Historical Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (Team Visma | Lease A Bike)! The French man achieved a real demonstration this Saturday, crushing the queen stage of the Tour de France women which ended at the top of the Madeleine pass. Starting from the foot of the final climb, she deposited her opponents one by one before flying away, far, very far ahead of all her rivals. She finally won almost two minutes ahead of her runner -up Sarah Gigante (AG Insurance-Soudal Team) and 2'15 “on the third Niamh Fisher-Black (Lidl-Trek). She takes advantage of this coup to seize the yellow jersey on the eve of the finish, with more than 2,30 “in advance on her first pursuer, which should allow her unless accidents win the Tour de France women 2025. A legendary performance, a year after its gold medal at Paris Olympic Games In mountain biking.
“The last kilometer was so difficult!”
After the arrival, the Frenchwoman spoke of this final climb of the Madeleine pass: “It was crazy, I just tried to go as quickly as possible while managing my effort. The last kilometer was so difficult! Sincerely, I did not know how I was going to be compared to half (Vollering), Katarzyyn (Niewiadoma) or Sarah (gigant). But when I saw Sarah attack, I told myself that I was still doing it. 1h20, 1h30 of the climb..
She continues on the collective aspect of this victory: “We had launched Marion (Bunel) a little earlier in the stage, she waited for me to do the train in the climb, I was able to recover at that time and it served me as a launch ramp to leave alone. It's great because today is a teamwork, like the whole week. They can't wait to find them “.
“I'm not the type to enjoy, but I'm going to force myself to do so”
She then explains that she does not already have the race won: “The final victory is not played in advance, it remains the stage of tomorrow, which will be difficult, and it will be necessary to finish the work. But hey, after what I did today, it is also necessary that I am enjoying. I am not the type to enjoy, but I will force myself to do it. A year after the games, come back to the road and win here on this legendary collar … It's quite incredible. What I love in this sport is to give everything and happen on D -Day, to be ready, and know that I have given myself the means to succeed “.
Finally, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot evokes his emotion at the idea of seizing the yellow jersey, before winning unless the Tour de France women, his goal displayed at the start of the year: “The yellow jersey is the dream of a little girl. It's full of emotions, I think I'm going to cry, it means a lot for me. If I came back on the road, it's to participate in the Tour de France, winning it one day. This victory today is the sign that I made the right choice”she concludes.
