Kim Le Court Makes History with 5th Stage Victory and Yellow Jersey at Tour de France Femmes 2025

In a groundbreaking achievement, Mauritian cyclist Kim Le Court won the 5th stage of the 2025 Tour de France Femmes held in Guéret on July 30, marking her as the first African woman to secure a victory in this prestigious cycling event. Her remarkable win comes as she outpaced prominent Dutch cyclists including Demi Vollering who finished second and Anna van der Breggen. With this victory, Le Court also claimed the coveted yellow jersey, taking it from Marianne Vos who placed eighth in this stage of the race.

Le Court, riding for AG Insurance-Soudal, has emerged as a rising star in the cycling world, having transitioned to road cycling from mountain biking just two years prior. After the race, she expressed her astonishment at her success, saying, "It's really a dream start to the Tour. The stage, the yellow... I didn't even think about it at the start in Brittany..." As of now, she leads the general classification with a time advantage over French cyclist Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, who trails by 18 seconds, and Demi Vollering, the defending champion, who is 23 seconds behind.

The upcoming stages present significant challenges, particularly with major climbs such as the col du Béal and col du Chansert, expected to test the endurance and skills of the riders. Vollering's resilience in recovering from an earlier crash to finish strongly positions her as a strong contender for overall victory, alongside Ferrand-Prévot.

As the race progresses, excitement around the Tour de France Femmes continues to grow, with record crowds attending the events and television ratings peaking at around 25% market share for France Télévision, indicating heightened public interest in women's cycling. This stage victory not only highlights Le Court's talent but also signals a growing recognition and support for female cyclists globally, particularly from Africa.

As the competition heats up, all eyes will be on the upcoming mountain stages that promise to further shake up the standings in this historic edition of the Tour de France Femmes.