with a palmarès unlike any other. After adding Paris-Roubaix to her legendary status, she has now claimed the most coveted crown jewel: the General Classification of the Tour de France Femmes.
This remarkable achievement cements her place among the greatest cyclists in history. At the 2025 Tour, she displayed stunning efficiency and decisiveness, securing victory in her very first attempt.
The race commenced in Brittany, offering thrilling stages similar to the men’s event. The opening stage saw Marianne Vos triumph in an uphill sprint, proving the legendary rider still possesses the power to add to her illustrious record. On the second stage, featuring Liège-style rolling terrain, veteran Mavi García staged a late attack and held off a charging peloton to seize one of the most significant wins of her career.
After leaving Brittany, the race moved into the heart of France. Two expected bunch sprints ensued, with European Champion Lorena Wiebes besting Vos to take the stage and pull on the green points jersey.
Stage five presented the first major test for the GC contenders. A tricky finale provoked numerous attacks, and Kimbery Le Court ultimately emerged victorious, pulling on the first yellow jersey of the race.
In the ensuing mountain stages, the main favourites remained cautious, while French young talent Maëva Squiban thrilled home fans by winning two demanding stages. The queen stage, finishing atop the legendary Col de la Madeleine, was where Ferrand-Prévot, who had been sitting steadily in second overall, unveiled her imperial form. Without launching a single attack, she simply controlled the tempo on the final climb, steadily dispatching rivals Demi Vollering, Kasia Niewiadoma, and Sarah Gigante one by one. By the summit of the Alpine giant, the 2025 Tour de France was effectively won.
The final stage focused on the remaining podium spots. Despite being isolated without teammates, Ferrand-Prévot comfortably neutralized an attack from Gigante, whose technical limitations on the descent saw her lose contact again. In the final kilometers, the yellow jersey winner even had the luxury of launching a solo attack of her own, crossing the line alone to cap her victory with an iconic image.
“After winning the Olympic title, I made a vow when I returned to the road: to win the Tour within three years. Today, I’ve taken that first step,” Ferrand-Prévot stated after the race. “This journey demanded immense sacrifice, but every bit of effort was worth it. This is not just a great victory, but a profound lesson in life.”
2025 Tour de France Femmes – Final General Classification:
- Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) – 29h 54′ 24″
- Demi Vollering (FDJ-Suez) – +3′ 42″
- Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Canyon//SRAM zondacrypto) – +4′ 09″
- Dominika Włodarczyk (UAE Team ADQ) – +5′ 45″
- Niamh Fisher-Black (Lidl-Trek) – +6′ 25″
