‘Superwoman’ Pauline Ferrand-Prevot taking women’s cycling to new levels after Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift triumph
Updated 04/08/2025 at 07:14 GMT+1
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Pauline Ferrand-Prevot is taking women’s cycling to new levels. That is according to The Breakaway collective of Ashleigh Wilmot, Dani Christmas, Audrey Cordon-Ragot and Dani Rowe. Ferrand-Prevot had won world titles across road, mountain bike, cyclo-cross and gravel ahead of this season. She has now burnished her palmares further with victory at the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift.
Christmas: Ferrand-Prevot ‘really taking women’s cycling to new levels’
Video credit: TNT Sports
Pauline Ferrand-Prevot (Visma-Lease a Bike) etched her name in the history books on Sunday by winning the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift.
Ferrand-Prevot returned to road racing after a seven-year hiatus with the stated aim of winning the Tour within three years. She did it in one.
And Dani Christmas - speaking on The Breakaway alongside Ashleigh Wilmot, Audrey Cordon-Ragot and Dani Rowe – said that the 33-year-old was taking women’s cycling to new levels.
"She came out and said it, and it seemed like a very bold statement at the time," said Christmas.
"I think it raised a few eyebrows. But, wow, she has followed through on it in the most spectacular way. It is incredible what she's been able to achieve in this race.
"She really is taking women’s cycling to new levels."
Ferrand-Prevot produced a jaw-dropping ride on the queen stage on Saturday to assume the race lead and backed that up by winning Stage 9 in yellow.
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‘I’m so happy’ – Ferrand-Prevot reacts after winning 2025 Tour de France Femmes
Video credit: TNT Sports
"She really has made history here," added Christmas, a sports director for AG Insurance-Soudal.
"For any rider winning the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift is beyond belief almost, but for her to come back as a French rider and do it straight off the bat is really incredible."
In winning the nine-day stage race, Ferrand-Prevot became the first French woman to win the Tour since Jeannie Longo won the Tour de France Feminin in 1989. Bernard Hinault was the last man to achieve the feat, back in 1985.
It was an accomplishment not lost on compatriot Cordon-Ragot.
"How can you forget this moment?" said Cordon-Ragot.
"This is something so few riders have experienced. This is exceptional, unique; she is unique; she is a superwoman."
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Ferrand-Prevot shows 'she is a superwoman' after incredible comeback
Video credit: TNT Sports
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What next for Ferrand-Prevot? She returned to the road at the start of the season a 15-time world champion, but Rowe, former Olympic champion in the velodrome, does not think she has finished adding to her palmares just yet.
"I can't wait to see what she will do next," said Rowe.
"BMXers, track riders look out. It seems like everything is possible when it comes to this woman."
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Highlights: Ferrand-Prevot caps off historic Tour triumph with sublime Stage 9 win
Video credit: TNT Sports
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