Pauline Ferrand-Prevot became an icon after winning the Tour de France Femmes, the first French woman to achieve this feat. Her victory followed a gold medal in mountain biking at the Paris 2024 Olympics and a win in Paris-Roubaix. For 36 years, the French have awaited a national champion in this sport, having historically faced inferiority to foreign competitors. Previous women's tours did not hold the same stature as the modern Tour de France Femmes. Ferrand-Prevot's accomplishment parallels past achievements of male cyclist Bernard Hinault, rekindling national pride in cycling.
Ferrand-Prevot, the first French rider to win the Tour de France Femmes, has become a national icon almost overnight. Ferrand-Prevot fever has taken over.
The French have waited a long time to see one of their own in the yellow jersey 36 years in women's racing and 40 in men's and endured decades of humiliation plus an ingrained sense of inferiority.
For archivists, the last French rider in yellow was Jeannie Longo, who won the Tour de France Feminin in 1989, although that race did not compare with the significance and scale of the modern Tour de France Femmes.
Ferrand-Prevot has been depicted as the successor to Bernard Hinault, the last French winner of the men's Tour.
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