At the end of Tour de France women with zwiftthe director of the event Marion Rousse returns to a historic edition, marked by the victory of Pauline Ferrand – Prévot (Visma | lease a bike), first Frenchwoman to win the modern race. Between emotion, recognition towards the public and ambition for the future, she traces the highlights of this unique week for female cycling.
“Pauline also needs to go down a little”
You seem very moved. How do you feel after this week?
I think I'm going to really need a short break. It takes a few hours to go back down, because since yesterday, what's going on is simply incredible for sport in general, for French sport. Since the first day, since this departure in Vannes, everything has been perfect. The crowd answered present, the runners offered us an incredible show. And in addition, with four French victories in a row, Pauline who comes to seek the yellow jersey … We have the impression that everything was written as it is beautiful.
This morning you said you wanted to chat with her to find out if she was going to come back. Did you do it?
Yes, yes, I saw it, we talked well. I think she also needs to go down a little, but knowing Pauline, I think she wants to make an impression. But still … winning Paris-Roubaix and the Tour de France women the same year is extraordinary.
What do you think has made the difference? We saw Kasia Niewiadoma and a half vollering on the same level, but Pauline made an impression.
I think it's a question of talent. I have known Pauline from a very young age, and since we started competition together, she has always won everything. She has always had something more. And when we add to that seriousness, perseverance, and a champion's mind, we get out of the runners, Pauline is one of them. I also spoke with Stephen Delcourt, I saw Kasia Niewiadoma, I saw Demi Vollering… They were happy for cycling. They all told me: “The bicycle has won”. And above all, they are already in a spirit of revenge for next year. They said to me: “Now we know that you have to work even harder to reach the level of Pauline.”
And you, how do you see the rest?
My journey is almost traced, I will not lie to you. We are still working with a year in advance, so I'm already on the 2027 course. What we have seen today, and throughout the week, not only today, shows how much female cycling has its place on television, and all its legitimacy to carry the name of Tour de France. What I saw was not a Tour de France women with zwiftit was a real Tour de France. This is our greatest success. I was with Pauline's parents at the foot of the podium. They said to me, “You remember, 20 years ago, when you waged war on the boys both?”. And I told myself that a beautiful path had been traveled. It feels good.
“It is the most successful, most accomplished tour”
With a little hindsight, do you think that she has savor her Olympic victory or that of today?
That should be asked. I don't know how she experienced her Olympic title at all. I was in front of TV that day, so it's a different experience. But the two victories are exceptional. What I liked here is to live it at the forefront. And then there is all the intensity that we put in it. I don't just work for a week to prepare the race: it's a job that we are doing throughout the year, a real teamwork. When this work is rewarded with such beautiful races and such beautiful winners, we want to invest in the years to come. When your work is recognized like that, it's beautiful.
Today, Pauline seemed more lucid than yesterday …
Yes, I think she had done a little more what was going on. Yesterday, there was perhaps more the shock to wear the yellow jersey for the first time in his career.
What does she say about the imprint she leaves in the history of sport, and in that of this tower?
I believe that Pauline did not even need our competition to mark the history of her sport. She had already won everything. What is strong at home is that she imposed herself in very different disciplines: cyclo-cross, mountain biking, road … She is exceptional. And there, we no longer even speak of a French female athlete or athlete. We are talking about athlete, just. She really marked the history of her sport. We will all remember it.
Is it the most beautiful Tour de France that you have experienced?
It is the most successful, the most accomplished, yes. I saw a real Tour de France. It's amazing.
